Italian Wine Over $100

The word Vigna has been added to the official name of this wine to underline work in the appellation meant to focus on single-vineyard designates. The Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli comes from a unique growing... Read More

The Altesino 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva holds tight to its unique character and power. The classic 2016 vintage produced generous wines that are layered and rich but also coiled tightly at their core. This wine exemplifies... Read More

The Marchesi Antinori 2019 Solaia is another blockbuster success from Tuscany's leading wine estate. The blend sees a slightly higher percentage of Cabernet Franc and a slightly lower percentage of Sangiovese. The current... Read More

Showing muscle and restraint, this opulent, full-bodied red opens with subtle aromas of camphor, cassis, espresso and star anise. The concentrated, enveloping palate features raisin, steeped prune, licorice and mocha while velvety... Read More

Showing muscle and restraint, this opulent, full-bodied red opens with subtle aromas of camphor, cassis, espresso and star anise. The concentrated, enveloping palate features raisin, steeped prune, licorice and mocha while velvety... Read More

Argiolas is the foremost wine estate on the island of Sardinia producing archetypal wines from native varietals. Antonio Argiolas, who died in 2009 at the age of 102, inherited seven acres of vines from his father in 1938 and... Read More

Surprising complexity from blackberry jam to rose potpourri, nutmeg to pepper, pine resin to mint, clove to cocoa. Soft and persuasive, intense, persistent finish. Fresh, with complex.

This is a superbly delicate and carefully finessed wine that interprets the growing season with its alternating cold and hot intervals in an impeccable manner. The Bartolo Mascarello 2018 Barolo puts Nebbiolo and the vintage seamlessly... Read More

Density and dryness that really comes together here, after almost 10 years in bottle. It’s very deep and vertical on the palate. Very pure and beautiful crushed cherries, dried flowers, carbon and pumice. Wonderful all round.... Read More

The Biondi-Santi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is initially a reticent wine and one that does not immediately subscribe to the overstated abundance and exuberance of the vintage. Give it time. I wrote this review after several... Read More

Tasted from an unfinished shiner bottle, the Caprili 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva AdAlberto is a single-vineyard expression that has drawn its fruit from the same site since 2010. The wine is dedicated to the paternal figure... Read More

Very young deep red. Very intense nose: Hints of red fruit, particularly cherry, are perfectly related to the usual balsamic notes of the Tenuta Nuova. Endless at the palate: Rich, deep and full bodied with an extremely pure fruit.... Read More

The Rose delle Casasse is likely, the only Barbaresco made from Nebbiolo Rose. Some believe Nebbiolo Rose to be a clone of Nebbiolo though in Ian d'Agata's book, The Grapes of Italy, he writes that it has been proven that... Read More

A super generous red with spices, meat and berry character. Full body with round and velvety tannins. Rich and generous. Gorgeous wine. A blend of cabernet sauivgnon and petite verdot. Much better in 2015 when the tannins come... Read More

Shows plum and chocolate character, with hints of cedar and light toasty oak. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long finish. Very chewy. Slightly hollow, but impressive. Merlot. Best after 2010. 430 cases made. –JS... Read More

One of the greatest Italian Merlots, the pedigree of L'Apparita is evident the minute you raise the glass to your nose. Notes of cherry and blackberry are seamlessly integrated with touches of oak spice, leather, tobacco and... Read More

L'Apparita has enjoyed cult status right from its first vintage, 1985. Lying at the top of the Bellavista vineyard, at an elevation of 490 metres, is the collection of small parcels that make up the L'Apparita vineyard,... Read More

The 2015 Barolo Riserva Cannubi is a fleshed-out and concentrated expression with black and purple fruits. Texture plays an important role in the power and momentum of the wine. This Riserva also reveals delicate touches of smoke,... Read More

This drop-dead gorgeous wine opens with enticing aromas of rose petal, small red berry, new leather and pipe tobacco. Delicious and smooth, the elegant palate delivers juicy red cherry, spiced cranberry, licorice and cake spice... Read More

The first bottlings of our MunJebel rosso classico were blends of 2 vintages which I have always liked as it gives a good idea of a larger area instead of a vintage wine. When I stopped blending vintages as of the 2012 vintage... Read More

Lots of rose-petal aromas here, together with some stems and sandalwood, as well plums and berries. Medium-bodied with a tight palate and very fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Linear and focused. Hints of nutmeg and... Read More

This verges on thick yet remains balanced and vibrant, courtesy of the lively acidity. Boasts blackberry, dark plum and blueberry flavors framed by tar and toasty oak. The finish is both dense and clean, with a hint of licorice.... Read More

Of the three Barolo samples I tasted from barrel (including Arione and Cerretta, which are also from Serralunga d'Alba), the Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Francia was the furthest behind and the hardest to pin down at this... Read More

Coming on the heels of the scorching hot 2017, this vintage started off with lots of rain in April and May that required preventative measures against fungal disease. Splendid heat and sunshine marked the summer months, but the... Read More