Elegant, pale coral pink in colour with an aromatic nose of freshly crushed wild berries and rhubarb. A bright, clean palate with delicate fruit flavours balanced by a creamy texture and fine bubbles, leading to a long, smooth finish. Try with fresh ceviche, baked cavolo nero or nduja bruschetta. It’s also delicious paired with mango sorbet or rhubarb panna cotta.

Le Due Porte is 540 metres above sea level. Budbreak is later here, often avoiding issues with late frosts and snow. Ripening is slow and constant. The soil profile preserves humidity; important when making a wine such as Brunello that does not contemplate irrigation. Alberese has high levels of calcium carbonate which favors acidity, aided and abetted by the slower ripening and later harvest due to the exposition and altitude. We generally pick Le Due Porte as much as two weeks after our vineyards in Castelnuovo dell’Abate and are often amongst the last in Montalcino to harvest. The grapes develop organoleptic complexity from that extra hang-time and from the pronounced difference between day and night temperatures. In fact the altitude guarantees extreme thermal excursion even in hotter years which is wonderful for aromatic development. Over the last two decades we have seen, year after year, a pronounced character emerge in the fruit from this vineyard, a wine that maintains the typical structure of a Brunello vecchio stampo and epitomises finesse and elegance."

Where to start... Glittering deep gold, smells like rice pudding with honey and ginger. Hints of musk, hot scented exotic wood, eucalyptus. Immensely seductive, you just want to take it home and curl up with it. A Beauty. Parker 95 "The Planeta 2019 Sicilia Menfi Chardonnay is a true beauty, and it's incredible to think that as many as 200,000 bottles were produced at this quality. The wine boasts a slightly old-school personality for oak-aged Chardonnay, but it is remarkably vibrant and quick-footed nonetheless. Instead of overt toast or butter, this wine shows all-Sicilian notes of toasted almond and candied fruit. It offers a medium gold color and a lifted, mid-weight texture. Fresh acidy adds sharpness and focus. The Planeta family is doing wonders with Chardonnay (you might also try the fabulous Didacus), and you can't beat this price point."

Old vines, Amarone-style appassimento, tiny yields. Wonderfully extracted, deeply layered and complex. A year in French oak. V. classy. One of our biggest-selling wines. Old vines, Amarone-style appassimento, tiny yields. Wonderfully extracted, deeply layered and complex. A year in French oak. The 'Black Grape of Troy" another southern best. From Decanter "Left on the vine to partially dry, the grapes for this wine were not harvested until early November, giving it a powerful character and rich texture. Dark, liquorice-imbued fruits of the forest aromas alongside menthol and blueberry notes, almost medicinal. It is really rich on the palate with plummy, leathery flavours, macerated black cherries and even a hint of nectarine on the finish. Really gorgeous and complex..."

Old vines, Amarone-style appassimento, tiny yields. Wonderfully extracted, deeply layered and complex. A year in French oak. V. classy. One of our biggest-selling wines. Old vines, Amarone-style appassimento, tiny yields. Wonderfully extracted, deeply layered and complex. A year in French oak. The 'Black Grape of Troy" another southern best. From Decanter "Left on the vine to partially dry, the grapes for this wine were not harvested until early November, giving it a powerful character and rich texture. Dark, liquorice-imbued fruits of the forest aromas alongside menthol and blueberry notes, almost medicinal. It is really rich on the palate with plummy, leathery flavours, macerated black cherries and even a hint of nectarine on the finish. Really gorgeous and complex..."

Poised and perfectly balanced, this intense purple- black wine has a harmonious bouquet of red and black berries, with soft and sweet tannins on the finish.

"Enticing combination of reserved freshness and bewitching ripeness here. Dried rose petals, stems, black tea, orange peel, steak tartare and tobacco simmer at the surface. The full-bodied palate has a complete but never overbearing feel, in that the tannins are fine-grained and precise, tracing an elegant positioning of subtle berries and cherries. Suave and polished. Drink now." 95 Points jamessuckling.com

The colour is dark ruby and the nose is classic Sangiovese, transporting one instantly to Montalcino. The bouquet is a little tight at first ranging from gentle balsamic notes and a hint of steak. In time it deepens to a delicious herbaceousness, accompanied by mouth-watering aromas of ripe cherry and dark berries. In the background tell-tale floral notes of violets lurk. In the mouth the first impression is of a very pleasant juiciness paired with ripe fruit and seductive well-structured tannins. The mouth-feel is round and silky-smooth with expertly integrated alcohol. It is generously mouth-filling and rewards with a long fruity finish.

What a beauty. An insanely ancient grape variety and wine region - they were making this long before the Romans arrived in the south of Italy. The winemaking, though, is super-modern, the result silky and astonishingly rich. We know that Parker and his team like a big glossy wine and I proudly quote them: "This is a big wine with a capital B" Parker 90/100 of the 2015 vintage (and frankly down in the baked south there's barely any vintage variation) "You gotta love the little spider depicted on the front label of this wine. It refers to the mystical cult of Tarantism practiced in this part of Southern Italy in which a tarantula bite is believed to send women (mostly) into an all-night frenzy. Tarantism is revived and widely popular today as a rave-like dance craze. The 2015 Aglianico del Vulture Piano del Cerro is packaged in a very heavy glass bottle. It pours out slowly to reveal dried blackberry, spice, Spanish cedar and campfire ash. This Aglianico is virtually impenetrable in appearance. The oak-driven tannins are sweet and spicy. This is a big wine with a capital B." Of the 2016 "a smoky and tarry wine showing thick concentration. It has a chewy and rich texture and lots of barbecue spice on the close. From presentation to finish, this has all the trappings of a big boy wine for those who enjoy this sort of heft and meatiness."

Full-bodied and gorgeous 'Black Velvet' Negroamaro made from 85 year-old vineyards. Opaque dark ruby in colour. Cherries and damson on the nose. Rich palate of plum, damson, spice, liquorice, black pepper. Well-integrated and soft tannins. 12 months in French oak barrels

One of the top handful of Amarone. Dry, drinkable style, all spice and leather, very impressive

We've been looking forward to this vintage for some time! Tasting not to follow.

This is glorious wine. The aromas are thrilling and uplifting with notes of fine cedar, pencil-lead, polished mahogany,chestnut and fine spice intermingling with the perfectly balanced fruit. The palate has finesse and elegance and drinks sort of like a cross between a fine Margaux and Burgundy. Do not expect big wine, but do expect a great mouthful. It's the best Classico Barolo that Renato Corino has made.

Made with certified-organic fruit, the La Magia 2017 Brunello di Montalcino reveals the ripeness and robust flavors that come naturally in this hot and dry vintage. That ripeness is well managed, and it appears as textural softness and creaminess more than anything else. Sangiovese's characteristic acidity keeps the wine from feeling heavy, and the palate is accented by cherry confit, Spanish cedar, cola and wild rose. The finish is a bit abrupt and simple. 93/100 Drinking window 2024-2035 Robert Parker Wine Advocate "Low-yielding old vines yielded stunning quality at harvest, allowing for extended maceration–giving depth, texture and complexity. Maturation for 36 months helped reduce oak sweetness and maintain freshness. The heady and perfumed nose offers blood orange, cigar box, black cherry and rose tea. The palate is opulent, seductive and fresh, with stony grip and a long, mineral finish." Davy ?yw, Senior Wine Buyer, Berry Bros & Rudd "Beautiful red with floral and black-cherry aromas. So floral and perfumed for this hot and dry vintage. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are energetic and long. Structured and manicured. From organically grown grapes." James Suckling 96/100

Normally £22+. Smells like LUXURY! Super-low yield Barbera from the best sunny spots, some serious winemaking and a lick of posh new oak. What a beauty. What a bargain. Dark, silky, last time I had a Barbera this rich and lush was in California, and it cost 3 tines as much! Nizza is a new top-end DOCG created to separate the best plots of Barbera - great success.

Bright intense red fruit on the nose displaying lots of red berries. The palate is warm and full-bodied with harmonious acidity and smooth and elegant tannins.