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$379.95
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WS 100
JS 100
Italy
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Tuscany
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Brunello di Montalcino
In stock,
9
available
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100 points Wine Spectator: "It's hard to imagine a more concentrated, layered young Brunello, with aromas of crushed berries, treacle tart, light raisin, coffee and chocolate that follow effortlessly to the palate. Full-bodied, with chewy yet velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Develops wonderfully in the glass and grows fruitier with every minute. A great wine, with extraordinary depth. One of the greatest Brunellos of all time. Classic. Best after 2012. 895 cases made. (4/30/07)"
100 points James Suckling: "Unbelievable. Can you believe the texture and depth in this wine? Very precise, full bodied with fabulous length that goes on with a hint of minerals. I am left speechless after this wine. Fabulous. (1/9/11)"
Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso: "As usual, the celebrated Brunello Cerretalto '01 was in a class of its own, notching up yet another Three Glass triumph. It's a wine that faithfully reflects its terroir and lovely red soil. a Deep colour ushers in a nose that requires a few moments to release its full complexity, commencing with fruity notes of wild and morello cherries before progressing to medicinal herbs. In the mouth, there is concentration and impressive depth, with close-knit but well-integrated tannins, the full body nicely supported by acidity. The finish is exceptionally long and the cellar prospects are excellent. (2008)"
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$149.95
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WS 97
JS 97
IWC 96
Italy
-
Tuscany
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Brunello di Montalcino
In stock,
4
available
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'Wine of the Year (2006)' and 97 points Wine Spectator: "Dark color with intense blackberry, chocolate and lightly toasted oak. Full-bodied and ultravelvety, with caressing tannins. Vanilla, chocolate and berry. Goes on for minutes. Best after 2010. (4/30/06)"
97 points James Suckling: "There is so much ripe fruit here with a decadent richness that is just crazy. Verges on raisins but it goes instead to pure fruit. Very full and velvety with a long finish. I love this. (12/9/10)"
Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso: "The more modern-styled Tenuta Nuova '01 is no less remarkable. Here we see more barrel influence on the ripe fruit while the palate flaunts terrific component balance. It too builds a superbly luxurious, endless finish. (2007)"
96 points Ian D'Agata (International Wine Cellar): "Medium-deep bright ruby. Beautiful, profound nose of sweet ripe cherry, pipe tobacco, almond and raspberry jam. Ripe, suave and juicy, with sweet flavors similar to the aromas, this is an absolutely seamless wine with lively harmonious acidity on a suave, never-ending finish. Though extremely concentrated, this is a uniquely refined Brunello with wonderfully suave smooth, classy tannins. (Jun 2007)"
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$124.95
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Italy
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Piedmont
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Barolo
Pre-arrival, 12+ available
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Not yet rated, but previous Wine Advocate scores as follows:
2007 - 94+ points
2005 - 94 points
2004 - 96 points
2001 - 94 points
1999 - 94 points
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$17.95
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Italy
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Tuscany
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Chianti
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Retromarcia is a Chianti Classico made from Sangiovese (95%), Merlot (3%) and Canaiolo Nero (2%) grapes. A large proportion of the grapes come from vineyards consisting of shale (Galestro), limestone (Alberese) and sandstone (Arenaria-Calcare-Pietraforte), and are, on average, ten years in age. The vinification and maturation is reminiscent of a more traditional style Chianti Classico; the result is a fresh and fruity, medium-bodied, well-balanced wine, with a nice structure, juicy acidity and a long finish. The Italian word Retromarcia has come to mean more to us than its literal translation 'to back up' or 'to reverse'; ever since we arrived in Panzano, it has been our aim to produce intensely typical and expressive wines from Tuscany’s historic zone -- Chianti Classico. With the name Retromarcia, we are emphasizing a return to the natural elegance and charm of Sangiovese."
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$58.95
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WA 96
Italy
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Campania
In stock, 12+ available
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List $80.00
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This bottling is the wine equivalent of a prima ballerina...graceful yet bold, delicate yet strong. Displaying exceptional poise, this dynamic wine is balance and elegance defined. A new benchmark for the region was established by Montevetrano with the release of their first vintage (1993). Now, the 2010 raises the bar even higher. Renowned winemaker Riccardo Cotarella commented, "Montevetrano became the turning point in my career... a quality wine from Salerno was certainly seen as something of a rarity! The challenge however bore successful results... This wine led me to believe that Italy was not all Piedmont and Tuscany, but a handful of regions with optimum conditions for wine production which, above all, were full of secrets that no one had ever uncovered."
96 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$80 list] The 2010 Montevetrano is flat-out gorgeous. Vibrant, floral aromatics lead to layers of beautifully delineated fruit in this finely sculpted chiseled Montevetrano. A wine of extraordinary beauty, the 2010 impresses for its clarity and nuance. I don't think I have ever tasted a young Montevetrano with this much pure silkiness and finesse. There is a level of precision and delineation in the 2010 that is truly marvelous. I can't wait to see how it ages. The 2010 is also notable for a much higher percentage of Aglianico (30%) than has been common in the past, while the international varieties are less prominent in the blend. In 2010 Montevetrano is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Aglianico and 20% Merlot, which means the Cabernet Sauvignon now plays a much smaller role in the blend. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. (Feb 2013)"
Perennial "Tre Bicchieri" Award Winner by Gambero Rosso since 1999.
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$24.95
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VER 95
WA 93
Italy
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Umbria
In stock,
1
available
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95 points Daniel Thomases (I Vini di Veronelli).
93 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The estate's flagship 2007 Villa Fidelia is a serious wine bursting with mocha, roasted coffee beans, French oak, leather, licorice, spices that add considerable complexity to the dark, inky fruit. This super-rich, concentrated red is showing beautifully today, but ideally it needs another few years in bottle. Villa Fidelia is Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 12 months in 100% new French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. (Jun 2011)"
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$889.95
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WS 100
JS 100
WE 99
Italy
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Tuscany
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Other
In stock,
9
available
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100 points Wine Spectator: "This is fantastic, showing incredible length and richness. Supersilky and caressing. It's an absolute joy to taste. Full-bodied, with blackberry, light vanilla and a long, long finish. The aftertaste goes on for minutes. This is the best Masseto ever made and a monument to Tuscany. I have tasted it more than 10 times already in the last two years. It's always great.--Masseto non-blind vertical. Best after 2012. 2,670 cases made. (10/31/04)"
100 points James Suckling: "This has an intense nose of brown sugar, porcini mushrooms, dark fruits, tobacco, olives, cigar box... I am running out of words to describe the nose. The palate is full bodied and ultra rich. This is a monumental wine that arouses all your senses. Truly exotic and sensual. Enjoy this for the rest of your life. Find the wine. (3/3/11)"
Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso: "Masseto '01 is a great red from merlot grapes, and above all a monument to winemaking at Bolgheri. Immense and unforgettable, it is garnering rave reviews in the wine press around the globe. Today, it inevitably pays the price of an extreme youth that does not yet disclose the peaks of elegance for which it is destined in the coming years. One can only compare it to the world's other great Merlots, particularly those from Pomerol. Nonetheless, it has characteristics of its own deriving from the sun-drenched Mediterranean context of Bolgheri. Black fruits, tobacco, smokiness and minerals emerge on the nose. Velvety tannins, pervasive alcohol and exceptional persistence mark out the palate. In short, it is a thoroughbred of a wine. (2005)"
99 points Wine Enthusiast: "Even better than the highly acclaimed 2001 vintage, this Merlot from a tiny, clay soil vineyard in Bolgheri is just about everything you’ve ever dreamed of tasting. Gorgeous, generous, voluptuous, cheerful, succulent and intense: Masseto is all those things. The aromas are seamless and capture the essence of chocolate fudge, sweet cherry, blackberry, spice and vanilla. It boasts thick, dense extraction, excellent structure and amazing persistence. (Apr 2008)"
97 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2001 Masseto lives up to its reputation as a modern-day legend. The wine has everything; beautifully delineated aromatics, generous fruit and plenty of structure to support all of the elements. It is a big, massive Masseto endowed with huge fruit and an exotic, powerful personality. An eternal finish rounds things out in style. The 2001 is dazzling from start to finish. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2023. (Nov 2011)"
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$134.95
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WS 98
JS 98
Italy
-
Tuscany
-
Brunello di Montalcino
In stock,
6
available
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98 points Wine Spectator: "Black hued, with intense aromas of crushed berries and licorice with hints of oak. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Superb. One of the best Brunellos I have had in a long time. Best after 2010. 2,500 cases made. (4/30/06)"
98 points James Suckling: "Wow! This is amazing, a very sexy decadence to this. I am having a hard time believing it is wine. Tons of richness and excitement in this. Wow, again! (1/9/11)"
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$319.95
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WS 100
JS 100
WA 96
Italy
-
Tuscany
-
Brunello di Montalcino
In stock,
9
available
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|
100 points and 'Top 100 Wine of 2007 (#13),' Wine Spectator: "Mind-blowing aromas of crushed berries, meat, blackberry and violet. Full-bodied, with layers of incredibly velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is so complex and long, and the mouthfeel is spellbinding. Develops wonderfully in the glass, becoming more and more rich with air. One of the greatest Brunellos I have ever tasted. Best after 2012. 2,000 cases made. (8/30/07)"
100 points James Suckling: "Unbelievable. Can you believe the texture and depth in this wine? Very precise, full bodied with fabulous length that goes on with a hint of minerals. I am left speech less after this wine. Fabulous. (1/9/11)"
96 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is another remarkable wine. It is a ripe, ample Brunello with tons of fruit. Compared to the broad-shouldered 1999, the 2001 possesses a touch greater detail and more finesse in its tannins. This is a beautifully delineated, chiseled wine of the highest level. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. (Jan 2009)"
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$7.95
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Italy
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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Importer notes: "Montepulciano makes some famous top-end big reds here in the Abruzzo, but the variety also makes amazingly good inexpensive red wine, far better than comparable Sangiovese. Aromas and flavors of black plum, black cherry, herbs, and black olives surround a wonderful meaty texture, with enough chewiness to make the wine stand up to food. This is the ideal 'spaghetti red,' at a price that will bring a smile to your face every time you open a bottle."
Not yet reviewed; 2010 vintage rated 87 points by Fine Wine Review: "This cooperative wine delivers all that you could want: it is dark, fruity, medium-weight, and stylish. Complexity may not be its strong suit, but there’s enough here, especially with substantial aging, to cause you to think much, much higher on the prestige list if served this wine blind. 13.5% stated alcohol."
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$359.95
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WS 100
WA 96
Italy
-
Piedmont
-
Barolo
In stock,
2
available
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100 points Wine Spectator: "Terrific aromas of blackberries, toasted oak and cedar with hints of Cuban tobacco. Full-bodied, with a phenomenal richness and balance. It literally goes on for minutes. Layers upon layers of fruit and ripe tannins. Mind-blowing. How can Nebbiolo be better? This is a new wine from Voerzio, from one of Barolo's top vineyard sites. Best after 2011. 440 cases made. (7/31/04)"
Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso: "Top marks go to a new selection from the magnificent Rocche dell'Annunziata vineyard called Torriglione. It is the Quintessence of quality and elegance, with a nose that opens out gradually into still youthful notes of fruit. The palate is awesome. (2005)"
96 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2000 Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata/Torriglione is one of the more structured and intense of these 2000s. A persistent underlying vein of minerality frames crushed red berries, licorice, freshly cut flowers and mint. The Rocche is another intensely perfumed Barolo endowed with superb intensity and fabulous overall balance. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. (Jun 2011)"
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