James Suckling

Ansari is the new star in the Tedeschi Amarone firmament. Just 6,600 bottles were produced from the debut vintage in 2016. It is named after the three Tedeschi siblings Antonietta, Sabrina and Riccardo, who also select the three barrels from which the blend is made each year.

Rich bouquet of dried fruit, sultanas, rum pot and chocolate. Firm on the palate with an excellent structure, the opulent fruit centre is joined by balsamic, herbal notes and a piquant bitter note on the long finish. The perfect addition to the top-class Amarone range from the famous family winery. SUPERIORE.DE

"This new, limited production wine is the result of a super-selection of grapes from three sites. Long appassimento and evolution in Slavonian oak barrels make for a style which is big, rich and benchmark traditional, with up-front dried fruit and sweet spice on the nose and warm, glossy roundness on the palate." Decanter

"The Tedeschi 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Ansari shows a slightly milky personality with sweet cherry fruit, surrounded by white chocolate and candied almonds." Wine Advocate

"The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Ansari is dark and rich in the glass with an intoxicating bouquet of crushed cherries, rosemary, mocha and sweet tobacco. The palate shows a beautiful inner sweetness contrasted by a wave of tart red fruits and exotic spices, taking on a bitter hint of sour citrus towards the finish. The 2017 finishes incredibly long, leaving a hint of primary concentration along with angular tannins that promise many more years of development. " Vinous

"Incredibly dense aromas and flavours of fresh and dried black fruits, including currants, crushed berries, dates and passion fruit, along with notes of perfumed bark and walnuts. Full and fruity with a very fine tannin structure that drives the complex fruit flavours. Very long finish. Despite the 17.5% alcohol indicated on the bottle, it shows remarkable control. So drinkable now, but it should also age very well." James Suckling

Rose petals, mint, cinnamon, dark sweet cherries and smoke lift from the glass in a translucent, wiry Brunello that builds on energy, power and opulence. Here, length and fruit are in the foreground and, together with a clearly defined tannin structure, Leopoldo Franceschi's team has produced a wine here in a very classic vintage that will really reveal itself over the next few years. As always, it is one of our favourites, and its still outstanding value is also great fun! SUPERIORE.DE

"Wide-ranging bouquet with lots of cedar, ripe red and dark fruits, wild strawberries, cassis and red currants. Behind this, the wood barrel ageing also shows with fine cedar, cloves and dark spices as well as herbs. Rich, almost meaty and dense palate, not quite as dense as 2016, but immensely present freshness and dynamism, also the tannin network seems a bit leaner than usual and of best quality. Very persistent and long aftertaste with crunchy berries on the final." Weinwisser

"Firm, a touch animalic aroma of ripe mixed berries and a hint of plums with fleshy notes, tart nutty hints, pepper and ethereal herbal tones. Taut, tart, ripe, quite dense fruit, present, fine, youthful tannin and some acid bite, persistent, slightly herbaceous, tobacco and peppery, clearly salt in the background, plenty of power but also freshness, not eternally deep but perfectly vinified, very good, firm, tart finish." Wein-Plus

"Bright ruby red. Spicy-animalic nose, then ripe Amarena cherry and plum, walnut, undergrowth, shoe polish. On the palate equally earthy tones, wide-meshed tannin, plus dark fruit." Falstaff

"Shiny, deep ruby red. In the nose still quite closed with just a hint of Moroccan leather. On the palate pure cherry fruit flavours with lots of ripe acidity. Fantastic, compact, gravelly tannins that are a real tour de force in this vintage. A hedonistic whole that you can already approach but will improve with time." Jancis Robinson

"A smoky entry leads to leather and tobacco nuances that repeat on the palate. The 2018 is packed with flavours of cherries and baking spices. It feels medium-bodied but is very rich and its powerful bite contributes positively to the pleasing mouthfeel. It will get even better with another year in bottle." Decanter

"This is a flavourful, complex Brunello with aromas of fresh and sour cherries, plums, bay leaves, rosemary and olives. Also cloves and liquorice. It is medium to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Supple and well integrated, with a long and deliciously spicy finish." James Suckling

"The Il Poggione 2018 Brunello di Montalcino shows a dark and spicy character with more fruit weight and concentration than can be found in many of its competitors. This wine shows a dense focus padded with dark cherry, blackberry, roasted spice, mahogany smoked meat and ploughed earth. Despite the powerful flavours, this Sangiovese is actually quite lean and polished in texture. The tannins are soft and easily accessible. The estate's Riserva Vigna Paganelli was not made in 2018, so the fruit from this wine came here instead." Wine Advocate

"The dense structure sets the pace for this red wine, with aromas of cherry, raspberry, mint and tar that are appealing and expressive. Rosehip, orange peel and earth are evident in the long, expansive aftertaste. It is designed to last a long time." Wine Spectator

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino impresses from the first swirl of the glass, with a heady burst of exotic spices and crushed ash giving way to dried black cherries and grilled herbs. It combines the energy of the vintage with the dark, balsamic fruits of Montalcino's southern foothills, while zesty acidity maintains balance and minerals saturate towards the finish. The finish is long, savoury and structured, but its tannins are rounder than expected, giving it a classic feel but also leaving a delicious sensation that tempts the taster to reach for the glass again and again. The 2018 is certainly one of the top wines of the vintage, not to be missed." Vinous

"One of the first wineries to deal in Brunello, one of the founding members of the Consortium. A Brunello characterised by freshness, pomegranate on the nose, hints of citrus thyme and white pepper. The palate has juicy tannins with a fruity return." Luca Gardini

Vignamaggio's Sangiovese di Vitigliano is dark, expressive and complex. Complex bouquet of dark flowers, some pepper, leather and herbs. In the drink voluminous and straightforward with many nuances, fresh and with the Sangiovese typical acid wire. The full, firm body and the wonderfully present fruit flank its elegant, spicy finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Shows a good combination of richness and finesse from the get-go, sporting nuances of dark cherries, fresh herbs, red licorice, cedar and orange peel. Medium to full body, firm yet generous tannins, a good helping of round fruit and a savory, tangy finish." James Suckling

"Vignamaggio's 2015 Sangiovese di Vitigliano is dark, expressive and beautifully layered. Lavender, spice, leather and menthol wrap around a core of succulent dark cherry fruit. Plump and forward, with plenty of nuance, the 2015 has a lot to offer. This is an especially bold, potent style, but it works well. I would give the 2015 at least a few years in bottle to allow the tannins to soften." Vinous

The A in the name of the Boggina stands for the natural wine aged for about 6 months in terracotta amphorae of 400-600 Liters each, which is bottled in an edition of just 1,200 bottles without further addition of sulphites. Bright, luminous garnet red. The bouquet is ethereal, very delicate and nuanced, with a very precise fragrance interpretation of the Sangiovese grape. Medium-bodied, with a beautiful structure and authentic Sangiovese fruit. The finish is highly drinkable, with silky tannins and beguiling length. A masterpiece of beauty and elegance. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, lightening garnet red. Very fragrant and open nose, full of ripe raspberries, delicate spice in the background. On the palate hearty tannin, seems a bit raw, again lots of wild raspberry, salty." Falstaff

"A pure expression of Sangiovese, the Petrolo 2019 Val d'Arno di Sopra Bòggina A flaunts its distinct personality. Made in amphorae, this pretty wine is punchy, bright and edgy. To the nose, it exhibits dark berry and wild cherry with wet earth, rusty nail and pressed violets. It sports a mid-weight mouthfeel, and there are hints of sweet plum and dried currant on the close. This is a radically unique expression of Tuscany's workhorse Sangiovese grape." Wine Advocate

"Sweet berries with orange peel and hints of cedar and raw tile. Very perfumed. Full-bodied with chewy tannins, yet they are polished and natural. Really juicy and flavorful. Made in amphora." James Suckling

"The 2019 Sangiovese Vigna Boggina is fabulous. Bright, gracious and light on its feet, the 2019 oozes class. Crushed red berry fruit, white flowers, mint and orange peel are some of the notes that grace this wonderfully translucent Sangiovese from Petrolo. The 2019 is one of the best wines I have ever tasted here. " Vinous

Benanti's new white wine comes 100% from the small vineyard (Contrada) Cavaliere. The vineyards in the municipality of Santa Maria di Licodìa develop at a considerable altitude (approx. 900 metres above sea level) with favourable conditions for all indigenous varieties, both red and white berries, which are cultivated here with Guyot pruning. Here, both the Nerello and the Carricante produce wines with a well-defined structure and typical varietal flavours. The vines are around 50 years old and grow on sandy, volcanic soil that is rich in minerals. The climate is alpine, with little rainfall and provides the vines with a high degree of ventilation and very large temperature differences between day and night.

Straw yellow in colour with bright green reflections. The bouquet is intense, rich, generous and delicately fruity with hints of orange blossom and ripe apple. The palate is dry, mineral, harmonious with a pleasant acidity, aromatic pressure and an interesting aftertaste of aniseed and almonds. SUPERIORE.DE

"Cool, polished and tart, somewhat vegetal nose with very light, cool yellow fruity and nutty tones as well as slightly yeasty notes and a hint of parsley. Clear, cool, tart fruit, again bright nutty flavours, a little vegetal and yeasty in the background, chalk, salt, parsley and a hint of smoke, good persistence, elegant style, with tension, persistent, still rather undeveloped, very good, firm finish with cool, bright juice, some smoke, nuts and clear minerality." Wein-Plus

"Contrada Cavaliere on Etna's southwest slope is situated at around 950 metres above sea level. Benanti's unoaked white from here is lemony and floral, light and stony, with a fresh, peachy mid-palate and a bright finish." Decanter

"This clean, saline white wine is creamy on the palate and offers a smooth mesh of green melon, grapefruit zest, beeswax and eucalyptus notes that linger on the finish." Wine Spectator

"The Benanti 2021 Etna Bianco Contrada Cavaliere initially shows a layer of citrus fruit, then bitter almond and unripe peach. The bouquet is rather neutral at this young stage and develops subtly and slowly in the glass. It has a bright golden colour with greenish reflections. The finish is very clean and ends with a pronounced mineral character. Contrada Cavaliere is located on the south-west side of the volcano in Santa Maria di Licodia at an altitude of 950 metres. You should expect a beautiful aromatic development of this bottle over the next few years." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of sliced apples, savory herbs, green olives and white pepper. Some stony minerality, too. Medium-bodied, layered and round-textured with vivid acidity. It is tense and persisting with a mineral nature and attractive spicy, green-herb savory undertones. Lengthy and textural." James Suckling

"On the nose, fragrant tulips and white flowers are balanced by spicy notes of grass and stone, with undertones of bitter citrus and herbs. On the refreshing yet full-bodied palate, the citrus fruits sweeten the iced tea with lemonade, while the herbal notes linger on the finish." Wine Enthusiast

Just like the equally famous neighbour Fattoria Petrolo (with his Boggina A), Il Borro can also convince us with a red wine aged in amphorae. Petruna is a pure Sangiovese, fermented in hermetically sealed amphorae with skin contact for 12 months. The result is surprising, not in the sense of an "interesting" experimental wine, but because the typical character of Sangiovese is fully expressed in freshness, fruit and energy. The bouquet is dominated by cherry and small red berries, along with some orange zest. His body is of medium weight, which makes him an excellent eating companion. Its fresh acidity and an array of fine tannins increase the drinking pleasure enormously. Experiment succeeded in an elegant way, we can say. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, bright ruby. Very fragrant, open nose, floral, after violets, pomegranate, blood oranges, rhubarb, delicate white pepper. On the palate with lots of fruit and plenty of juice, fine texture, lively on the tongue, medium to slender body, well balanced, enjoys enormous flow, powerful tannin in the aftertaste." Falstaff

"Bright and fresh with cherries, watermelon and orange peel. Light body. Fine tannins and crisp acidity. A pure, single vineyard sangiovese made in amphora." James Suckling

"My reaction to this wine is overwhelmingly positive. This is a pure expression of organic Sangiovese that is farmed with extreme care, down to one kilogram of fruit per plant. The grapes are fermented in clay amphorae with daily punch-downs. The clay vessels are then sealed with steel lids, and the wine is left in contact with the skins for 12 months. The results are offbeat and provocative for sure, but the wine pleases the senses thanks to its grape-skin purity and firm mid-weight texture. The freshness and energy of the fruit comes through loud and clear, and you don't feel the heat of the vintage whatsoever. I give it my thumbs up." Wine Advocate

Rich cuvée from the white grape varieties of Friuli. The bouquet of white flowers and yellow fruits has a pleasant smoky note. In the taste opulent flavours of yellow and white fruits, dried apricots and honey, the balanced acid gives backbone and structure. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Livio Felluga 2017 Rosazzo Abbazia di Rosazzo is a beautiful choice made from a carefully contemplated blend of Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon, Malvasia and Ribolla Gialla. The wine is balanced and bountiful with orchard fruit, peach, honey and Golden Delicious apple. There is so much intensity and brightness here, and each one of the individual grapes fits together with jigsaw puzzle precision. The warm vintage adds softness, extra density and concentration. But the wine is elegant, fresh and mineral-driven nonetheless. If you are looking for a benchmark white from Friuli, look no further." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of pear skin, waxed lemon, dried pineapple, yoghurt and sea salt. It’s medium-to full-bodied with tangy acidity and a waxy texture. Fantastic concentration and phenolic texture. Beautifully layered with a mineral, saline finish. Long and complex." James Suckling

Bright ruby red with a light rim. Equally bright and very complex bouquet of wild berries, strawberries, dried fruits, tar and balsamic herbs. On the palate, a very attractive, supple texture, again a beautiful red berry fruit in the drink, plus traces of blackcurrant, blueberry and liquorice. In the long, squeaky clean finish, traces of well-integrated light wood and a very appealing silkiness. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium to deep ruby red with orange highlights. Brooding but ripe on the nose. Lots of juicy cherry fruit and crisp tannins. A blockbuster, but a finely balanced one." Jancis Robinson

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is rich and haunting dark, with masses of cherry and raspberry sauce giving way to sweet violet flowers. The palate is velvety, with balsamic spice and red and black fruits lifted by cool acidity. It leaves a hint of primary concentration balanced by a touch of sour citrus, and finishes with smooth tannins and a strong power. There's a lot going on here, and it has the ability to age over the medium term." Vinous

"Aromas of fresh raspberries, sour cherries, lemons, walnuts and vanilla beans. It is juicy and flavourful with a medium body and creamy tannins. The tangy fruit transitions into creamy chocolate. Wonderfully drinkable." James Suckling

"A juicy style for the vintage, with aromas of cherries, raspberries, flowers, graphite and spices. Balanced and lively, with bright acidity and refined tannins for support. Shows lovely length." Wine Spectator

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino shows dark fruit and oak spice and tends towards the more powerful and voluminous side of the Brunello spectrum. The wine is open-knit and approachable. The finish shows a softer side with polished tannins." Wine Advocate

"The nose begins with a shooting star of sweet candied cherry and vanilla before it burns up and leaves behind a dark, savory sky of coffee, old leather and burnt caramel. The sun rises on the palate, with strawberry and blood orange notes joining the resurgent cherry. Compressed tannins and vigorous acidity provide structure." Wine Enthusiast

Rich, deep dark ruby with garnet reflections. Very expressive fragrance of grilled herbs, compote of red berries and a fine note of young leather. Compact on the palate, with a beautiful spiciness and a rich balsamic style that is recognizable even at a young age, giving it depth, elegance and a distinctive character. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich garnet. Spicy nose of leather, rich dark berry fruit and light fumé. Juicy tannin on the palate, stretches out heartily, powerful, also slightly salty." Falstaff

"Pretty merlot with green-olive and berry character. Hints of chocolate and leather, too. Medium to full body, round and savory tannins. Give it a year or two to soften. Try after 2020." James Suckling

"The 2015 Merlot di Santa Maria is another impressive wine in this range from Vignamaggio. Black cherry, chocolate, mocha, spice and new leather all flesh out in a deep, succulent wine loaded with personality as well as character. Readers should expect a rich, flamboyant style with ripeness pushed to the edge. All the elements come together nicely in this heady, exotic Merlot from Vignamaggio." Vinous

Sansonina is a strictly limited and very ambitious project of the Zenato family, using only the best grapes from their own vineyards. Only a small amount of it reaches the specialist trade each year in numbered bottles.

A textbook-like bouquet of a slightly mature Merlot with dark fruit depth and beautiful notes of graphite and flint. Warm and soft on the palate, yet punchy, very precise and dry, at the same time showing lots of dark cherries and a fine sweet spiciness. You can literally feel the Lake Garda climate in its fresh and extremely harmonious character and you can be very excited about further years of bottle ageing! SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2019 Merlot Veronese smells of herbs, crushed cherries and blueberries. It feels soft, almost creamy, with juicy acidity that balances and bright red and blue fruits that cascade. It finishes with a pleasant inner sweetness, leaving grippy tannins that retain a lovely freshness. This incredibly beautiful Merlot will capture many hearts." Vinous

"Aromas of bright and ripe black cherries vie with lightly charred roasting herbs, mild chili and dark floral notes. Full-bodied and silky with very fine tannins that are well sunk into the wine, allowing the fruit to build through the palate. Long, long finish with a gentle expansion of tannin and fruit. Classy. So tempting now, but will gain in complexity over a few years." James Suckling