Italy
Italy, known as the "Land of Wine," is celebrated for its exquisite range of fine wines. With a winemaking history dating back thousands of years and a diverse array of terroirs, Italy offers a remarkable collection of wines that delight the senses and captivate wine enthusiasts worldwide.
In Tuscany, famous vineyards like Antinori, Marchesi di Frescobaldi, and Tenuta San Guido have become synonymous with excellence. Wines such as Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Tignanello showcase the region's mastery in crafting complex, age-worthy, and expressive wines. Piedmont is home to legendary vineyards like Gaja, Vietti, and Marchesi di Barolo. The region's iconic wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, crafted from the Nebbiolo grape, epitomize power, elegance, and longevity. These wines boast flavors of red fruit, floral notes, earthy undertones, and firm tannins. Veneto, renowned for its sparkling Prosecco wines, is also famous for Amarone della Valpolicella. Vineyards like Allegrini and Quintarelli produce exceptional Amarone wines with concentrated flavors of dark fruit, spices, and a velvety texture. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a different yet captivating expression of Italian wines. Vineyards like Planeta, Donnafugata, and Tasca d'Almerita craft remarkable wines from indigenous grape varieties such as Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese. These wines exhibit intense fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a unique volcanic minerality.
These are just a few examples of the renowned vineyards and wines Italy has to offer. From the northern regions of Piedmont and Veneto to the central regions of Tuscany and Umbria, and down to the southern regions of Sicily and Puglia, Italy's wine regions are a treasure trove of exceptional wines. Experience the allure of Italian wines and immerse yourself in the rich history, diverse terroirs, and passionate winemaking that define the Italian wine scene. Whether you're sipping a prestigious Barolo, a refined Brunello di Montalcino, a refreshing Prosecco, or a bold Nero d'Avola, Italian wines promise a journey of flavors and a celebration of Italy's winemaking heritage.
Italy
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Sicily | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€104.35 |
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Barone di Villagrande, Contrada Villagrande, Etna Rosso 2018 exemplifies the pinnacle of Etna’s volcanic terroir. Crafted by the esteemed Barone di Villagrande, this wine originates from the Contrada Villagrande vineyard nestled on Mount Etna’s fertile slopes. The 2018 vintage is a harmonious blend of indigenous Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes, meticulously cultivated to express the unique minerality of the region. Following a careful hand-harvest, the grapes undergo gentle fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve their vibrant flavours. The wine is then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, imparting subtle complexity and a refined structure. On the palate, it reveals enticing aromas of red cherries, raspberries, and a hint of smoky earthiness, culminating in a balanced and elegant finish. Barone di Villagrande, Contrada Villagrande, Etna Rosso 2018 is a distinguished expression of Sicilian craftsmanship, perfect for discerning fine wine enthusiasts. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 88 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€299.58 |
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Vinous (88)Freshly cut flowers, sweet spices and dark red cherries are all woven together in the 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Brolio. Layered and silky on the palate, the 2011 offers good balance, even if the oak is a bit pronounced. Overall, this is a solid, if not particularly exciting wine. The Gran Selezione designation appears only on the back label, which strikes me as a curious choice. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€295.43 |
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James Suckling (97)There’s lots of clove character here, but the fruit really shines through, offering up intense hibiscus, orange rind, cranberries, Thai basil and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and really structured and refined with an agile core of red berries and savory undertones. Long but minerally on the finish. Drink from 2024. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€119.59 |
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James Suckling (96)A polished and reserved Castello with cherry, orange-peel and chocolate aromas and flavors. Tight and round-tannined, in a very subtle and curated way. The precision in this wine is impressive. Needs time to open. Try after 2025. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 89 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€522.79 |
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Vinous (89)The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione CeniPrimo offers brilliant aromatics, sculpted fruit and a good bit of persistence, but like all of these wines, it is ultimately dominated by a cold, overly technical feel. Crushed rocks, mint, pine and spice all add nuance to a core of red cherry fruit. There is plenty of potential here, if the veneer ever comes off. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€564.53 |
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James Suckling (99)A beautiful nose with tangerine peel, strawberries, rose petals, boysenberries, cranberries, red plums, red cherries and dark spices. Very grainy and refined on the palate with a real kick from the orange-rind undertones that permeate the entire palate. Tiptoes like a tightrope walker between power and finesse and executes its mission nearly to perfection. Drink now or hold. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€479.99 |
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James Suckling (97)A beautiful nose that shows dark plums, vanilla, tar, tobacco and spices. Full-bodied and very powerful with punchy tannins, but some real integration to the agile fruit and acidity. The complexity and depth at the end is breathtaking. Drink from 2023. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97+ (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€404.39 |
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Wine Advocate (97+)The Barone Ricasoli 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colledilà exudes an elegant fruit profile, but the wine is not without significant intensity and concentration too. With Sangiovese from clayey limestone soils rich in calcium carbonate and poor in organic matter, this wine also boasts that beautiful minerality that we saw in the others. Delicate berry fruit cedes to crushed oyster shell, dark spice and campfire ash. To the palate, the wine is high, firm and long. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€394.92 |
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Wine Advocate (96+)The Barone Ricasoli 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Gaiole Colledilà opens to dark fruit, but perhaps more significantly, you get a slate-like mineral note that adds focus. That mineral note appears in all these beautiful Gran Selezione wines from vintner Francesco Ricasoli, but in the case of this bottle, it adds a dark or slightly brooding personality. The finish is absolutely savory and salty. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 90 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€478.38 |
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Vinous (90)The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Roncicone is ample, creamy and expansive. Spice, dried flowers and crushed rocks add aromatic nuance. The potential for the Roncicone to be a wine of distinction is evident, but in this vintage, it just feels imprisoned by an overly technical approach. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€481.43 |
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James Suckling (98)I love the purity of fruit to this Gran Selezione that shows hibiscus, orange peel, violets, lavender, early grey tea, cloves, tobacco and wet earth. Elegant and flowing with lithe yet structured tannins, intensely refreshing acidity and a long, complex finish. Superb sangiovese. Drink from 2023. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€284.22 |
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Tuscany | 2 | - |
Inc. TAX
€284.22 |
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Piedmont | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€141.08 |
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Vinous (92)The 2019 Barbera d'Alba is fabulous. Bright and radiant, the 2019 is supple and yet classically medium in body. Soft, silky contours wrap around a core of red cherry/plum fruit. Interesting, despite its open-knit feel, the Barbera is a bit lower in alcohol than the norm, and that no doubt adds to its super-classic profile. I loved it. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€443.99 |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,485.22 |
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Vinous (96)Bartolo Mascarello's 1982 Barolo was a bit sweeter and more perfumed, but still had plenty of underlying verve. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€501.08 |
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Vinous (97)Tasted from magnum, the 1996 Barolo is absolutely stunning. Vibrant and wonderfully alive, the 1996 exudes class. Time has gently softened the 1996 tannins, rendering the 1996 super-expressive today. Balsamic, mentholated notes, along with scents of tobacco and dried stone fruit continue to open up with time in the glass. The 1996 is still firm and quite powerful, but not as austere as many wines are in this vintage. Tar, licorice and scorched earth add the closing shades of nuance in an impeccably balanced, vivid Barolo that captures the personality of the vintage at its best. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€799.68 |
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Wine Advocate (95)The 2005 Barolo is super-delicate and finessed. This is a decidedly restrained, feminine style of Barolo laced with roses, raspberries, jasmine and berries. It will be fascinating to see which direction the 2005 takes from here. At times the wine appears to be putting on additional weight, but it nevertheless retains an element of frailty that is actually quite attractive. I rate the 2005 just behind the 2004, 2006 and 2007, but it is a gorgeous wine, and easily one of the very finest wines of the vintage. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sicily | 1 | - |
In Bond
€83.00 |
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Barone di Villagrande, Contrada Villagrande, Etna Rosso 2018 exemplifies the pinnacle of Etna’s volcanic terroir. Crafted by the esteemed Barone di Villagrande, this wine originates from the Contrada Villagrande vineyard nestled on Mount Etna’s fertile slopes. The 2018 vintage is a harmonious blend of indigenous Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes, meticulously cultivated to express the unique minerality of the region. Following a careful hand-harvest, the grapes undergo gentle fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve their vibrant flavours. The wine is then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, imparting subtle complexity and a refined structure. On the palate, it reveals enticing aromas of red cherries, raspberries, and a hint of smoky earthiness, culminating in a balanced and elegant finish. Barone di Villagrande, Contrada Villagrande, Etna Rosso 2018 is a distinguished expression of Sicilian craftsmanship, perfect for discerning fine wine enthusiasts. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 88 (VN) |
In Bond
€231.00 |
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Vinous (88)Freshly cut flowers, sweet spices and dark red cherries are all woven together in the 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Brolio. Layered and silky on the palate, the 2011 offers good balance, even if the oak is a bit pronounced. Overall, this is a solid, if not particularly exciting wine. The Gran Selezione designation appears only on the back label, which strikes me as a curious choice. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
€224.00 |
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James Suckling (97)There’s lots of clove character here, but the fruit really shines through, offering up intense hibiscus, orange rind, cranberries, Thai basil and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and really structured and refined with an agile core of red berries and savory undertones. Long but minerally on the finish. Drink from 2024. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€92.00 |
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James Suckling (96)A polished and reserved Castello with cherry, orange-peel and chocolate aromas and flavors. Tight and round-tannined, in a very subtle and curated way. The precision in this wine is impressive. Needs time to open. Try after 2025. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 89 (VN) |
In Bond
€413.00 |
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Vinous (89)The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione CeniPrimo offers brilliant aromatics, sculpted fruit and a good bit of persistence, but like all of these wines, it is ultimately dominated by a cold, overly technical feel. Crushed rocks, mint, pine and spice all add nuance to a core of red cherry fruit. There is plenty of potential here, if the veneer ever comes off. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
€458.00 |
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James Suckling (99)A beautiful nose with tangerine peel, strawberries, rose petals, boysenberries, cranberries, red plums, red cherries and dark spices. Very grainy and refined on the palate with a real kick from the orange-rind undertones that permeate the entire palate. Tiptoes like a tightrope walker between power and finesse and executes its mission nearly to perfection. Drink now or hold. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
€377.00 |
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James Suckling (97)A beautiful nose that shows dark plums, vanilla, tar, tobacco and spices. Full-bodied and very powerful with punchy tannins, but some real integration to the agile fruit and acidity. The complexity and depth at the end is breathtaking. Drink from 2023. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97+ (WA) |
In Bond
€314.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97+)The Barone Ricasoli 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colledilà exudes an elegant fruit profile, but the wine is not without significant intensity and concentration too. With Sangiovese from clayey limestone soils rich in calcium carbonate and poor in organic matter, this wine also boasts that beautiful minerality that we saw in the others. Delicate berry fruit cedes to crushed oyster shell, dark spice and campfire ash. To the palate, the wine is high, firm and long. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (WA) |
In Bond
€310.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96+)The Barone Ricasoli 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Gaiole Colledilà opens to dark fruit, but perhaps more significantly, you get a slate-like mineral note that adds focus. That mineral note appears in all these beautiful Gran Selezione wines from vintner Francesco Ricasoli, but in the case of this bottle, it adds a dark or slightly brooding personality. The finish is absolutely savory and salty. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 90 (VN) |
In Bond
€380.00 |
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Vinous (90)The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Roncicone is ample, creamy and expansive. Spice, dried flowers and crushed rocks add aromatic nuance. The potential for the Roncicone to be a wine of distinction is evident, but in this vintage, it just feels imprisoned by an overly technical approach. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
€379.00 |
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James Suckling (98)I love the purity of fruit to this Gran Selezione that shows hibiscus, orange peel, violets, lavender, early grey tea, cloves, tobacco and wet earth. Elegant and flowing with lithe yet structured tannins, intensely refreshing acidity and a long, complex finish. Superb sangiovese. Drink from 2023. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
In Bond
€221.00 |
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Tuscany | 2 | - |
In Bond
€221.00 |
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Piedmont | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€114.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 2019 Barbera d'Alba is fabulous. Bright and radiant, the 2019 is supple and yet classically medium in body. Soft, silky contours wrap around a core of red cherry/plum fruit. Interesting, despite its open-knit feel, the Barbera is a bit lower in alcohol than the norm, and that no doubt adds to its super-classic profile. I loved it. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - |
In Bond
€347.00 |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
€1,230.00 |
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Vinous (96)Bartolo Mascarello's 1982 Barolo was a bit sweeter and more perfumed, but still had plenty of underlying verve. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
€414.00 |
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Vinous (97)Tasted from magnum, the 1996 Barolo is absolutely stunning. Vibrant and wonderfully alive, the 1996 exudes class. Time has gently softened the 1996 tannins, rendering the 1996 super-expressive today. Balsamic, mentholated notes, along with scents of tobacco and dried stone fruit continue to open up with time in the glass. The 1996 is still firm and quite powerful, but not as austere as many wines are in this vintage. Tar, licorice and scorched earth add the closing shades of nuance in an impeccably balanced, vivid Barolo that captures the personality of the vintage at its best. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
€659.00 |
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Wine Advocate (95)The 2005 Barolo is super-delicate and finessed. This is a decidedly restrained, feminine style of Barolo laced with roses, raspberries, jasmine and berries. It will be fascinating to see which direction the 2005 takes from here. At times the wine appears to be putting on additional weight, but it nevertheless retains an element of frailty that is actually quite attractive. I rate the 2005 just behind the 2004, 2006 and 2007, but it is a gorgeous wine, and easily one of the very finest wines of the vintage. |
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