Italian Collector Wines
Italian Collector Wines
Aside from France, Italy is considered by many to be Europe’s finest country when it comes to winemaking culture. In the past, really amazing vintages weren’t very common, with years like 1964, 1971 and 1978 helping put Piedmont on the map, and vintages like 1955 and 1975 resonating outwards from Tuscany. However, Italy has been getting more and more consistent since about 1990, thanks to considerable advancements in how they treat their grapes and subtle climate changes. Today, Italy is a veritable viticultural titan, and their wines regularly take top spots in various tastings. Naturally, this means collectors are constantly paying attention nowadays, making certain blends tough to obtain.You have many options to choose from if you wish to snag a handful of bottles for your collection. For example, a bottle of 1999 Barolo is fit for consumption, as it’s (arguably) only now reaching its peak. If you wish to sit on it, this wine has enough longevity to develop and bloom during the next 7-10 years. The intense aroma can steal your heart in a moment’s notice, and one sip is enough to inspire untold romantic poetry. Alternatively, you may opt for a 2004 Bolgheri, which is as close as you can get to an objectively perfect wine – complex, ripe, satisfying, it grips you by the tongue and refuses to let go. Not a vintage to miss out on, and its sheer aging potential makes it a viable drink until late 2024.
We want to make it easier for you to wrap your lips around delicious, compelling wines such as these. Italy is versatile enough to provide several options no matter what your preference may be, and you can easily become the life of the party just by busting out one of these groundbreaking works of art at a social event, especially big celebrations. Leave no one unsatisfied with Italy’s finest collectibles.
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1988 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto98DECThe vines were five years old in 1988, the age at which the plants usually begin to show a natural balance and announce their sense of place. This is the official second year for M..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,705.00 -
1996 Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo98AGGaja's 1996 Sorì San Lorenzo is epic. A huge, towering wine, the 1996 Sorì San Lorenzo wraps around the palate with magnificent depth, power and intensity. Smoke, cha..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $570.00 -
1996 Gaja Sperss Barolo97AGThe 1996 Sperss is arguably the most backward of these 1996s from Gaja. Still very young and tightly wound, the 1996 is going to need at least a few years to truly blossom. Even so..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $485.00 -
1997 Albino Rocca Barbaresco Vigneto Brich Ronchi97RPThis is a spectacular Barbaresco. It is awesomely thick, rich, and textured, with unreal opulence as well as glycerin levels that define the finest offerings from the 1997 vintage...." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $125.00 -
1997 Castellare I Sodi di San Niccolo97AGThe 1997 I Sodi di San Niccolo is wonderfully elegant, pure and silky. It remains very young, but is so polished that opening a bottle today is far from a crime. Dark red cherries,..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $175.00 -
1997 Castello Rampolla Sammarco97JSWhat a bottle. Off the charts! Full and velvety with spice and berry character and dark chocolate. Bright citrus acidity underneath. Intense. Wild fruit.James Suckling | 97 JSRich ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $145.00 -
1997 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi97WSI love the mineral, berry and raspberry aromas, with a light mint undertone. Full-bodied, round and unctuous, with fine tannins and a long, ripe fruit aftertaste. Firm and tight. F..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $579.00 -
1997 Gaja Barolo Conteisa98RPThe 1997 Conteisa offers classic aromas of licorice, melted tar, black cherries, wet stones, and tobacco. It is a full-bodied, unctuously-textured wine of remarkable density and th..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $459.00 -
1997 Gaja Sperss Barolo99RPA virtually perfect effort is the 1997 Sperss (30,000 bottles), which represents the essence of truffles, earth, and black cherries in its striking aromatics and multidimensional, ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $649.00 -
1997 Ornellaia97JSFruit and complexity as well as freshness and richness. Beautiful nose with extraordinary aromas of prunes, licorice, and dried flowers with rosemary undertones. Full-bodied and ve..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,160.00 -
1997 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto98JSThis is the first legendary Masseto. It shows a tangy and exciting character on the palate with dried berry and strawberry character. Fabulous and energetic acidity with firm tanni..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,175.00 -
1998 Ornellaia99DEC1998 is most likely the best vintage ever for Ornellaia. Petit Verdot was not yet used in the blend. Evolved bramble fruits meld with forest floor, helichrysum and Mediterranean he..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $320.00 -
1999 Dal Forno Romano Amarone98JSThis is full throttle style with loads of black chocolate and dark fruits on the nose and the palate. Minerally, gun powder undertone. It's very full and powerful with super pretty..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $570.00 -
1999 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino Riserva99AGThe 1999 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is simply epic, as it always has been. A Barolo of statuesque, profound beauty, the 1999 very clearly belongs among the greatest Monfortinos ever..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,910.00 -
1999 Le Macchiole Merlot Messorio98RPThe awesome, saturated purple-colored 1999 Messorio is a 100% Merlot aged 18 months in French oak prior to being bottled without filtration. The alcohol is a lofty 14.6% and the dr..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $425.00 -
1999 Montevertine Pergole Torte97DEC(Montevertine, Le Pergole Torte, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, Red) 1999 was the final vintage of Sergio Manetti, who died in 2000. Today this bottle seems to be proof of his will to pr..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $455.00 -
1999 Roberto Voerzio Barolo Sarmassa di Barolo94+VM(bottled entirely in magnums) Saturated medium ruby. Superripe aromas of raspberry, minerals, dried rose, bitter chocolate and roasted oak, complicated by tangy spices and hints of..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $545.00 -
2000 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi100WSFabulous aromas of rose petals and cherries with hints of raspberries. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and an incredible finish. This is so fine and so long. A real beauty that..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $459.00 -
2000 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc98WSVery, very ripe fruit, with strawberries and plums galore. Turns to Indian spices and cedar. Full-bodied, with an exquisite palate of ultraripe tannins that turn to velvet. Long, l..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $775.00 -
2001 Dal Forno Romano Amarone97AGThe 2001 Amarone is on another level entirely. It exudes notable warmth and ripeness, with profound layers of Venezuelan bitter chocolate, herbs, licorice, smoke, dark fruit and to..." Learn MoreAs low as $630.00 -
2001 Le Macchiole Merlot Messorio97AGAmazingly, the 2001 Messorio (100% Merlot) reached an even higher level of profoundness. Blessed with a super-finessed nose and layers of dark, jammy, plum, mineral and toasted oak..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $320.00 -
2004 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Rabaja98AGThe 2004 Barbaresco Rabajà is a total head-turner. In this tasting, its only competition is the Asili Red Label. Even so, the Rabajà is an absolutely captivating, viv..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $449.00 -
2004 Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo98AGThe 2004 Sorì San Lorenzo is incredibly sensual and layered in this vintage, almost uncharacteristically so. With time in the glass, some of the more typical brooding notes ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $599.00 -
2004 Gaja Barbaresco Sori Tildin97AGOne of the biggest surprises in this tasting, the 2004 Sorì Tildìn comes across as imposing and massively structured, with shades of pure power that are more typical ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $525.00 -
2004 Gaja Sperss Barolo99WSPowerful and structured. Delicate aromas of sandalwood, blackberry, licorice and cherry follow through to a full body, with very chewy tannins and loads of pretty fruit and hints o..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $475.00