The Ripasso method beefs up the sometimes weedy Valpolicella by the addtion of Amarone lees which starts a second fermentation and adds body. With complex red fruit aromas, this well balanced full-bodied wine is velvety smooth with harmonious tannins

Wow what a treat, this is everything you ever wanted in a Tuscan red. Dense tarry core, silky and svelte, evolved and a tad tawny. All the markers of greatness are in place: autumn forest, leaf tea, cigar box, woodsmoke, all perked up with citrus and Christmas spice. Has such a sense of grandeur, so assured, so very, very Tuscan.

Long-standing single-vineyard classic from the outstanding Allegrini family. I've always loved this wine. Somewhat like a 'deployable' version of Amarone, but so much more interesting than most Ripasso. Plays a sexy line between juicy silky, lush and chewy tannin and oak. Intriguing notes of blossom and ripe citrus fruits.

Walks a tightrope of balance between ripe conference pear and ripe lemon. Utter charm.

Beautifully traditional interpretation of Sangiovese food wine - evolved, resolved and rural, all leaf tea and warm hay and Tuscan farmhouse with a delicate raisiny fruit to ameliorate the tannin. Class.

A beautifully, light, vibrant white to be appreciated for its zesty, citrus and green apple character and refreshing quality.

All the fun of Pinot Grigio plus a lovely rose-petal scent. Smells sweet, but actually totally dry. Great aperitif.

Deep, slinky, modern, impressive. 90% Sangiovese, 1 year oak. Founded 1435. "The Chateau Margaux of Tuscany" Steven Spurrier. "Savoury richness on the palate. Excellent complexity and a real find." Olly Smith - Mail on Sunday

Cool ferment, perfumed, mineral, crisp and juicy.

Bright cherry fruit, very drinkable and almost too smooth to be Chianti. Just very drinkable good affordable Tuscan red from a master winemaker.

One of Italy's most exciting wine sub-regions high above the Bay of Naples. Aromatic jasmine & ripe melon lushness, mint/basil coolness, and a tufa mineral hint. Very special.

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."

A ruby red in colour with violet reflections and characteristic aromas and flavours of violet with hints of spice. It is smooth, structured and delicately tannic.

95% Nerello Mascalese from a vineyard located on the south-western slope of the Etna volcano, in the town of Biancavilla, within the Etna D.O.C. in Sicily. Rustic, mineral, even herbal , but with a smooth and generous fruity core.

Intense aromas of cherry, chocolate and raspberry with some fresh herb undertones is immediately apparent along with great freshness and smoothness. Value Tuscan blended wine. Medium body, nice finish. Smooth and balanced, steal for this money. Salute!

Small and lively bubbles burst onto the tongue. A smooth mousse and subtle wild apples and pear fruits exude from the palate with a refreshing lift on the finish. Fit for a celebration, though ideal for a toast on any occasion.

erobertparker.com 98/100 "This wine brought to mind precise imagery of tailcoats, striped dress pants, wingtip collar shirts and other gentlemen's fashion choices from the Roaring Twenties. Sporting a retro but classic personality, the Marchesi Antinori 2018 Tignanello is quite the dapper and jovial wine that hits the market just as much of the world is emerging from a dark chapter of lockdowns and coronavirus curfews. I love the optimism that springs bright with such clarity and detail from within this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The 2016 vintage was a benchmark for sure, but I prefer the 2018, thanks to that tinge of nostalgia or emotion that is so deftly rendered in this cool, long growing season. The 2018 vintage offers a deconstructed Tignanello upon first inspection because you can clearly make out the varietal typicity of the grapes, especially the green spice and white pepper of the two Cabernets, along with aromas of crushed limestone that recall the white rocks carefully placed in the vineyards to protect the rows. The wine's fruit weight is contained and polished, and there are no exaggerations, excesses or loose ends. The results are calculated and exacting, especially if you consider the tannic management (with aging in both new and used Hungarian and French oak for up to 16 months) and the quality of the elegant mouthfeel. With time in the glass, those deconstructed elements converge to create unity and balance. The Tignanello vineyard is 57 hectares and sits at a breezy 390 meters above sea level with alberese and galestro soils. Those elevations proved important for shedding excess humidity at the end of this 2018 growing season"

The young, dynamic duo of Giulia and Valentina Malesani (hence the name `Giuva`) are situated north of Verona in the Val Squaranto. Planted at about 300m, the vines surprisingly face north and west, giving the wines incredible freshness and crunchy red fruits. This has flamboyant jammy notes on the nose, then great structure on the palate with expressive, juicy berries and ripe cherries. It`s meaty and earthy, with spicy and jammy undertones. 95 points

A masterpiece of subtlety, and class, and poise. I hope I don't sound like a wine snob by saying I guess you need to have enjoyed the Greats of white wine such as Grand Cru Chablis to 'get' where this fits in. They could easily have made a blockbuster Chard, or an oaky beast, but this is fine, so fine. Smells like crushed marble and distant pine trees. Not cheap, admittedly, but treat yourself to a glass a night over four or five days (it opens up remarkably). I've always been a fan and rated them the best of 15 Tuscan estates I visited back in 2000. Deep straw yellow, I Sistri has a classic ripe-fruit Chardonnay nose, with a blend of tropical fruit and vanilla and appealing notes of spice. It displays elegant structure with a fresh acidity and a superb finish.

Red and black fruits, intense and ethereal bouquet of vanilla, full, firm but velvety flavours with a fine lingering aftertaste of liquorice and ripe red fruits.

Colour is ruby red, dense and compact. Nose has big intensity and persistence, ethereal, fruity with hints of cherries and dried prunes, dried flowers, sweet spices. On the palate, the wine is densely structured and smooth, perfectly balancing its rich endowment of velvety tannins.

Real beast of an Amarone from the Dons of Verona, Allegrini.

Parker of 18 "is a steal at this price point. Indeed, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah has consistently affirmed its very reputation on the fact that it so effortlessly hits that sweet spot between value and quality year after year." All one could want from a grand Maremma estate - like claret in a velvet jacket.

Francesco Giuntini created this single vineyard wine with Franco Bernabei in 1979. They wanted to produce a wine to best represent the character and quality of Rufina and Selvapiana Sangiovese. Only produced in the best vintages. This wine shows tremendous depth of colour with great intensity on the nose. The palate is powerful and fruit packed with ripe raspberry and spicy cherry fruit, supported by a touch of herbs and violets, robust tannins and a long, fine finish which is the hallmark of the Selvapiana wines.

Wine Merchant Top 100 award winner 2020. Made from small, bush-trained vines at 290 metres on limestone-rich clay. It's darkly fruited, all blackberry and black currants, yet lifted by accents of orange zest. The fruit is polished, round and powerful, rending the wine gracious rather than austere. Vigorous, clayey tannins cling to the palate but this finishes on a fresh, tangy note.

94 pts Wine Enthusiast Underbrush and baked plum aromas mingle with whiffs of new leather and camphor. It’s medium in weight and well structured, delivering dried black cherry, licorice and tobacco set against taut, fine-grained tannins. The Pian Delle Vigne estate is located 6 kilometers (3.5 miles) southwest of Montalcino. Its name comes from the eponymous area where a characteristic nineteenth century railway station is located. The property consists of 460 total acres (184 hectares), 160 of which (65 hectares) are planted to vines with generally a south-western exposure at an altitude of 430 feet (130 metres) above sea level. The estate, since the very beginning, has followed a philosophy based on ageing in large casks capable of preserving the exceptional integrity and fruit of the Sangiovese grapes and endow this Brunello with a characteristic vibrant elegance. Pian delle Vigne has belonged to the Antinori family since 1995, the year of the first Brunello di Montalcino Pian delle Vigne vintage.

A masterpiece of subtlety, and class, and poise. I hope I don't sound like a wine snob by saying I guess you need to have enjoyed the Greats of white wine such as Grand Cru Chablis to 'get' where this fits in. They could easily have made a blockbuster Chard, or an oaky beast, but this is fine, so fine. Smells like crushed marble and distant pine trees. Not cheap, admittedly, but treat yourself to a glass a night over four or five days (it opens up remarkably). I've always been a fan and rated them the best of 15 Tuscan estates I visited back in 2000. Deep straw yellow, I Sistri has a classic ripe-fruit Chardonnay nose, with a blend of tropical fruit and vanilla and appealing notes of spice. It displays elegant structure with a fresh acidity and a superb finish.

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

Amarone is made by allowing the grapes to partially dry and shrivel for up to 120 days, usually on straw mats. (This process is called appassimento or rasinate (to dry and shrivel) in Italian). This concentrates the remaining sugars and flavours, giving a rich and deep wine, with intense red fruits and a juicy palate. Some oak ageing increases structure and imparts subtle warmth and body.

Poggio al Tesoro is a 70 hectare property in Bolgheri, Tuscany and was acquired in 2002 by the Allegrini family, Poggio al Tesoro is a 70 hectare property in Bolgheri, Tuscany and was acquired in 2002 by the Allegrini family, famous for their Amarone produced at their Veneto mothership. The first vineyard they bought, Le Sondraie, is next door to Ornellaia and was previously rented by them. It is 50 hectares in size and is planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Vermentino. This wine still seems to be a well-kept secret, and we love to share it with you whilst we can! It is intense ruby red in colour with aromas of fresh crunchy red berries and dark fruit nuances enriched with layers of tobacco and spice. The fruit follows onto the complex palate that combines elegant silky tannins and a lively finish. An excellent Bordeaux blend!

Astonishing 3-time winner of 99/100 Luca Maroni "Best Italian Red 2018". Previous IWC Abruzzo Trophy. Grower voted best in Italy 3 times. Massive, Epic wine. 100% new oak (60% American 40% French)

Demonstrating Bolgheri’s ability to produce an original & easily recognizable Bordeaux blend, grapes for Le Sondraia come from the first vineyard Allegrini bought in Bolgheri which is just next door to the world famous Ornellaia. Sondraia has quickly become a classic in the Bolgheri area. Perfectly ripe grapes & painstaking work in the cellar yield a wine with intense fresh dark fruit notes complemented by smoky tobacco, herbs & sweet spices. These characteristics follow on to the palate which is silky smooth & profoundly elegant. After 18 months in barrique & a further nine months in bottle, the wine was released.

Way, way out of its class - no other Laguna matches this for complexity. Chablis-like in its bracing stony frame but layered with waves of white peach, ripe lime, tarragon, hints of chilli or ginger. A slightly eccentric but 100% gorgeous wine that really commands attention.

Bright cherry fruit, very drinkable and almost too smooth to be Chianti. Just very drinkable good affordable Tuscan red from a master winemaker.

When it is aged for a full five years, the Barolo DOCG becomes a 'Riserva'. It further demostrates the aging potentiality of a great Nebbiolo. Its tannins are mellowed out and its bouquet becomes more ethereal and complex. The finish is alluring and elegant and suggests pairing with sophisticated game dishes and savoury aged cheese.

We're very excited about this stunning new release from our friends at Il Palazzone. Please see below notes from their site: "2020 sees the release of a small bottling of 2000 liters of Brunello made from fruit exclusively from this special vineyard. Vintage 2015 is the first Le Due Porte Brunello. 2000 liters represents under half of the wine made from these 1.24 hectares (3 acres). 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."

This Il Caggio Sparkling Rosé is bright light pink in colour with a fine and persistent perlage. It has a fine, fruity and elegant bouquet with aromas of apple, pear and white flowers.

Wine Spectator 94/100 Badia a Passignano is located above the town of Sambuca Val di Pesa, just 3 kilometers south of the Tenuta Tignanello estate. The property extends over an area of 223 hectares (551 acres), of which 65 hectares (160 acres) are planted with vines. The estate’s historical importance in the Chianti region is well documented in hundreds of volumes that are kept in the Florence State Archives and that provide descriptions and details about the Sangiovese vineyards and local crops over the centuries. Further proof of this came to light in 1983 when a thousand-year-old vitis vinifera plant was discovered on the land surrounding Badia a Passignano. Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is produced exclusively from the finest Sangiovese grapes harvested from its namesake vineyard located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. The region has been respected and appreciated for its outstanding wine production since the year 1000. The vineyards grow at an altitude of approximately 300 meters (984 feet) above sea level on soils rich in limestone with a fair amount of clay.

Classic Valpol Ripasso - think dark chocolate laced with cherry brandy! Deft, silky, not over-extracted. Lovely Corvina edge of petals and almond. Earthy leathery notes, somewhat like Otago Pinot in flavour