The 2011 Rioja Gran Reserva 904 has been one of my go-to cuv?es since my earliest days as a wine lover. This latest release is a blend of 60-year-old Tempranillo from Briñas, Rodenzo and Villalba (89%) and the remainder Graciano from the Montecillo...
A pure streak of raspberry and peony marks this elegant red, with accents of black pepper, earth, graphite and tobacco. Firm, stretching out on the finish, showing echoes of fruit, earth and mineral
The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva is fabulous. There are more 'important' wines in the range, but the Riserva delivers superb quality for the money. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice and cloves show a darker side of Sangiovese that is quite attra...
The 2017 Aglianico Jungano is just terrific, offering a soft and round expression of the often-rigid Aglianico grape. There's lots of dark berry fruit with sweet spice, tobacco, barbecue rub and tar. This is a great vintage and an even better value for Ag...
The Ciro Picariello 2022 Fiano di Avellino is an elegant and silky expression from a hot vintage. High-elevation vines at 650 meters above sea level on clay volcanic soils serve to protect this wine against any excessive ripeness. Instead, this unoaked wi...
The 2020 Brut Contadino is a total pleasure, opening with hints of spicy ginger and dried flowers that evolve into a blend of young peach and crushed rocks. This is decidedly savory and mineral in style, with a creamy bead of massaging bubbles that soo...