1 | Wine | Italy, 91 to 95 | Page 5

"An elegant wine laced with dark cherries, plums, licorice, new leather, mint and French oak. All of the elements come together beautifully in this silky, mid-weight Brunello. The vibrant, eternal finish makes it hard to resist a second taste. This subtle, impeccably refined Brunello can be enjoyed with minimum cellaring, but it will be even better in another few years."

"This shows superb purity on the mid-palate, where hints of smoke, tar, licorice and a host of other aromas and flavors add complexity to the seamless fruit. A minerally, saline finish rounds things out in style. This is a stunning Barolo from Azelia."

"The 2009 Il Borgo flows across the palate with sweet dark red cherries, tobacco, flowers and spices. This intriguing blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon impresses for its silky personality and long finish. All the elements come together nicely in the glass. The 2009 is a harmonious, sleek wine to drink over the next 10-12 years."

"The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva flows with the essence of dark cherries, blackberries, flowers, violets, licorice and spices, all supported by firm, structured tannins. The 2006 boasts striking inner perfume, big fruit and a huge, explosive finish. The 2006 Riserva is surprisingly vibrant, focused and balanced for such a big wine. The Riserva was made from the estate’s highest altitude vineyards and aged one year in barrique and a second year in cask."

"This has beautiful intensity. Aromas of blackberry and dried mushroom follow through to a full body, with silky, refined tannins and a long aftertaste of bright fruit. Juicy and delicious on the intense finish."

"Sweet fruit is the overarching theme in this lush red. Cherry, raspberry, eucalyptus, iron and tea flavors combine with the well-integrated structure as this glides to an aftertaste of cherry and iron."

"Ripe plum, verging on prune, with coffee and dark chocolate character. Full-bodied, with soft tannins that are very velvety and caressing. Chewy and concentrated. Sneaks up on you. A superb debut Barolo from Piedmont's best Dolcetto producer."

"The 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo is a wine that expresses a contemporary vision of what Chianti Classico can be but without ever fully abandoning its roots. The single-vineyard Vigna del Sorbo adds 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (planted on Sangiovese rootstocks) to the Sangiovese. Texturally it is classic Sangiovese with the fine, sweet tannins that are the hallmark of the vintage, while the Cabernet adds a sepia-hued dimension to the fruit and an element of greater richness in the body, but without dominating the aromatic or flavor profile. The radiant warmth of Panzano doesn’t hurt either, as the fruit is gloriously ripe and soft in this vintage. Everything is beautifully in balance, including the oak, which is barely perceptible."

"The 2008 Barolo Bricco Viole shows the personality of the vintage and freshness of the site. Sweet red berries, flowers, mint, sage and herbs are some of the nuances that emerge from this chiseled, finessed Barolo. The cool weather personality of the year comes through in this vibrant, wiry Barolo. The Bricco Viole is a wine that needs to be served at the dinner table, where its energy will shine brightest. In 2008, the Bricco Viole is pure elegance."