Wine Enthusiast

Palazzo Lana Extrême Riserva is a masterpiece from a great vintage. The pure Pinot Nero is characterised by a complex bouquet of fresh yeast, pear and lemongrass. Bright fruit on the palate, firm, with lively acidity and wonderfully consistent perlage. SUPERIORE.DE

The great Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra from the historic Clerico vineyard. Bright garnet red colour. Open-hearted bouquet of ripe fruit and spices, the elegant tannins are accompanied by a pleasant freshness in the complex flavour, deep and long on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Rich, concentrated Bordeaux-style red with the unmistakable signature of top oenological consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt. Multi-layered black fruit on the nose, plus rock, liquorice, camphor and graphite. Impressively supple on the palate, the fruit is always juicy and centred, wonderful and almost perfect in structure, polish, elegance and length. SUPERIORE.DE

Galatrona is a pure Merlot in a class of its own. Black-red ruby in the glass. Black berries, fine woody spice and some leather on the nose. Very generous fruit flavours and extremely complex on the palate, it glides elegantly into the depths until it is picked up by a finely woven tannin and leads into a long and finesse-rich finish. A wine that has no need to hide behind Masseto & Co. On the contrary, for us it has been Italy's Merlot benchmark for years. SUPERIORE.DE

The loose, sandy soils of Cannubi always ensure a special concentration of flavour, and this is particularly evident in this classic vintage. A clean bouquet of small red berries, violets and dried rose petals. A fine mineral note, a pinch of salt and plenty of fruit and a clearly contoured tannin structure on the multi-layered palate. A beautifully straightforward wine, powerful and elegant. SUPERIORE.DE

Mazzei's top wine Siepi is not only an outstanding Tuscan wine every year, but also a 6-hectare vineyard in the middle of dense oak forests with an ideal altitude and a unique climate. The sunshine is optimal throughout the day and a constant breeze from the west prevents excessive heat and creates a mild, Mediterranean climate. The oak forests also provide an ideal protective barrier against extreme weather conditions. Rocky soils of marl, limestone and clay from the Pliocene period ensure a special balance of elements in this geological complex.

Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta enchants the senses with a burst of spicy citrus fruits, cherries and incense that leaps from the glass. With each swirl, further depth unfolds with complementary notes of dried roses, cocoa and cloves. The wine is elegant and silky smooth with a harmonious blend of ripe red and blue fruits, a savoury core and gorgeous florals that build towards the finish. Hard red candy and a hint of violet pastille linger long while the mouth craves more. This wine is full of energy, it is already delicious now, but it needs a few more years to fully develop. SUPERIORE.DE

Barolo Cerequio is darker and richer than the Cannubi, but it too shows plenty of elegance in its dark cherries, plums, spices, cocoa and roasted coffee beans. Aromatics, fruit and structure are very well balanced in this delicious medium to full-bodied Barolo. As is so often the case with this bottling, the voice of Cerequio comes into its own. SUPERIORE.DE

La Poja from the vineyard of the same name is a great terroir wine in which Allegrini does not dry the grapes. Made from the indigenous Corvina grape variety, this red wine opens with inviting aromas of ripe black-skinned berries, cedar wood and spices. The elegantly structured, full-bodied palate offers spiced blackberries, liquorice and black pepper alongside fine-grained tannins. Dynamic, precise and very elegant in all its components, it offers maximum enjoyment and promises a terrific development. SUPERIORE.DE

Bright, powerful ruby colour, aromas of cherry, redcurrant, cocoa and tar. Juicy, spicy and bright, with firm acidity and taut tannins that give it definition and lift to the flavours. Very fresh and precise, persistent and smooth. It has outstanding potential. If you taste the decades-old wines from Mastroberardino (dating back to 1928), it becomes clear: these wines are monumental, immortal or at least for eternity. SUPERIORE.DE

Barbera d'Alba Scarrone from the vineyard of the same name is a beautifully complex, rich Barbera cru. Aromas of dark, fragrant fruit, spices, liquorice and minerals. Opulent and impeccably balanced, silky tannins, sweet floral notes on the long, dry finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Ricasoli's classic is now made from 100% Sangiovese. The grapes come from a south-facing plot at an ideal altitude of 250 to 450 metres above sea level. Castello di Brolio Gran Selezione is a wonderful wine with great richness and depth. It has an intense bouquet of small red berries, violets and spices. The flavour reveals precision, structure and freshness. The tannin and acidity are well-balanced and promise a long life and an interesting ageing period. SUPERIORE.DE

Barbaresco Bricco di Treiso presents itself with more power and depth than the normal Barbaresco. Dark red stone fruit, menthol, spices, leather and some cedar wood on the nose. Powerful on the palate, even at a young age, with plenty of muscle power which, together with the harmoniously balanced tannin and acidity structure, suggests a great, long life with a promising development. SUPERIORE.DE

Barolo Ornato is a great wine every year. With its wild herbs, minerals and ferrous notes, it captures the true character of Serralunga. Its bouquet shows small berry fruits and cassis, framed by gravel, forest floor, blue flowers and candied orange peel. The wine also has a dusty, mineral note and is very intense both on the nose and on the palate. Ornato starts with finely integrated tannins and an acidity that sustains all these fruit flavours. A wine that is consistently vertical, straightforward and frontal. SUPERIORE.DE

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

The 1.6-hectare Loreto vineyard is located on a slope right next to the winery and has an ideal south-east exposure. Vigna Loreto is only vinified in the best vintages and is an even more intense interpretation of the Sangiovese grape. On the palate, the texture is both creamy and robust, with a depth and fullness that make it very rich and exceptional. With further aeration, beautiful notes of black fruits, tobacco and spices. Aristocratic, powerful and very long. SUPERIORE.DE

Vigorello was created back in 1968 at the beginning of the Super Tuscan movement. It is a powerful yet refined wine that bursts from the glass with unadulterated tones of black fruit, liquorice, rose and dried lavender, Mediterranean herbs and a sweet hint of vanilla. The balance and structure are outstanding and it will develop even more complexity over time. SUPERIORE.DE

Masari only brings its famous Merlot to the cellar and bottle in the best years. Dark, deep garnet red in colour. Aromas of black, ripe fruit with spices, balsamic herbs, aniseed and liquorice on the nose. Well and firmly structured on the palate with silky tannins and a wonderful mouthfeel. Despite its maturity, it appears much younger as it has a harmonious acid wire on the finish. 100% Merlot - 100% terroir. SUPERIORE.DE

Lisini's vineyards are located between Sant'Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell'Abate on the inner edge of the Sesta area and are cleansed by the constant breeze from the Tuscan coast. The stony soils with a significant proportion of limestone and the altitude of over 300 metres help to maintain the freshness of the wines. The 2018 is wonderfully fragrant, almost exotic. Plump red fruits and sweet summer herbs fill the mouth, but instead of being heavy, it is balanced and transparent. The powdery tannins are fine and lead to a long, maritime finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Concentrated colour, wide, complex fragrance that changes from sweet berry aromas to delicately spicy clove and cinnamon nuances and finally to very fresh menthol accents. Almost creamy in its soft nature, the rich, voluptuous taste. Every year D'Alceo is a dazzlingly attractive wine, which with French elegance and international flair convincingly represents above all its Chianti terroir. SUPERIORE.DE