Italy
Main Menu
Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta 2014
Dal Forno’s Valpolicella Superiore is a unicorn in any vintage, but the challenging 2014 vintage prompted the difficult decision not to make any Amarone at all that year. This means all the best fruit and all the cellar’s attention was directed toward making this singular Valpolicella. The result is breathtaking, a wine of great aromatic and palate intensity and complexity exalted by haunting acidity, as dried blueberries, prune, and black tea extractions meet filigreed tannic and earthy textures, with threads of fine new oak fully integrated into a tensile framework, with a lengthy, meditative finish. Eric Guido, Vinous 94 pts, James Suckling 95 pts, Wine & Spirits 95 pts
G. D. Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2018
The Bricco delle Viole is a wine that transcends the difficult 2018 vintage in a way that only the better growers and producers do in Barolo. The high altitude of this particular cru (400-480 meters above sea level) helped in this regard, providing plentiful wind and ventilation, as the southern exposure contributed to ripening. Aged for 30 to 42 months in large Slavonian oak casks, it is a study in power and grace, with heady aromatics announcing the robust dark cherries and spice that inform a robust palate, infused with earthy and floral accents. Yet the wine is never ponderous, with lifting acid and balanced tannins and a classic, echoing finish. 95 pts Monica Larner, WA; 93 pts Antonio Galloni, Vinous SKU: 20196
Sanguineto I e II Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2019
Dora Forsoni only began bottling the estate wines in 1997, and we should all be thankful. Her wines have an honesty and immediacy that is undeniable, and if, as one critic observed, they are not the most long-lived Vino Nobiles, they are immensely well made and enjoyable. This is Vino Nobile I would drink over many a Brunello, as it offers all the beauty of the local Sangiovese, with harmonious and aromatic fruit, signature earthy notes, and fine, spicy details. SKU: 13637
Cigliuti Barbera d’Alba Vigna Serraboella 2020
Made with grapes sourced from several parcels of 25 year old vines in the Serraboella vineyard in Neive, Barbaresco, this Barbera is fermented with native yeasts and raised in neutral barrels for 18 months. In the words of Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media, who gave it 93 pts: “bright, effusive, and full of character. A burst of dark red/purplish fruit, spice, rose petal and pipe tobacco makes a strong first impression. Ripe, silky tannins add to the wine’s considerable appeal.” SKU: 19091
Planeta Eruzione 1614 Sicilia Carricante 2018
Named after the famous eruption on Mount Etna that lasted ten years and reach right up to the boarder of the Sciaranuova Vineyard, where the Carricante (90%) and Riesling (10%) for this wine were grown, this brilliantly expressive Sicilian Bianco has a beautifully structured stony and salty mineral character that is wonderfully filled out with floral and citric aromas and flavors. The palate is firm but also racy, with lively, mouthwatering acid yet substantial depth that comes from about 6 months of lees agng with batonnage. SKU: 20198
Pascal Doquet Vertus Premier Cru Coeur de Terroir Extra Brut 2009
Always one of the top wines from Pascal Doquet, the Vertus Premier Cru Coeur de Terroir comes from seven lieux dits composed of chalk and clay soils in the Premier Cru village of Vertus. The base wines, made up of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, are matured for 11 months in neutral oak barrels. It spends a whopping 12 years sur latte before disgorgement, when a very modest dosage of 2 g/L is added. Deep, profound even, and richly satisfying, this is a texturally enveloping Champagne with finely assertive spice and brioche and a plush mousse. SKU: 20041
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Dolcetto d’Alba 2021
Dark red with purple inflections, the nose presents a signature profile of violets, dry earth, boysenberry, and blackberry, leading to lighter-bodied palate where the crisp berries shimmer with bright acid and delicate but firm and youthful tannins. The fruit comes from the celebrated crus of Mosconi, Ravera, and Le Coste in the commune of Monforte d’Alba. SKU: 19903
Benanti Contrada Cavaliere Etna Rosso 2019
A deeply spiced single-contrada Etna from the southwest side of the volcano, the Cavaliere presents impressive intensity and concentration on the attack and throughout the mid-palate, with almost dense but very lively red fruits and underpinnings of dried florals as well as some hints of tobacco leaf. SKU: 19863
Michele Alois Settimo Terre del Volturno IGT 2018
Two varietals that few have probably heard of, Casavecchia and Pallagrello, are combined here to make this delightfully nimble and juicy red. Reminiscent of a Saint-Amour, the fruit is purplish red, crisp but silky, and both perfumed and fresh, with violet floral elements meeting mouthwatering berry notions, super soft tannins, and racy acidity. SKU: 20044
Michele Alois Campole Aglianico Campania IGT 2018
Campole walks a very neat line between the dark fruit and bruising tannins typical of Aglianico and the lifted and kinetic, if slightly crunchy and rustic, house style that obtains here. While it is dark in color and exhibits close-knit black fruits, the tannins are sturdy without being obtrusive, and the wine’s acidity and pervasive mineral profile gives that wine a chiseled three-dimensionality that makes it very compelling as it opens in the glass. SKU: 20043
Rocca delle Macie Tenuta Sant’ Alfonso Chianti Classico 2018
Tenuta Sant’ Alfonso is a 36 hectare single vineyard with high clay content in Castellina in Chianti first planted in 1998. The Chianti Classico is 100% Sangiovese, with generous and rounded red fruits, sweet plum, soft spices, and good depth. Relatively uncomplicated, it is nevertheless expressive and immensely likable, a versatile wine for the table. 19954
Casa Emma Vignalparco Chianti Classico Riserva 2016
This single vineyard, 100% Sangiovese Riserva is sourced from a 2 hectare, organically farmed vineyard worked by geese, who eat potentially harmful insects, gently loosen the soil, and fertilize the vineyard as they roam about. The wine spends two years in second and third pass tonneaux and a further minimum of 6 months in bottle before release. From the nose, which evokes signature Classico characteristics of dark red and black fruits and toasted earth, to the palate, which offers perfectly ripe fruit delineated by firm tannins, hints of brambly spice, and excellent acidity, this is a harmonious and traditional Classico Riserva. SKU: 20045
Castellare Il Poggiale Chianti Classico Riserva 2019
Firm and very youthful at this point, with aeration the tart raspberry and strawberry fruit begins to gain volume and flesh out with an array of classic flavors and aromas, including tobacco leaf, warm earth, cherry skins, and flashes of bitter herbs that speckle the palate. SKU: 19926 Italy
Feudo Montoni Vrucara Sicilia Rosso 2017
“Tasted from magnum, the Feudo Montoni 2017 Sicilia Nero d'Avola Vrucara is a certified organic expression of Sicily’s vinous protagonist, Nero d'Avola, from a single vineyard planted to ancient pre-phylloxera vines. The fruit is dark and shows medium concentration, pointing to the hot and dry conditions of this growing season. But this native grape thrives in hot weather, allowing for plenty of aromatic expression and depth. Black cherry opens the bouquet, but it follows softly to toasted nut, sweet potting soil and cured tobacco. Ultimately, this is more of a mid-weight wine than it is an all-out, full-bodied expression. This lighter approach gives this red an extra layer of elegance and grace, with some fruity sweetness on the close. This release of 4,600 bottles will comfortably hold past the 10-year mark.” Monica Larner, Wine Advocate 94 pts SKU: 19586 Italy
Tenuta Nicosia Etna Rosso Contrada Monte Gorna 2019
One of the best values I’ve encountered for single contrada Etna Rosso, the Nicosia Monte Gorna has an immediately appealing silky texture to the pure and sapid red berry fruit, punctuated by satisfyingly punchy spices, rose petal, and notions of salty volcanic rock. Medium bodied, but well delineated, it keeps you reaching for the glass. SKU:19778 Italy
Tenuta Nicosia Etna Bianca Contrada Monte Gorna 2020
Like its red counterpart, the Monte Gorna Bianca has a lovely balance of tensile, chiseled fruit and zesty, herbal details, which make the wine feel both kinetic and interesting. On the scale of Etna Biancas, it has a fairly concentrated palate but presents as thoroughly fresh and vibrant. SKU: 19779 Italy
Nicosia Sabbie di Sutta Frappato Sicilia 2021
A lighter, easy-drinking red, this juicy Frappato has loads of bright ripe boysenberry, acai, blackberry, and blueberry on an uncomplicated frame. Made in a style the French would refer to as glou-glou, this is a great cocktail red that will also work well with barbecue. SKU: 19777 Italy
Punta Crena Vigneto Ca da Rena Pigato 2020
Sourced from 30 to 50 year old vines of Pigato in a 2 hectare parcel in Liguria, this deceptively simple white is a rustic seaside treat. Pigato is a genetic variant of Vermentino, but has its own character, with suggestions of stone fruit, fruit pit, and pervasive stony minerality. Four months on the lees adds some suppleness of texture and a fine saline quality to the finish. An excellent seafood wine. SKU: 19800 Italy
Planeta Chardonnay Sicilia Menfi 2019
“The Planeta 2019 Sicilia Menfi Chardonnay is a true beauty, and it's incredible to think that as many as 200,000 bottles were produced at this quality. The wine boasts a slightly old-school personality for oak-aged Chardonnay, but it is remarkably vibrant and quick-footed nonetheless. Instead of overt toast or butter, this wine shows all-Sicilian notes of toasted almond and candied fruit. It offers a medium gold color and a lifted, mid-weight texture. Fresh acidy adds sharpness and focus.” Monica Larner, Wine Advocate 95pts SKU: 19797 Italy
Cantina Tramin Kellerei Alto Adige Pinot Noir 2020
Cold climate Pinot Noir in the classic Alto Adige style, which is to say it is brisk, crunchy, and refreshing, with easy-drinking appeal and food-worthy acidity. Cherry skins, stone, and just a hint of flinty smoke inform the light-bodied palate here. Try it with charcuterie, salads, or lighter fish dishes. SKU: 19287 Italy
Tenuta Delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo “Il Quadro delle Rose” 2019
Il Quadro delle Rose is a small, 1.5 hectare parcel within the Feudo di Mezzo Contrada, at about 1,950 feet above sea level on the north slope of the volcano. The wine spends 16 to 18 months maturing in a mix of barriques, tonneaux, and botte, 20% of which are new. Eric Guido of Vinous writes: “The 2019 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo impresses with a dark and rich bouquet that pulls you close with notes of sugar dusted plums, cloves, spiced citrus peels and hints of pine. It fleshes out across the palate with a salty mix of red berries and wild herbs, more lifted than anticipated yet potent. Grippy tannins mount toward the close. For all of its underlying power, the 2019 tapers off amazingly fresh, yet also structured, with a mix of inner violet and rose. Feudo di Mezzo combines both vivid fruit and the vertical build for a long and steady maturation.” Eric Guido, Vinous 93 pts SKU: 19365 Italy
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Santo Spirito 2019
“A seductive array of wild strawberries and black cherries combine with autumnal spices, frankincense and minty herbs as the 2019 Santo Spirito comes to life in the glass. I’ve never witnessed such a blending of rich, primary, ripe red fruits and the fleshy textures from this vineyard in the past, yet balance is kept expertly in check through a core of vibrant acidity. This leans toward the savory spectrum through the finale, as plum sauce and in rose resonate over a coating of sweet tannin. It gets an official “wow” in my book, as with only a short stay in the cellar, you can expect the 2019 to be a drop-dead gorgeous rendition of Terre Nere’s Santo Spirito.” Eric Guido, Vinous 94 pts SKU: 19364 Italy
Cavallotto Pinner 2020
“The 2020 Pinner dazzles with its pink-tinged, golden-amber color and bouquet of dusty dried flowers, young mango and crushed stone. There are depths of silky textures here, carried across a medium-bodied frame while neatly contrasted by zesty acids and minerals. Ripe orchard fruits and cooling herbal tones resonate from start to finish, yet the end note here is lip-smacking sour tropical citrus. The Pinner is a varietal Pinot Noir, but not technically a Rosé, which takes its color from spending nine months sur lie in stainless steel with daily bâtonnage.” Eric Guido, Vinous 90 pts SKU: 18446 Italy
Bava Pianoalto Nizza DOCG 2014
This Barbera Superiore from Monferrato displays elegance and balance, with dark berry fruits, cedar, graphite, fine tannins, and firm acidity all in harmony. Just beginning to enter it’s drinking window, which promises to be lengthy, the body of the wine fully lives up to the promise of the captivating aromatics. SKU: 19284 Italy
Bava “Bass Tuba” Moscato d’Asti 2020
A Moscato of tremendous purity and freshness. Beautiful white peach, honeydew, and lily waft from the glass, delivering similar flavors on a clean and refreshing palate that provides plenty of sweetness without a hint of cloying. Delightful and irresistible, Bava’s Moscato has less sugar and lower alcohol (4.5%) than most on the market today. SKU: 19281 Italy
Bava Cor de Chasse Gavi di Gavi 2020
100% Cortese from the commune of Gavi, Bava’s Cor de Chasse has loads of character somehow packed into a nimble frame. Surprisingly forward notes of citrus and honeydew rest on a bed of wet stone, leading to a clean and bright finish. The perfect aperitif, it will also pair nicely with a light salad or simple white fish. SKU: 19283 Italy
Morgante Bianco di Morgante 2020
“A rich and spicy display of dried apple and nectarine is offset by honeyed florals as the 2020 Bianco di Morgante opens up in the glass. This is soft in feel, with juicy acids and notes of zesty citrus that keep the energy high throughout. Young peach, mango and salty minerals linger as the Bianco di Morgante tapers off with cheek-puckering freshness. Very nice.” Eric Guido, Vinous 90 pts SKU: 19272 Italy
Badia a Coltibuono Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (375ml)
“The 2012 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is a very pretty and classic Vin Santo from white grapes. Roasted almond, dried flowers, nutmeg and light brown sugar all grace this mid-weight, nicely layered Vin Santo. Elegant and effusive in the glass, with striking aromatic presence, the 2012 is a winner.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous 93 pts 19161 Italy
Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2018
“The 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is complete and seamlessly stitched together with extreme care and precision. This is an almost technical blend of Merlot (at 50% of the blend for the first time), 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot that offers a true sense of wholeness and consistency that speaks to the blending expertise and experience of the winemaking team. Finding harmony among the various vinous components of the wine was especially important in this vintage that prized early-ripening grapes like Merlot over the others. Blackberry and dried cherry segue to spice, tar, campfire ash and more sweet fruit. We're off to a great start, and this vintage of Ornellaia is surely destined to flesh out and grow more complex with age.” Monica Larner, Wine Advocate 95 pts SKU: 17554 Italy
