Wine Ratings

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Sangiovese blend ‘horizontal’ with two crus, Canalicchio and Montosoli, and plants over 10 years old, completed by great cellar accuracy. Olfaction with gardenia and wild sage, red plum and nuances of licorice root. Savoury to taste, floral memory.Luca Gardini | 98+ LGThe classic 2021 Brunello from Canalicchio di Sopra entices with its fragrance of lavender, eucalyptus, dark spice and red plum. Delicious and loaded with finesse, the smooth palate offers strawberry compote, red cherry, licorice and crushed mint accompanied by taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity and a hint of orange zest elevate the finish. Drink 2029–2039. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOBeautifully balanced and polished, the Canalicchio di Sopra 2021 Brunello di Montalcino shows delicate mineral notes that frame cassis, blue flower and sweet Sangiovese aromatics. The wine is taut and energetic, driven by fine tension that carries through a mid-weight palate with length and silky, well-managed tannins, resulting in an elegant yet accessible expression. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 36 months in large Slavonian oak casks, the wine is sourced from fruit drawn across 10 hectares of vines over 10 years of age from the Canalicchio and Montosoli sites. Production totals 38,241 bottles, including larger formats.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is explosive in the glass, with waves of crushed rocks, savory herbs, nuances of split pine and dried strawberries. It communicates both juiciness and refinement, with crystalline mineral tones contrasting racy red and black fruits. The 2021 leaves the senses drenched in primary concentration as a sour twang of citrus mingles with fine tannins through the dramatically long finale. Despite having separated out the single-vineyard wines over the years, I am continually impressed with Canalicchio di Sopra’s Brunello.Vinous Media | 95 VMAromas of red cherries, pepper, meat and a hint of dark olives. Medium- to full-bodied, showing subtle fleshiness and precise tannins that bring focus and definition. There’s an ethereal quality, with pure, transparent red fruit and a clean, graceful finish. So approachable. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JS

Black cherry, black licorice, graphite, violet and lavender aromas follow through to a full body with a compact center palate and chewy yet very integrated tannins that give drive and great length. Muscular and agile in the finish. Try after 2029.James Suckling | 98 JSSmall barrel and the most ‘historic’ vineyards on the property, combined with sustainable agriculture and non-invasive protocols in the cellar. Aromas of carob, puffs of gardenia and touches of dogwood orange. Savoury-salty sip, intense tannins, closes with a call of undergrowth.Luca Gardini | 98 LGThe Siro Pacenti 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne offers greater concentration and oak spice, presenting a dark and richly layered profile with generous tannins well suited to the character of the warm vintage. Aged in barrique, the wine is built from an intriguing blend of fruit, with half drawn from mineral-rich rocky soils at 150 meters in elevation in the southern sector and half from clay-heavy northern vineyards at 330 meters in elevation, giving it both weight and dimension. This structured and deeply flavored Brunello is produced in 15,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPYouthfully backward in the glass, the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne requires some coaxing to unleash its array of dried black cherries, mentholated herbs, cinnamon sticks and crushed stone. It is seamlessly silky smooth and supple, with depths of chocolate-laced wild berry fruits contrasted by a tactile mineral core. Fresh acidity wins the day as the 2021 finishes with cheek-punching tension, structured yet not severe, while leaving a tart berry twang.Vinous Media | 95 VM

Deep brooding nose with a touch of cocoa powder to the deep, fresh blueberries, chiles and chocolate. Impeccable chalky tannins confer structure and resolve. Full-bodied but super fresh and bright, with a long, long finish. Need two or three years at least to let complexity come through. 100% whole cluster. Drink from 2027.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2022 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae was planted in 1992 at 1,340 meters above sea level on calcareous soils. Purple in hue, it features intense aromas of blackberry, plum and lavender, alongside notes of licorice. Dry and juicy, the compact palate is enhanced by elevated acidity, creating a balanced mouthfeel that lingers with floral and blackberry tones. The overall aesthetic is slightly raw with a chalky nuance, delivering delicate yet intense flavors. Fortuna Terrae embodies the character of a high-elevation Malbec.Vinous Media | 97 VMFrom a particular parcel of the vineyard special for its deep soils, white stones, and south-facing exposures, the medium to full-bodied 2022 Malbec Fortuna Terrae Adrianna Vineyard offers a wealth of high-toned red fruit, subtle spice, and graphite components, given 100% whole-cluster fermentation to highlight its natural acidity. After extended cold maceration to boost its invitingly floral, earthy aromatics, it aged 14-18 months in French oak barrels, some of them larger format.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe 2022 Adrianna Vineyard Malbec Fortuna Terrae is pure, floral, herbal and elegant on the nose, followed by a svelte, soft and richly textured palate enlivened with an increasingly electric core of acidity. It concludes with a solid, vibrant finish framed by refined, discreet tannins, gradually gaining length and dimension with time in the glass. This is a fantastic cornerstone of the upper echelon of Catena Zapata Malbecs and a lovely midpoint between the more lifted and ethereal River and the more sumptuous Mundus Bacillus Terrae bottlings.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPThis elegant version leads with fresh lilac and mineral aromas. The palate is polished yet defined, with precise mineral tension to the generous core of cherry and Santa Rosa plum flavors. Subtle guava details chime in and everything seems to swell midpalate around fresh acidity and carry onto the finish around fine tannins. Drink now through 2040. 490 cases made, 175 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 95 WS

Astonishing purity and youthful freshness, the white-peach, Asian-pear and candied Amalfi-lemon aromas incredibly vivid. Super-focused, medium-bodied palate with staggering vitality and energy. This is very concentrated, but the refreshing acidity makes it feel so light on its feet. Then comes the diamond-bright minerality at the finish. Surely the best white wine from this producer to date! Made from vines planted in 2005. Drink or hold. 20th Anniversary Berlin Tasting Event, February 2024.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2022 Chardonnay Las Pizarra was cultivated on slate soils overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 20% new, this yellow-green wine delivers enticing aromas of green apple, ginger and cedar, complemented by acacia, nard and lime notes. Lean, refreshing and taut, its elevated acidity and vibrant mouthfeel create a uniquely nervy yet creamy texture. This is a stunning coastal Chardonnay with a nod to Burgundy. Coastal terroirs, when planted with high-quality grape material, offer a renewed expression of Chile’s potential for high-end whites—this wine is a remarkable example.Vinous Media | 97 VMThe 2022 Las Pizarras Chardonnay is enticingly pure and vibrant on the nose, exuding a pleasing combination of bright, floral and crushed stone aromas with incredible clarity. The palate is a livewire of energy, with a radiant, beaming presence and outstanding, chiseled precision. It concludes on a long, layered and stoney finish accented with bright citrus notes and impressive length. This grew ever more nuanced and multidimensional in the glass, gaining substantial textural breadth but never losing sight of its crystalline purity and focused core. This was 100% barrel fermented, underwent partial malolactic fermentation and aged 12 months in 20% new French barrique.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPPoured from magnum, this Chardonnay is showing so well, showcasing its own identity as well as sense of place. Iodine salinity gives it depth, persistence and loads of character. The mid-palate, full of yellow apple, ripe pear and preserved lemon, is weighty and creamy, with a nutty edge adding it a meaty fleshiness. But the salinity is the start here, coming back on the finish with energy and seductiveness, lingering on the long tail of kelp and nori.Decanter Magazine | 95 DEC

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the Fattoria Le Pupille 2023 Saffredi represents a classic expression from a fresh vintage that ultimately performed far better than expected despite mid-season mildew pressure. The estate continues to refine its use of wood to emphasize brightness and fruit purity, a shift that is especially evident here. The wine shows notes of dark cherry, ripe blackberry, spice and hints of creamy chocolate. While the 2022 vintage emphasized harder tannins, this vintage is defined by generosity and luscious fruit. The Cabernet Sauvignon in particular appears crunchy, youthful and fresh, giving the wine energy and forward momentum.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RP

The 2023 Chardonnay Sugar Shack needs a little shaking and coaxing to bring out delicate notes of Golden Delicious apples, lemon curd, lime jelly, and candle wax, plus nuances of baking bread and chopped almonds. The medium to full-bodied palate is creamy textured with soft acidity and bags of apple and citrus-inspired flavors, finishing with a zesty lift.The Wine Independent | 98 TWIThe 2023 Chardonnay Sugar Shack is redolent of apricot, chamomile, floral-infused honey, marzipan and dried flowers. Brisk acids lend energy. There’s a ton of phenolic depth and savory intensity here. This builds beautifully with time in the glass. Superb.Vinous Media | 96 VMBright and juicy, with wonderful purity to the core of mango puree, grilled lemon, Sumo citrus and tangerine flavors. Shows accents of ripe peach, dried pineapple, crème brûlée and bergamot, along with fresh lemon and lime zest. There’s a touch of sesame candy crunch on the finish. Drink now through 2037. 780 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WS