Tuscany
Tuscany, a picturesque region in central Italy, is renowned for producing some of the world's finest wines. With its rolling hills, Mediterranean climate, and rich cultural heritage, Tuscany offers a perfect combination of terroir and winemaking expertise. The region is home to legendary vineyards and wineries that have become synonymous with excellence and tradition.
One of the most famous vineyards in Tuscany is Antinori, a family-owned winery with a history dating back over 600 years. Their wines, such as Tignanello and Solaia, have achieved iconic status, showcasing the region's commitment to quality and innovation. Another renowned vineyard is Castello di Volpaia, known for its exceptional Chianti Classico wines that beautifully represent the Sangiovese grape.
Tuscany is synonymous with Chianti, a red wine made primarily from Sangiovese grapes. Chianti Classico, produced in the heart of the Chianti region, is highly regarded for its balance, elegance, and age-worthiness. Vineyards like Castello di Ama, Fontodi, and Fèlsina craft outstanding Chianti Classico wines that capture the essence of Tuscan winemaking.
The region is also famous for Brunello di Montalcino, a prestigious red wine made from Sangiovese Grosso grapes. Montalcino is home to renowned wineries such as Biondi-Santi and Casanova di Neri, which produce exceptional Brunello di Montalcino wines with remarkable structure, depth, and longevity.
Tuscany's coastal region, Bolgheri, has gained international acclaim for its Super Tuscan wines. These wines often blend international grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with local varieties. Notable vineyards in Bolgheri include Tenuta San Guido, known for its iconic Sassicaia, and Ornellaia, which produces the renowned Ornellaia wine.
Tuscany's diverse terroir also allows for the production of white wines, with Vernaccia di San Gimignano being the most notable. Vernaccia vineyards like Teruzzi & Puthod and Panizzi create crisp and aromatic white wines that showcase the region's versatility.
Tuscany
-
Vinous (92)
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino wafts up with a savory and smoky mix of rich cherry sauce, wilted violets and grilled herbs. It’s round and almost juicy in character, with a potent wave of ripe red fruits and autumnal spice that leaves a collection of fine tannins in their wake. The 2018 finishes youthfully structured, with nuances of sour citrus and salted licorice that slowly taper off.Inc. TAX€370.54 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The Mastrojanni 2019 Brunello di Montalcino has a pretty bouquet with dark fruit and something exotic that recalls camphor ash, wood fire ash, garrigue and dried herb. It is rich and evenly concentrated with fine chalk on the tannins and good phenolic ripeness (with no green bitterness). A great food pairing is grilled game or the French magret de canard. This straight village bottling does a great job, and it's ultimately more accessible than many of its peers. Production is an ample 77,000 bottles.Inc. TAX€375.22 -
Jeb Dunnuck (91)
The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is supple and ripe with aromas of candied cherries, mocha, crushed flowers, and sweet earth. It pours a garnet color and shows some richness, leaning a touch toward developing sooner. Medium-bodied and approachable, with ripe tannins, good balance, and a delicate savory note of tea leaf on the finish, it offers more immediacy and should drink well over the next 8-10 years.Inc. TAX€339.34 -
Revered as a remarkable and charismatic manifestation of Tuscan viniculture, the 'Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2013' is a prestigious wine hailing from the eminent Mastrojanni winery. Expertly crafted in Italy's esteemed Montalcino region, the wine's meandering vineyards and unique microclimate impart an unparalleled complexity to this vintage. Mastrojanni, renowned for its artisanal viticulture, has skilfully nurtured these grapes on the clay-rich Loreto plot, where sunlight basks the hillside vines in warmth, imbuing a robust fruitfulness. Aged meticulously for three years in Allier oak barrels, it gracefully unfolds in a tasteful concert of black cherries and plums, underpinned by an elegant minerality, enveloped in soft, velvety tannins. This expressive Sangiovese Grosso embodies a rich, full-bodied profile, confirming the 'Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2013' as an irresistible choice for discerning oenophiles. Immerse in its allure and witness the unfolding of exemplary viticulture.
Inc. TAX€429.46 -
(6x75cl) 2015Vinous (96)
Mastrojanni's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto shows depths of dusty red berry fruit and subtle spice, with minty herbs, crushed stone, sweet tobacco and the slightest hint of animal musk, all in a remarkably pretty expression. On the palate, I find silky textures with cool-toned red fruits, savory spice, saline-minerals, and energizing acidity, in an expression that is both polished yet also firmly rooted in the earth, as it glides effortlessly across the senses. The finish is long, showing ripe red fruits, salty-savory-minerals, leather, and wonderfully balanced tannins. It is so pleasurable already, yet full of potential.Inc. TAX€832.54 -
Vinous (95)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto wafts up with a gorgeous display of crushed stone, graphite and exotic savory spices before giving way to citrus-tinged cherries, cinnamon and clove. It’s silky-smooth and medium in body with a weighty density to its polished yet compact dark red and black fruits, all perfectly framed by juicy acids. Minerals, spiced orange and purple inner florals amass toward the close, as fine tannins slowly saturate, creating a dry yet wonderfully balanced expression through the finale.Inc. TAX€159.55 -
Vinous (95)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto wafts up with a gorgeous display of crushed stone, graphite and exotic savory spices before giving way to citrus-tinged cherries, cinnamon and clove. It’s silky-smooth and medium in body with a weighty density to its polished yet compact dark red and black fruits, all perfectly framed by juicy acids. Minerals, spiced orange and purple inner florals amass toward the close, as fine tannins slowly saturate, creating a dry yet wonderfully balanced expression through the finale.Inc. TAX€690.94 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The Mastrojanni 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto is another terrific interpretation of this hot and dry vintage, only in this case the grapes come from a special southeast-facing plot. Vigna Loreto (with 7,500 bottles made) is tonic, sharp and focused but also generous and open-knit. It offers a broad display of black and purple fruits, along with spice, peat moss and crushed flowers. Few producers were able to achieve this level of elegance in 2017.Inc. TAX€129.40 -
(1x75cl) 2019Experience the exquisite depth of the Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2019. Expertly crafted in the lush terroirs of Montalcino, Italy, this unrivalled red wine carries the rich heritage of Mastrojanni, a world-renowned producer. The 2019 vintage is a testament to the winery's refined winemaking techniques. Hand-picked Sangiovese grapes, carefully sorted and fermented, spent 36 months ageing in Allier Oak barrels, yielding a wine of profound complexity and longevity.
The Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2019 radiates a lustrous ruby red hue, preluding a vibrant bouquet of ripe red fruits, dried flowers, and delicate spicy notes. On the palate, it dances with a harmonious blend of well-rounded tannins and refreshing acidity, culminating in an enveloping finish that lingers. The depth, complexity and elegance of this wine make it a prestigious addition to any discerning connoisseur's collection.
Inc. TAX€140.35 -
(6x75cl) 2010Wine Advocate (97)
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino is a gorgeous wine and one that I highly recommend if you are a Brunello fanatic like me. The purity of the fruit is stunning and the wine underlines the qualities that make Sangiovese among the most noble of all Italian grapes. It offers crystalline intensity with forthcoming aromas of bright cherry, balsam herb, anise seed, pressed violets and spice. This ensemble is balanced and nuanced. It shows amazing depth and complexity. Fruit for the wine is sourced from a single vineyard that runs across the crest of a hill. The name Schiena d'Asino (the donkey's back) evokes this unique geography. Mastrojanni last made a Riserva in 1998 and the wine (released six years after the harvest) has carried the name of its vineyard designation ever since.Inc. TAX€1,211.74 -
Wine Advocate (98)
Here's a wine that embodies the spirit of the vintage. It comes from a small one-hectare vineyard site located on the crest of a hill, or the so-called "donkey's spine" maybe because it looks like a schiena d'asino or maybe because the labor-intensive farming broke its proverbial back. The Mastrojanni 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino shows a sweet spot with ripe red cherry and plump blackberry or plum. It segues slowly to spice, tar and licorice. This wine is a bit more streamlined and linear compared to the Vigna Loreto, and the Vigna Schiena d'Asino is also longer, deeper and more nuanced in comparison. It finishes with a beautiful blast of bight cherry. This wine is truly beautiful. Only 6,000 bottles were made, and we can look forward to this wine's release in September 2020.Inc. TAX€265.15 -
Wine Advocate (98)
Here's a wine that embodies the spirit of the vintage. It comes from a small one-hectare vineyard site located on the crest of a hill, or the so-called "donkey's spine" maybe because it looks like a schiena d'asino or maybe because the labor-intensive farming broke its proverbial back. The Mastrojanni 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino shows a sweet spot with ripe red cherry and plump blackberry or plum. It segues slowly to spice, tar and licorice. This wine is a bit more streamlined and linear compared to the Vigna Loreto, and the Vigna Schiena d'Asino is also longer, deeper and more nuanced in comparison. It finishes with a beautiful blast of bight cherry. This wine is truly beautiful. Only 6,000 bottles were made, and we can look forward to this wine's release in September 2020.Inc. TAX€345.46 -
(6x75cl) 2016Vinous (97)
The late-release 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d"Asino captivates with a display of sweet smoke and crushed stone giving way to dusty black raspberry and savory herbs. It’s silky-smooth and cool-toned, peppering the senses with mineral-tinged woodland berries and hints of spice. Grippy tannins build toward the close, saturating the palate beneath red inner florals. This tapers off with heroic structure but also the primary fruits to balance. The 2016 Vigna Schiena d’Aine is a dark stallion of a Brunello that"s packed full of potential.Inc. TAX€902.57 -
Expressing an unmatched elegance, the Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino 2018 is an exquisite Italian wine effortlessly encapsulating the rich terroir of the Montalcino region, Tuscany. This exceptional Brunello, crafted by the esteemed Mastrojanni Estate, is born from the meticulous selection of Sangiovese grapes harvested from the vineyard Schiena d'Asino. This south-east facing vineyard at 350m above sea level, benefits from a sunny and dry climate yielding grapes with a perfect balance of sugar and acidity.
Following fermenting in concrete vats, the wine matures gracefully for three years in oak barrels, which imparts complex flavour profiles and a polished texture. On the palate, expect profound notes of dark cherries and delicate hints of Mediterranean herbs, followed by elegantly structured tannins. The Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino 2018 is an eloquent testament to the estate's commitment to winemaking excellence.
Inc. TAX€179.95 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
Expressive and pure, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Schiena D'Asino offers layered aromatics of cherry cordial, pressed roses, incense, and candied licorice. The palate is medium-bodied, with resonating volume, focused acidity, and brisk, well-defined tannins, as well as persistent mouthwatering salinity and orange peel notes that last long on the finish. It’s a fabulous Brunello to drink over the coming 15 years or more. Drink 2026-2045.Inc. TAX€189.55 -
(6x75cl) 2020Vinous (91)
A darkly alluring mix of crushed ashen stone, balsamic spice and musky red currants wafts up from the 2020 Rosso di Montalcino. It's soft and pure in character, with ripe strawberry and cherry fruits that cascade across a core of bright acidity. This finishes incredibly fresh with a lingering spicy tension and hints of sour citrus.Inc. TAX€222.94 -
Indulge in the exquisite Mastrojanni Rosso di Montalcino Vigna Palazzetto 2020, a standout Tuscan red from the prestigious Mastrojanni winery. Internationally recognised, Mastrojanni sources its grapes from the fabled Montalcino region, using traditional winemaking methods to capture Italy's heritage in every bottle. The 2020 Vigna Palazzetto, handcrafted from 100% Sangiovese grapes, captivates us with remarkable elegance and depth.
Matured for a year in Allier tonneaux, this fine wine epitomises boldness and durability, characteristic of the region's robust terroir. The palate reveals intriguing notes of ripe red fruits, subtle spices and earthy undertones, underpinned by balanced acidity and a textured finish. It pairs excellently with rich meats and bold flavours, elevating every dining experience.
With only limited bottles produced annually, the Mastrojanni Rosso di Montalcino Vigna Palazzetto 2020 is indeed a rare find for any wine lover, and an aromatic journey through one of Italy's most revered wine regions.
Inc. TAX€531.07 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello Fonterutoli is a standout wine and I prefer it to the 2012 vintage and the 2010 vintage (that I reviewed twice over the course of a year with divergent scores). Of these wines, this vintage offers the broadest sense of intensity and generosity. The wine is also distinguished by dark fruit and spice that stand tall with clear identities. The best fruit from the estate's various vineyard sites are selected for this wine. This careful selection process makes it possible to dedicate the best fruit to a wine like this despite varying vintage conditions.Inc. TAX€322.38 -
Decanter (97)
This is delicious! Finds a good gear and runs with it through to a lengthy finish. Seductive cherry, graphite, sweet spice and red forest fruit aromas flow onto a beautifully harmonious and complex palate, conveying a tender texture of dark cherry and plummy fruit that’s carried by perfectly pitched tannins. The flavours linger long in the mouth. It will make many red wine devotees swoon.Inc. TAX€323.99 -
Inc. TAX€322.38 -
(6x75cl) 2022Inc. TAX€212.09 -
Decanter (97)
This is a stunning wine with a complex cherry, prune, herbal, leather and balsamic bouquet. Excels on the concentrated and succulent palate, with lovely mouthfeel and lots of spicy, smooth, fleshy tannins, superfine acidity and great length. A classic gourmand style per eccellenza perhaps but remarkable from any angle. (Platinum Medal)Inc. TAX€274.08 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
This is savoury, dry in the best possible way, with a ton of red fruits, dried roses and herbs, and waves of fragrance. It’s a successful blend where the Sangiovese is dominant, conferring the wine with its warm personality but the Cabernet Sauvignon adds a touch of austerity to the tannins and a sense of quiet confidence. Turmeric and olive tapenade as it opens, alongside raspberry, red cherry and smoky oak, the whole thing both extremely delicate and intensely fragrant. Can drink now with a short carafe - there are tannins here but they are well defined and finely layered - but it will also age. Small amounts of the 2018 were released last winter, but this September sees the first proper release through the Place de Bordeaux. Ageing 18 months in small French oak barrels, 70% new, plus four months in concrete tanks afterwards. One to look out for - great stuff from the Mazzei family, that has been making wine in Tuscany since the 15th century.Inc. TAX€234.23 -
Vinous (95)
The 2020 Concerto di Fonterutoli is bright and punchy, with terrific freshness and tons of nuance. Plum, pomegranate, spice, new leather and blood orange are front and center. The 2020 is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of the house style beautifully. Today, the purity of the fruit really jumps out of the glass. Superb.Inc. TAX€115.68 -
Vinous (95)
The 2020 Concerto di Fonterutoli is bright and punchy, with terrific freshness and tons of nuance. Plum, pomegranate, spice, new leather and blood orange are front and center. The 2020 is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of the house style beautifully. Today, the purity of the fruit really jumps out of the glass. Superb.Inc. TAX€520.48 -
Decanter (97)
Despite a hot summer in 2021 the nights were cool, which allowed healthy grapes to ripen completely and contributed to the finesse of the tannins, and the Mazzei family has taken a big leap forward in quality, resulting in a wine with increased purity, transparency and finesse. The aromas are clear, bright, and precise with notes of vivid, blackcurrant wrapped in gentle spice. The acidity is vibrant, the flavours are bright and vivacious, and the tannins are fine and beautifully integrated within the wine. This is a stunning wine with effortlessness, ease and flow across the palate.Inc. TAX€169.68 -
Decanter (97)
Despite a hot summer in 2021 the nights were cool, which allowed healthy grapes to ripen completely and contributed to the finesse of the tannins, and the Mazzei family has taken a big leap forward in quality, resulting in a wine with increased purity, transparency and finesse. The aromas are clear, bright, and precise with notes of vivid, blackcurrant wrapped in gentle spice. The acidity is vibrant, the flavours are bright and vivacious, and the tannins are fine and beautifully integrated within the wine. This is a stunning wine with effortlessness, ease and flow across the palate.Inc. TAX€514.33 -
Decanter (97)
Despite a hot summer in 2021 the nights were cool, which allowed healthy grapes to ripen completely and contributed to the finesse of the tannins, and the Mazzei family has taken a big leap forward in quality, resulting in a wine with increased purity, transparency and finesse. The aromas are clear, bright, and precise with notes of vivid, blackcurrant wrapped in gentle spice. The acidity is vibrant, the flavours are bright and vivacious, and the tannins are fine and beautifully integrated within the wine. This is a stunning wine with effortlessness, ease and flow across the palate.Inc. TAX€267.83 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (96)
Love the slow build of this wine, it gently climbs through the palate, savoury and restrained at first, then opening up with a smile, plenty of welcoming dried herbs, chamomile tea, dried rosebuds, orange peel, raspberry fruits. Great quality, full of concentration and lift, push and pull, and just so juicy on the finish. Great stuff, from soils of decomposed limestone and sandstone, aged in large oak casks for the Sangiovese and small barrels for the Cabernet Franc, then 3 months in concrete tanks before bottling. Mazzei family, winemaker Gionarta Pulignani. Tasted with the September Releases and again at the estate.Inc. TAX€268.79 -
(6x75cl) 2010Inc. TAX€503.87
-
Vinous (92)
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino wafts up with a savory and smoky mix of rich cherry sauce, wilted violets and grilled herbs. It’s round and almost juicy in character, with a potent wave of ripe red fruits and autumnal spice that leaves a collection of fine tannins in their wake. The 2018 finishes youthfully structured, with nuances of sour citrus and salted licorice that slowly taper off.In Bond€285.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The Mastrojanni 2019 Brunello di Montalcino has a pretty bouquet with dark fruit and something exotic that recalls camphor ash, wood fire ash, garrigue and dried herb. It is rich and evenly concentrated with fine chalk on the tannins and good phenolic ripeness (with no green bitterness). A great food pairing is grilled game or the French magret de canard. This straight village bottling does a great job, and it's ultimately more accessible than many of its peers. Production is an ample 77,000 bottles.In Bond€294.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (91)
The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is supple and ripe with aromas of candied cherries, mocha, crushed flowers, and sweet earth. It pours a garnet color and shows some richness, leaning a touch toward developing sooner. Medium-bodied and approachable, with ripe tannins, good balance, and a delicate savory note of tea leaf on the finish, it offers more immediacy and should drink well over the next 8-10 years.In Bond€259.00 -
Revered as a remarkable and charismatic manifestation of Tuscan viniculture, the 'Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2013' is a prestigious wine hailing from the eminent Mastrojanni winery. Expertly crafted in Italy's esteemed Montalcino region, the wine's meandering vineyards and unique microclimate impart an unparalleled complexity to this vintage. Mastrojanni, renowned for its artisanal viticulture, has skilfully nurtured these grapes on the clay-rich Loreto plot, where sunlight basks the hillside vines in warmth, imbuing a robust fruitfulness. Aged meticulously for three years in Allier oak barrels, it gracefully unfolds in a tasteful concert of black cherries and plums, underpinned by an elegant minerality, enveloped in soft, velvety tannins. This expressive Sangiovese Grosso embodies a rich, full-bodied profile, confirming the 'Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2013' as an irresistible choice for discerning oenophiles. Immerse in its allure and witness the unfolding of exemplary viticulture.
In Bond€346.00 -
(6x75cl) 2015
Vinous (96)
Mastrojanni's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto shows depths of dusty red berry fruit and subtle spice, with minty herbs, crushed stone, sweet tobacco and the slightest hint of animal musk, all in a remarkably pretty expression. On the palate, I find silky textures with cool-toned red fruits, savory spice, saline-minerals, and energizing acidity, in an expression that is both polished yet also firmly rooted in the earth, as it glides effortlessly across the senses. The finish is long, showing ripe red fruits, salty-savory-minerals, leather, and wonderfully balanced tannins. It is so pleasurable already, yet full of potential.In Bond€670.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto wafts up with a gorgeous display of crushed stone, graphite and exotic savory spices before giving way to citrus-tinged cherries, cinnamon and clove. It’s silky-smooth and medium in body with a weighty density to its polished yet compact dark red and black fruits, all perfectly framed by juicy acids. Minerals, spiced orange and purple inner florals amass toward the close, as fine tannins slowly saturate, creating a dry yet wonderfully balanced expression through the finale.In Bond€129.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto wafts up with a gorgeous display of crushed stone, graphite and exotic savory spices before giving way to citrus-tinged cherries, cinnamon and clove. It’s silky-smooth and medium in body with a weighty density to its polished yet compact dark red and black fruits, all perfectly framed by juicy acids. Minerals, spiced orange and purple inner florals amass toward the close, as fine tannins slowly saturate, creating a dry yet wonderfully balanced expression through the finale.In Bond€552.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The Mastrojanni 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto is another terrific interpretation of this hot and dry vintage, only in this case the grapes come from a special southeast-facing plot. Vigna Loreto (with 7,500 bottles made) is tonic, sharp and focused but also generous and open-knit. It offers a broad display of black and purple fruits, along with spice, peat moss and crushed flowers. Few producers were able to achieve this level of elegance in 2017.In Bond€104.00 -
(1x75cl) 2019
Experience the exquisite depth of the Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2019. Expertly crafted in the lush terroirs of Montalcino, Italy, this unrivalled red wine carries the rich heritage of Mastrojanni, a world-renowned producer. The 2019 vintage is a testament to the winery's refined winemaking techniques. Hand-picked Sangiovese grapes, carefully sorted and fermented, spent 36 months ageing in Allier Oak barrels, yielding a wine of profound complexity and longevity.
The Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2019 radiates a lustrous ruby red hue, preluding a vibrant bouquet of ripe red fruits, dried flowers, and delicate spicy notes. On the palate, it dances with a harmonious blend of well-rounded tannins and refreshing acidity, culminating in an enveloping finish that lingers. The depth, complexity and elegance of this wine make it a prestigious addition to any discerning connoisseur's collection.
In Bond€113.00 -
(6x75cl) 2010
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino is a gorgeous wine and one that I highly recommend if you are a Brunello fanatic like me. The purity of the fruit is stunning and the wine underlines the qualities that make Sangiovese among the most noble of all Italian grapes. It offers crystalline intensity with forthcoming aromas of bright cherry, balsam herb, anise seed, pressed violets and spice. This ensemble is balanced and nuanced. It shows amazing depth and complexity. Fruit for the wine is sourced from a single vineyard that runs across the crest of a hill. The name Schiena d'Asino (the donkey's back) evokes this unique geography. Mastrojanni last made a Riserva in 1998 and the wine (released six years after the harvest) has carried the name of its vineyard designation ever since.In Bond€986.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
Here's a wine that embodies the spirit of the vintage. It comes from a small one-hectare vineyard site located on the crest of a hill, or the so-called "donkey's spine" maybe because it looks like a schiena d'asino or maybe because the labor-intensive farming broke its proverbial back. The Mastrojanni 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino shows a sweet spot with ripe red cherry and plump blackberry or plum. It segues slowly to spice, tar and licorice. This wine is a bit more streamlined and linear compared to the Vigna Loreto, and the Vigna Schiena d'Asino is also longer, deeper and more nuanced in comparison. It finishes with a beautiful blast of bight cherry. This wine is truly beautiful. Only 6,000 bottles were made, and we can look forward to this wine's release in September 2020.In Bond€217.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
Here's a wine that embodies the spirit of the vintage. It comes from a small one-hectare vineyard site located on the crest of a hill, or the so-called "donkey's spine" maybe because it looks like a schiena d'asino or maybe because the labor-intensive farming broke its proverbial back. The Mastrojanni 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino shows a sweet spot with ripe red cherry and plump blackberry or plum. It segues slowly to spice, tar and licorice. This wine is a bit more streamlined and linear compared to the Vigna Loreto, and the Vigna Schiena d'Asino is also longer, deeper and more nuanced in comparison. It finishes with a beautiful blast of bight cherry. This wine is truly beautiful. Only 6,000 bottles were made, and we can look forward to this wine's release in September 2020.In Bond€276.00 -
(6x75cl) 2016
Vinous (97)
The late-release 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d"Asino captivates with a display of sweet smoke and crushed stone giving way to dusty black raspberry and savory herbs. It’s silky-smooth and cool-toned, peppering the senses with mineral-tinged woodland berries and hints of spice. Grippy tannins build toward the close, saturating the palate beneath red inner florals. This tapers off with heroic structure but also the primary fruits to balance. The 2016 Vigna Schiena d’Aine is a dark stallion of a Brunello that"s packed full of potential.In Bond€733.00 -
Expressing an unmatched elegance, the Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino 2018 is an exquisite Italian wine effortlessly encapsulating the rich terroir of the Montalcino region, Tuscany. This exceptional Brunello, crafted by the esteemed Mastrojanni Estate, is born from the meticulous selection of Sangiovese grapes harvested from the vineyard Schiena d'Asino. This south-east facing vineyard at 350m above sea level, benefits from a sunny and dry climate yielding grapes with a perfect balance of sugar and acidity.
Following fermenting in concrete vats, the wine matures gracefully for three years in oak barrels, which imparts complex flavour profiles and a polished texture. On the palate, expect profound notes of dark cherries and delicate hints of Mediterranean herbs, followed by elegantly structured tannins. The Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino 2018 is an eloquent testament to the estate's commitment to winemaking excellence.
In Bond€146.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
Expressive and pure, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Schiena D'Asino offers layered aromatics of cherry cordial, pressed roses, incense, and candied licorice. The palate is medium-bodied, with resonating volume, focused acidity, and brisk, well-defined tannins, as well as persistent mouthwatering salinity and orange peel notes that last long on the finish. It’s a fabulous Brunello to drink over the coming 15 years or more. Drink 2026-2045.In Bond€154.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020
Vinous (91)
A darkly alluring mix of crushed ashen stone, balsamic spice and musky red currants wafts up from the 2020 Rosso di Montalcino. It's soft and pure in character, with ripe strawberry and cherry fruits that cascade across a core of bright acidity. This finishes incredibly fresh with a lingering spicy tension and hints of sour citrus.In Bond€162.00 -
Indulge in the exquisite Mastrojanni Rosso di Montalcino Vigna Palazzetto 2020, a standout Tuscan red from the prestigious Mastrojanni winery. Internationally recognised, Mastrojanni sources its grapes from the fabled Montalcino region, using traditional winemaking methods to capture Italy's heritage in every bottle. The 2020 Vigna Palazzetto, handcrafted from 100% Sangiovese grapes, captivates us with remarkable elegance and depth.
Matured for a year in Allier tonneaux, this fine wine epitomises boldness and durability, characteristic of the region's robust terroir. The palate reveals intriguing notes of ripe red fruits, subtle spices and earthy undertones, underpinned by balanced acidity and a textured finish. It pairs excellently with rich meats and bold flavours, elevating every dining experience.
With only limited bottles produced annually, the Mastrojanni Rosso di Montalcino Vigna Palazzetto 2020 is indeed a rare find for any wine lover, and an aromatic journey through one of Italy's most revered wine regions.
In Bond€395.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello Fonterutoli is a standout wine and I prefer it to the 2012 vintage and the 2010 vintage (that I reviewed twice over the course of a year with divergent scores). Of these wines, this vintage offers the broadest sense of intensity and generosity. The wine is also distinguished by dark fruit and spice that stand tall with clear identities. The best fruit from the estate's various vineyard sites are selected for this wine. This careful selection process makes it possible to dedicate the best fruit to a wine like this despite varying vintage conditions.In Bond€250.00 -
Decanter (97)
This is delicious! Finds a good gear and runs with it through to a lengthy finish. Seductive cherry, graphite, sweet spice and red forest fruit aromas flow onto a beautifully harmonious and complex palate, conveying a tender texture of dark cherry and plummy fruit that’s carried by perfectly pitched tannins. The flavours linger long in the mouth. It will make many red wine devotees swoon.In Bond€247.00 -
In Bond€250.00
-
(6x75cl) 2022In Bond€153.00
-
Decanter (97)
This is a stunning wine with a complex cherry, prune, herbal, leather and balsamic bouquet. Excels on the concentrated and succulent palate, with lovely mouthfeel and lots of spicy, smooth, fleshy tannins, superfine acidity and great length. A classic gourmand style per eccellenza perhaps but remarkable from any angle. (Platinum Medal)In Bond€207.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
This is savoury, dry in the best possible way, with a ton of red fruits, dried roses and herbs, and waves of fragrance. It’s a successful blend where the Sangiovese is dominant, conferring the wine with its warm personality but the Cabernet Sauvignon adds a touch of austerity to the tannins and a sense of quiet confidence. Turmeric and olive tapenade as it opens, alongside raspberry, red cherry and smoky oak, the whole thing both extremely delicate and intensely fragrant. Can drink now with a short carafe - there are tannins here but they are well defined and finely layered - but it will also age. Small amounts of the 2018 were released last winter, but this September sees the first proper release through the Place de Bordeaux. Ageing 18 months in small French oak barrels, 70% new, plus four months in concrete tanks afterwards. One to look out for - great stuff from the Mazzei family, that has been making wine in Tuscany since the 15th century.In Bond€173.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2020 Concerto di Fonterutoli is bright and punchy, with terrific freshness and tons of nuance. Plum, pomegranate, spice, new leather and blood orange are front and center. The 2020 is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of the house style beautifully. Today, the purity of the fruit really jumps out of the glass. Superb.In Bond€89.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2020 Concerto di Fonterutoli is bright and punchy, with terrific freshness and tons of nuance. Plum, pomegranate, spice, new leather and blood orange are front and center. The 2020 is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of the house style beautifully. Today, the purity of the fruit really jumps out of the glass. Superb.In Bond€403.00 -
Decanter (97)
Despite a hot summer in 2021 the nights were cool, which allowed healthy grapes to ripen completely and contributed to the finesse of the tannins, and the Mazzei family has taken a big leap forward in quality, resulting in a wine with increased purity, transparency and finesse. The aromas are clear, bright, and precise with notes of vivid, blackcurrant wrapped in gentle spice. The acidity is vibrant, the flavours are bright and vivacious, and the tannins are fine and beautifully integrated within the wine. This is a stunning wine with effortlessness, ease and flow across the palate.In Bond€134.00 -
Decanter (97)
Despite a hot summer in 2021 the nights were cool, which allowed healthy grapes to ripen completely and contributed to the finesse of the tannins, and the Mazzei family has taken a big leap forward in quality, resulting in a wine with increased purity, transparency and finesse. The aromas are clear, bright, and precise with notes of vivid, blackcurrant wrapped in gentle spice. The acidity is vibrant, the flavours are bright and vivacious, and the tannins are fine and beautifully integrated within the wine. This is a stunning wine with effortlessness, ease and flow across the palate.In Bond€403.00 -
Decanter (97)
Despite a hot summer in 2021 the nights were cool, which allowed healthy grapes to ripen completely and contributed to the finesse of the tannins, and the Mazzei family has taken a big leap forward in quality, resulting in a wine with increased purity, transparency and finesse. The aromas are clear, bright, and precise with notes of vivid, blackcurrant wrapped in gentle spice. The acidity is vibrant, the flavours are bright and vivacious, and the tannins are fine and beautifully integrated within the wine. This is a stunning wine with effortlessness, ease and flow across the palate.In Bond€201.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (96)
Love the slow build of this wine, it gently climbs through the palate, savoury and restrained at first, then opening up with a smile, plenty of welcoming dried herbs, chamomile tea, dried rosebuds, orange peel, raspberry fruits. Great quality, full of concentration and lift, push and pull, and just so juicy on the finish. Great stuff, from soils of decomposed limestone and sandstone, aged in large oak casks for the Sangiovese and small barrels for the Cabernet Franc, then 3 months in concrete tanks before bottling. Mazzei family, winemaker Gionarta Pulignani. Tasted with the September Releases and again at the estate.In Bond€201.00 -
(6x75cl) 2010In Bond€396.00
