|
Italy |
1988 |
Sassicaia - owc 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£2,600 |
Wine Journal
Jul 2011 Neal Martin 96 Drink N/A $275-$627
The 1988 Sassicaia retains its spellbinding bouquet; pure black plum, tobacco, melted tar and liquorices, demonstrating thrilling definition and life-affirming vigour. The palate is medium-bodied with a beguiling sense of symmetry: perfect balance between austerity and Tuscan voluptuousness, yet the complement each other rather than cancelling each other out. Crushed stones, a touch of black pepper, burnt toast, very fresh on the Graves-like finish, this is Sassicaia in excelsis. Tasted February 2010.
|
|
96 |
|
Italy |
1990 |
Rampolla Sammarco - oc 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£575 |
Rating
93
Release Price
$45
Drink Date
1997 - 2010
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
28th Apr 1995
Source
98, The Wine Advocate
The 1990 Sammarco may prove to be a worthy rival to the glorious 1985. The saturated ruby/purple/garnet color is followed by an intense yet youthful fragrance of ripe black fruits, vanillin, and minerals. Full-bodied, rich, beautifully delineated and structured, it possesses considerable body, tannin, and extract. Although accessible, it is extremely young and ideally should have another 2-4 years of cellaring. It should age well for 15+ years. As I have said many times, Sammarco always reminds me of a top Graves, because of the tobacco/mineral component it often displays. This outstanding Tuscan producer has been exceptionally consistent over the last decade, so it is not surprising that the 1990s performed brilliantly. Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY; Tel. (212) 629-0200
|
|
93 |
|
Italy |
1990 |
Solaia - owc 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,500 |
Rating
94
Release Price
$75
Drink Date
2014
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
31st Oct 1994
Source
95, The Wine Advocate
The 1990 Solaia is slightly more concentrated than the 1990 Tignanello, with a saturated purple color, and a classic, international nose of cassis, lead pencil, vanillin, and smoke. It is gorgeously rich, with a fat, unctuous texture, and a long, highly extracted finish. Well-balanced and already delicious, it remains unevolved and is potentially a 12-20 year wine. In the context of recent Solaias, I would rate it a worthy competitor to the other-worldly 1985. It is certainly much more opulent, with sweeter, jammier, richer fruit than the 1988 (most recently rated 88 points).
|
|
94 |
|
Italy |
1994 |
Rampolla Sammarco - oc 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£425 |
Rating
87
Release Price
$65
Drink Date
1999 - 2010
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
30th Oct 1998
Source
119, The Wine Advocate
The dark ruby/purple-colored 1994 Sammarco, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Sangiovese, reveals aromas of lead pencil, charred leather, black cherries, and toasty oak. With moderately high tannin, and a more angular, austere personality than is generally found in Sammarco, this very good to excellent effort will benefit from 1-2 years of cellaring. It should keep for 12 or more years.
|
|
87 |
|
Italy |
2001 |
Machiole Paleo Rosso |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,150 |
Rating
97
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2016 - 2028
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
29th Jan 2016
Source
Interim - January 2016, The Wine Advocate
The 2001 Paleo comes together with stunning intensity and balance. If you have a bottle, this wine is absolutely at its prime. This pure expression of Cabernet Franc ushers forth a steady release of black fruit, crushed granite, liquid smoke, licorice, cola and grilled herb. This is one of the first and most important expressions of the French grape made in Italy. Today, some 15 years after the release of this wine, Cabernet Franc is among the hottest varieties on coastal Tuscany--and it's all thanks to the success of Paleo. There is a profound level of complexity and elegance here that is contrasted perfectly against the wine's rich texture and opulence. The wine shows equal parts breed and brawn. Le Macchiole has created the precedent for world class Cabernet Franc from Tuscany.
|
|
97 |
|
Italy |
2004 |
Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£375 |
|
|
|
|
Italy |
2005 |
Masseto - owc 3x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,675 |
THE WINE ADVOCATE
The 2005 Masseto (Merlot) is simply gorgeous. A wine of extraordinary class and personality, it remains very primary in its dark fruit, licorice, cassis and toasted oak. It offers notable concentration and well-integrated tannins, all of which convey an impression of awesome harmony, finesse and balance. The tricky growing season seems to have been less of an issue for the Merlot, particularly in the old-vine Masseto Centrale vineyard. The 2005 Masseto has been superb every time I have tasted it thus far. As is often the case, the wine requires at least a few years of bottle age before it becomes approachable. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025. It is impossible not to be impressed by the consistent results Ornellaia achieves year after year. This is a gorgeous set of wines from oenologist Axel Heinz and agronomist/General Manager Leonardo Raspini. In general, the estate’s 2005s are smaller-scaled wines than is often the case, but they offer remarkable balance and plenty of style. As outstanding as the 2005s are, the 2006s are simply off the charts. They are thrilling wines that have tons of everything. fruit, acidity and structure to burn. Even though 2005 was a fresher vintage than 2006, Heinz reported that the 2006s have higher acidities that developed as a result of the unique qualities of the growing season. Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate # 177
|
|
94 |
|
Italy |
2005 |
Sassicaia |
2 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,800 |
The 2005 Sassicaia is another strong effort from Tenuta San Guido. Medium in body, it reveals an understated, delicate expression of smoke, herbs, tobacco and sweet dark fruit. The wine possesses compelling harmony and a gorgeous sense of inner perfume that flows from start to finish. This is an outstanding showing in a very challenging vintage. Sassicaia is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.
Score: 93 Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate (177), June 2008
Dark ruby in color, showing aromas of currant, new oak and fresh herbs, with hints of spices. Full-bodied, with very chewy tannins and an outstanding concentration of fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Needs plenty of bottle age. Best after 2012. 20,000 cases made.
Score: 94 James Suckling, Wine Spectator, October 2008
|
|
93 |
|
Italy |
2006 |
Ornellaia 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£850 |
The 2006 Ornellaia (magnum) is a massive, towering masterpiece. There is awesome depth and richness to be found in the glass. Flowers, minerals, tar smoke and dark fruit are all woven in an intricate fabric of almost indescribable elegance and power. Tonight the 2006 Ornellaia is absolutely moving in its beauty and expressiveness. Vintage 2006 will go down as one of the all-time greats in Tuscany, and Bolgheri in particular, as all of that region’s benchmark wines are spectacular. The 2006 shows the intensity of the small berries that were harvested that year, with exceptional concentration, acidity and freshness, qualities that are precious and exceedingly rare when they are found in a single wine. In 2006 the final blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Simply put, the 2006 Ornellaia is a must-have bottle.
|
|
97 |
|
Italy |
2006 |
Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£990 |
Rating
93
Release Price
$60
Drink Date
2012 - 2024
Reviewed by
Antonio Galloni
Issue Date
2nd May 2011
Source
194, The Wine Advocate
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is fabulous in this vintage. Waves of dark fruit caress the palate as this juicy, delicious wine reveals its considerable charms. The fruit shows lovely weight and richness while maintaining an essentially mid-weight personality. Sweet scents of French oak linger on the round, caressing, impeccable finish. This is an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next decade-plus. The harvest took place from the 2nd to the 5th of October. The wine spent 24 days on the skins, after which it was racked into cask, where it spent 45 months prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.
|
|
93 |
|
Italy |
2006 |
Roagna Barbaresco Crichet Paje - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£3,600 |
The 2006 Barbaresco Crichët Pajé is one of the most open, accessible vintages of this wine I can remember tasting. But it's still Roagna, which means the wine is powerful and structured, but less so than is typically the case. Iron, smoke, incense, tobacco, autumn leaves and a host of ferrous, savory notes are some of the signatures. As is sometimes the case here, extended time in barrel has dried out the fruit a bit. This is a style that personally gives me less pleasure, although, as the saying goes, your mileage may vary.
-- Antonio Galloni
|
|
93 |
|
Italy |
2007 |
Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£420 |
Rating
92
Release Price
$60
Drink Date
2009 - 2022
Reviewed by
Antonio Galloni
Issue Date
31st Aug 2009
Source
184, The Wine Advocate
The just-bottled 2007 Le Serre Nuove opens with sweet scents of mocha, berries, spices and flowers that lead to a soft, seamless expression of fruit. This is an accessible, silky-textured Serre Nuove to enjoy while the 2006 rests in the cellar. It is an unusually harmonious, refined wine that is sure to deliver much pleasure over the coming years. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.
|
|
92 |
|
Italy |
2007 |
Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£450 |
The 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva emerges with hints of smoke, underbrush, licorice, leather and wild cherries. The wine gains volume and depth in the glass as its sheer pedigree emerges over time. There is plenty of muscle to back up the delicate aromatics in a striking balance of elegance and power, all in an essentially classic, mid-weight style. The round, deeply satisfying finish makes it hard to put the glass down.
|
|
91 |
|
Italy |
2007 |
Masseto - owc 3x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,450 |
The immediate, voluptuous personality of the 2007 Masseto was on full display. Round, seamless and totally beautiful, the 2007 stood out for its balance and overall harmony.
|
|
96 |
|
Italy |
2009 |
Bartolo Mascarello Barolo |
1 |
Case |
Mag |
Convert Price£2,200 |
Bartolo Mascarello fans will want to stock up on the 2009 Barolo, a great choice for indulging in pure pleasure while vintages like 2006, 2008 and 2010 take their time to develop in bottle. Dried rose petals, fennel, anise, sweet tobacco and mint are all very much alive in the glass. The 2009 is ethereal, graceful and utterly beguiling from the very first taste. I expect the 2009 will mature relatively quickly by the estate's standards, but there is more positive to that than negative.
|
|
94 |
|
Italy |
2010 |
Gaja Sori Tildin |
1 |
Bottle |
Double Mag |
Convert Price£1,150 |
96+
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2018 - 2040
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
28th Jun 2013
Source
207, The Wine Advocate
Gaia Gaja uses the word “salty” to describe this next wine, and I see her point. The 2010 Sori Tildin shows a dry, firmly structured quality that enhances those extraordinary, breezy overtones of lead pencil and brimstone that so fittingly frame the Nebbiolo grape. The lingering end-notes of rose petal, ginger and cedar are striking. You immediately feel the tannic structure and power of the wine. The jump is very sharp next to the Costa Russi, and that’s why this is one of Gaja’s best cellar-agers. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.
|
|
96 |
|
Italy |
2010 |
Isole e Olena Cabernet Collezione Privata |
1 |
Case |
Mag |
Convert Price£550 |
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione De Marchi is magnificent. Violets, smoke, plums and cassis jump from the glass in a stunning wine. All I can say is the 2010 is incredible. Just bottled one month ago, the 2010 shows no hard edges, incredibly expressive aromatics and beautifully delineated fruit. The 2010 isn’t a huge wine, but rather one built on exceptional finesse and elegance. It is one of the great wines of what has turned out to be a great Tuscan vintage.
|
|
98 |
|
Italy |
2010 |
Messorio Macchiole - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£575 |
Rating
95
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2015 - 2025
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
29th Aug 2013
Source
208, The Wine Advocate
The 2010 Messorio will shed its baby fat and some of those pronounced oak tones as it unwinds in the cellar. This is an expertly crafted Merlot that offers so much in terms of charm, intensity and finesse. The opulence of its dark fruit and black cherry is offset against lingering tones of spice and leather. You'll need to wait a bit. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. Cinzia Merli and her expert team (with consulting enologist Luca D'Attoma) have this extraordinary capacity of transmitting the poise and grace they possess as people to the wines they make. Unlike many others in the area, Le Macchiole reported excellent results in 2010 and started harvest in many blocks just a few days later than normal thanks to slow and steady fruit ripening at slightly cooler temperatures. The 2010 vintage, they inform me, may be their best yet this century. For my tastes, 2010 does indeed show exceptional balance but I wouldn't put it ahead of standout vintages like 2007 and 2004.
|
|
95 |
|
Italy |
2010 |
Valdicava Madonna del Piano Brunello Riserva - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£650 |
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is shaping up to be a real beauty. Powerful and dramatic, but also remarkably polished for such a big wine, the 2010 has a lot going on. Raspberry jam, wild flowers, spices, new leather, smoke and tobacco are laced into the powerful intense finish. The 2010 is an especially finessed Madonna del Piano with a bright future.
|
|
96 |
|
Italy |
2010 |
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto Brunello di Montalcino - 3x75 |
2 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£825 |
Rating
99+
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2018 - 2045
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
4th Mar 2016
Source
223, The Wine Advocate
This is a towering achievement. It is delightful on every level. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is an expressive, exuberant and stunning wine that opens to a dark ruby color and rich consistency. The bouquet is never-ending with immediate intensity that is followed closely by finely-tuned aromas of black cherry, spice, grilled herb, clove, tobacco, wet earth and white truffle. A gorgeous display of elegant mineral tones rises from the bouquet with time. Later, those aromas turn to cola, licorice and tar. This wine showed an impressive evolution over the 24 hours I tasted it and delivered solid improvements each time. The mouthfeel is silky and smooth, and there's enough power here to move the wine over the palate in seamless fashion. This is a bottle for the back of your cellar.
|
|
99 |
|
Italy |
2010 |
Salvioni La Cerbaiola Brunello di Montalcino - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,125 |
Rating
98
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2018 - 2038
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
4th Mar 2016
Source
223, The Wine Advocate
Salvioni makes stunning wines that appeal to die-hard Brunello fanatics. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiole shows enormous purity, varietal personality and beautifully balanced intensity. The wine hits all of your senses at once. The bouquet offers red cherry, licorice, dried rosemary, ginger and cola. You taste the most elegant, delicate and ethereal notes that can be extracted from Sangiovese. The tannins are super fine and the texture is silky and supple. This is an iconic wine.
|
|
98 |
|
Italy |
2010 |
Elio Grasso Barolo Runcot Riserva |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,200 |
|
|
|
|
Italy |
2011 |
Tignanello - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£375 |
Kirsch, rose petal, pomegranate, exotic spices and mint are woven together in a fabric of notable class in the 2011 Tignanello. An exotic wine that captures the essence of the year, the 2011 is endowed with magnificent complexity, nuance and class. The silky, polished finish makes the 2011 incredibly appealing today, but the wines from this site have always aged very well. The 2011 is going to need time to shed some of its baby fat, but it will always remain extroverted and racy to the core. I can't wait to see how the 2011 ages.
|
|
95 |
|
Italy |
2011 |
Gaja Langhe Conteisa - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£600 |
Rating
94
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2017 - 2035
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
29th Jun 2015
Source
219, The Wine Advocate
The 2011 Langhe Nebbiolo Conteisa is an irresistible wine with enormous depth, beauty and penetration. It sweeps over the palate in opulent waves with dark fruit, spice, leather and grilled herbs. It also shows a distinct balsam personality with cola and dried violets that give the wine a beautiful sense of aromatic lift and buoyancy. Langhe Conteisa is made with Nebbiolo (and a tiny part Barbera) from the Cerequio vineyard in La Morra. The 2011 vintage is slightly broader than past vintages, but this wine promises a long drinking evolution regardless.
|
|
94 |
|
Italy |
2011 |
Gaja Sperss - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£650 |
Rating
95
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
2018 - 2035
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
29th Jun 2015
Source
219, The Wine Advocate
With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, the 2011 Langhe Sperss is a wine of profound beauty. This is a velvety and caressing expression with dark fruit layers followed by kirsch, cassis, leather, balsam herb and white truffle. The Gaja family decided to move their bottling date forward in order to preserve the integrity and freshness of fruit in this warm vintage. This move has helped to avoid overripe sensations. In fact, Langhe Sperss seems fresh and tonic. This bodes exceptionally well for its aging potential.
|
|
95 |
|
Italy |
2012 |
Le Serre Nuove, Ornellaia |
6 |
Bottle |
Mag |
Convert Price£65 |
MONICA LARNER: 92
The 2012 Bolgheri Le Serre Nuove is a voluptuous and generous wine that bursts forth with wild-cherry aromas, blackberry, crème de cassis, oak spice and smoke. The blend of grapes this year is 52% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 12% Petit Verdot. It awards pleasure and smoothness, thanks to its plump tannins and ripe fruit overtones. Le Serre Nuove shows the acidity and structure for ten years or more of cellar aging. eRobertParker.com.October, 2014
|
|
92 |
|
Italy |
2012 |
Isole e Olena Cepparello |
2 |
Bottle |
Double Mag |
Convert Price£250 |
The 2012 Cepparello is just as compelling as it has always been. Sweet, ample and generous from the outset, the 2012 shows all of its pedigree, even at this early stage. Radiant fruit and exquisite aromatics make a strong opening statement as the wine fleshes out in the glass. Ample, creamy and super-expressive, the 2012 is shaping up to be a superb Cepparello. The only thing the 2012 needs is time. An up and down year with hot temperatures in July and early August, followed by rain in September forced DeMarchi to be especially selective and bottle only the best lots. Production is down to 30,000 bottles from 36,000 in 2013 and 32,400 in 2011.
|
|
97 |
|
Italy |
2012 |
Le Pupille Saffredi - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£360 |
95
The excellent 2012 Saffredi is one of the best wines I have tasted from Fattoria le Pupille. This is an exuberant and expressive blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and a smaller part Petit Verdot from the gorgeous hills of Maremma near Grosseto, Tuscany. The wine is rich and penetrating with a stunning sense of balance and inner poise. Dark cherry, blackberry, spice, leather, tobacco and grilled herb flow freely from the bouquet. The wine is softly textured with full body appeal. This fabulous Saffredi should age forward ten years or more. The Cabernet component of the wine shows perfect ripeness. (Monica Larner)
|
|
95 |
|
Italy |
2012 |
Solaia - owc 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£750 |
Extremely impressive ripe dark fruits of blueberries, plums and blackberries follow through to a full body, round texture and bright acidity. The finesse and depth to this red is stunning making it a wonderful successor to the 2011 Solaia. Needs three or four years to soften and open. Better in 2018.
Score: 97 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, August 2015
|
|
97 |
|
Italy |
2012 |
Brunello di Montalcino, Cerbaiona Molinari |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,150 |
Cerbaiona's 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is a nuanced and delicate wine that offers ample power, intensity and length. What the wine does best is paint a portrait of the grape in its most pure and naked state. It offers crisp outlines with loads of wild berry, blue flower and moist earth on the inside. That balanced ensemble of flavors adds to the long and polished persistence you feel in the mouth. Give this wine another 10 years of aging to best appreciate its slow evolution and budding complexity.
Score: 95Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (235), February 2018
|
|
95 |
|
Italy |
2013 |
Tignanello - owc 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£360 |
Rating:
96
Price ($)
NA
Drink Date
2018 - 2035
Reviewed by
Monica Larner
Issue Date
30th Dec 2016
Source
228, The Wine Advocate
The 2013 Tignanello represents the beginning of a new chapter for Italy's ultimate game-changer wine. The blend remains 80% Sangiovese with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc but Renzo Cotarella tells me "stylistically-speaking, this is what we wanted to achieve." The winemaking formula remains the same, but one of the major differences and benefits to this wine is vineyard age. The celebrated Tignanello single vineyard is now reaching 15 years old. In other words, it is in its production prime. This is a harmonious and beautifully integrated wine that reveals black fruit and baking spice. I'm told the 2014 Tignanello will have a greater percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2015 vintage will have more Sangiovese.
|
|
96 |
|
Italy |
2013 |
Sassicaia - owc 3x150 |
1 |
Case |
Mag |
Convert Price£685 |
Fabulous structure for a Sassicaia with powerful, polished, chewy tannins and ripe, subtle fruit. Aromas of blueberry, black currant, rosemary and lavender. Full body, bright acidity and a savory finish. Juicy and lively. Better to drink this beginning in 2020 but so impressive now.
Score: 98 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2016
Tasted from separate lots in barrel, the 2013 Sassicaia is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Rich, layered and expansive on the palate, the 2013 possesses remarkable depth, spherical texture and fine, silky tannins that wrap around the finish. A first sample, taken from a parcel in Mandrione shows remarkable perfume, while a second sample, from 40 year-old vines in Castiglioncello is all about density and power. There is a lot to look forward to here, that much is obvious.
Score: 93/96+ Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, October 2015
The 2013 Bolgheri Sassicaia is released 30 years after the death of Tenuta San Guido founder, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, and in the same year that his son Nicolò celebrated his 80th birthday. This is a wine of excellent execution, beautiful balance and seamless intensity. The bouquet opens slowly to reveal delicate aromas of dark fruit and integrated spice that build in steady strength. That forward momentum, which is so specific to Sassicaia, is what ultimately brings us confidence in the wine's remarkable ageing potential. The mouthfeel delivers freshness and power, but in measured doses, with long and silky persistence. The 2013 vintage should be set aside for ten more years.
Score: 97 Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (225), August 2016
Tasted from barrel, the exciting 2013 Bolgheri Sassicaia is shaping up to be an epic rendition of this celebrated wine. You get a clear sense of the quality of fruit with your first twirl of the glass. Even at this young stage, the wine shows impressive intensity and elegance. It boasts dark fruit nuances with bold cherry and blackberry that will gain focus and traction with time. Oak notes of vanilla and cinnamon are beginning to show their first signs of mellow integration. This was a cool but classic vintage that saw enhanced aromas, acidity and all the qualities that lead to healthy longevity. The 2013 vintage promises greatness.
Score: 95/97 Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.
|
|
98 |
|
Italy |
2013 |
Gaja Sori San Lorenzo - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,500 |
JAMES SUCKLING: 100
DECANTER: 98
ANTONIO GALLONI: 98
MONICA LARNER: 97
WALTER SPELLER: 17.5
Majestic aromas of crushed berry, meat, orange peel. Full body, very tannic yet ripe tannins and exquisite fruit. Amazing depth and density. They said they macerated a little more than normal because the fruit was perfect. A classic nebbiolo that reminds me of the great 1996. Really cool. About 30% less production. Don’t touch for five to 10 years. A celebratory wine for Gaja’s return to the Barbaresco appellation. Oct 2016, www.jamessuckling.com
|
|
98 |
|
Italy |
2013 |
Gaja Costa Russi - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,500 |
The 2013 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a real head-turner. Crystalline and utterly vivid in its expression of Nebbiolo, the 2013 is all class. Stylistically, the Costa Russi is closest to the straight Barbaresco, but it has a little more mid-palate sweetness and density. Bright floral and minty notes add lift on the chiseled, expressive finish. The Costa Russi is the star of the show this year, considering it is the least pedigreed of Gaja's three single-vineyard sites. The 2013 has been stunningly beautiful on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.
Score: 98 Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, October 2016
|
|
98 |
|
Italy |
2013 |
Gaja Sori Tildin - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£1,650 |
As always, the Sorì Tildìn is a wine of nuance and delineation above all else. Beautifully sculpted and precise, the 2013 offers up a compelling interplay of dark red cherry, mint, lavender and licorice. A subtle accent of French oak adds nuance without detracting from the wine's translucent personality and overall energy. At the same time, it is hard for the mind not to wander a bit and imagine what the wine might have tasted like had it been made more along the lines of the Costa Russi, especially given this site's inherent finesse. But back to the present. The 2013 Sorì Tildìn is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty from Gaja.
Score: 97 Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, October 201
|
|
97 |
