Wine Ratings

wines

The nose of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is quite expressive and spiced, showing very nicely with ripe aromas of wild raspberries, cherries, fresh herbs, and blood orange spice. The palate gains in intensity, with good energy and a mineral drive. A very successful wine in this vintage, it’s going to have plenty of life over the next 15-20 years. 13,333 bottles were produced.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDAromas of pine forest, dark spice, new leather and hint of truffle form the enticing nose on the impressive 2020 Rio Sordo Riserva. On the palate, taut extremely refined tannins accompany pomegranate, strawberry, citrus and star anise. Drink 2026–2032. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOThe Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo comes from an area that is further removed from the Tanaro River and has southwestern exposures. It shows a typical profile for Nebbiolo with rich fruit, a velvety mouthfeel and textural volume that is delivered with ample blackberry, blackcurrant and spice. The character of this wine is generous and rich. There is plenty of meat on these bones.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is pretty closed today, which is probably a very good sign for its aging prospects, as this site tends to produce wines that are more open than this. Dark cherry, plum, leather, incense and tobacco offer a decidedly somber expression of Rio Sordo. The 2020 clearly needs time.Vinous Media | 94 VMThis red bursts with cherry, strawberry and rose aromas and flavors, plus mineral, white pepper and anise elements. Firm and lively, showing accessibility and harmony. Enjoyable now, but there’s no rush. Best from 2026 through 2040. 1,111 cases made, 198 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Aluigi Campo ai Peri is 100% Sangiovese from a single vineyard in Panzano that faces Lamole. It spent two years in cask and a third year in a larger cask. Rich, sumptuous and beautifully layered, the 2020 is all class, all refinement. Silky tannins, expressive red-toned Sangiovese fruit and lifted, soaring aromatics give the 2020 tons of finesse. This sensual Gran Selezione is lights out.Vinous Media | 97 VMA vineyard selection from a southeast-facing parcel at an average altitude of 440m. With a slightly higher clay content giving cooler soil, the 2ha plot is typically the last to be picked at the estate. It yields wines with a mightier structure, and in 2020, the warmth of the vintage is on full display: macerated fruit aromas are accented by cinnamon and liquorice tea. That ripeness repeats on the palate, where redcurrant jelly meets fennel, broom and grilled meat. Fruit girth is thoroughly reined in by the strict, angular tannins, and stony minerality drives the finish.Decanter Magazine | 94 DECA focused, dense and well-built gran selezione. It shows notes of spiced cherries, sweet berries, dried herbs and dry earth with some spices. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Lively and full of verve, with plenty of drive and texture. Lingering finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 93 JSThe Le Cinciole 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Panzano Aluigi Campo ai Peri has a theme of sweet versus sour that runs throughout. You get tart cherry set against raspberry preserves. There is cinnamon contrasted by savory notes of tobacco. The wine ends with mid-weight concentration and a bright spot of acidity. The Gran Selezione goes into oak for two years followed by 12 months in cement. This is a 5,000-bottle release.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

The 2020 Petresco is 100% Sangiovese from the estate’s highest-elevation blocks facing Lamole, where soils are especially rocky and the vines are older. Wildflowers, herbs, rocks, menthol and licorice soar out of the glass. This is an especially savory, expressive Sangiovese that emphasizes mineral and floral notes more than primary fruit. Petresco spent two years in 60-70% cask and the rest in barrique, followed by a year in cement. It remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Italy. Magnificent.Vinous Media | 97 VMThis is spicy and walnuty with aromas of plums, mulberries, nutshells and licorice. Full, broad and a little chewy, with a firm tannin structure and succulent fruit underneath. Shows good concentration and length and needs a bit of time to soften. Sangiovese. From organically grown grapes. Try from 2027.James Suckling | 93 JS

One of the palest and most perfumed Barolos from Vietti with a transparent, ruby-orange hue. This is a super nuanced, elegant, expressive and ethereal Monvigliero that grows on me, with enchanting notes of grilled grapefruit, thyme, frozen raspberries and mineral. A subtle splash of white pepper and mezcal-like smokiness. Really refined and transparent, with some citrus and mineral tensions that are closely knit with the fine, crumbled tannins. So much finesse and detail here, and its complexity will continue to unwind. Really composed, soulful and mind-blowing! A big wow that deserves attention. Vegan. Best with a Burgundy glass. Can drink now or from 2027.James Suckling | 99 JSPrepare to be enchanted by a Barolo that effortlessly lifts out of the glass with aromas of crushed raspberries, wild strawberries, and succulent red cherries, intertwined with delicate rose petals and violets. A subtle hint of stem adds an alluring complexity to the bouquet, drawing you in. The palate is plush and forward, revealing layers of juicy red currants, pomegranate, and a touch of sweet spice. This beautifully crafted wine showcases the finesse and grace of Nebbiolo, with silky tannins and bright acidity that create a harmonious balance. This stunning Barolo is a testament to the skill of the winemaker and the unique terroir of the region. Drink now - 2035. Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEA relatively new departure for Vietti, the 2020 Barolo Monvigliero is soft and delicate with pretty floral aromas, dried iris, powdered spice and a hint of tar or road pavement. The inaugural vintage was 2018. Made with 60% whole-cluster fruit during fermentation, the wine has a moment of tartness, punchy highlights, sweet grenadine and cranberry jelly. It ages in large oak casks for 24 months. Production is 6,754 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPTop notes of rose, strawberry and cherry are underlined by earth, menthol, iron and tobacco flavors in this elegant yet intense red. Fluid, with a texture that borders on viscous and excellent definition on the long, complex finish. Best from 2027 through 2045. 510 cases made, 175 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 95 WSFirst produced in 2018, the 2020 Barolo Monvigliero sees 60% whole cluster fermentation, which contributes to a bit of spice that comes through in the wine. Offering notes of saline, cinnamon, cranberries, white pepper, and orange peel, it’s lean and weightless on the palate, an elegant and graceful red with supple, fine tannins and a clean mouthfeel. Highly refined, this very pretty wine is going to improve over the next 7-10 years. Drink 2025-2035.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDMonvigliero is one of the most elegant crus from Verduno, which is one of the coolest areas in Barolo, producing wines of rare grace. Vietti’s 2020 is a delight, characteristic of the year, full of cinnamon, violet, raspberry and vibrant depth. Zesty acidity seamlessly integrates with velvety, light but savoury tannins, and the wine only thins out a little on the finish.Decanter Magazine | 95 DECThe 2020 Barolo Monvigliero is a very pretty, ethereal wine. Crushed flowers, mint, bright, red-toned fruit, dried herbs and spice are nicely lifted. This pretty, nuanced Barolo is very classy, but also on the lighter side. The 2020 is beguiling, but also a bit ethereal—this fruit may have been picked too early.Vinous Media | 92 VM

A medium red hue, the 2020 Barolo Rocche Di Castiglione offers more complexity and is more nuanced in the glass, with notes of dried raspberries, tangerine, roses, dried herbs, and cedar. Medium-bodied, it is crunchy with an elegant feel but has balanced structure and retains a somewhat more chiseled feel that’s true to the vintage. It has a lot to enjoy now and also has a wide drinking window. Drink 2025-2050.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDThe Vietti 2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a very delineated wine with sharp ferrous notes, cherry cola, redcurrant and chalky mineral. It is extremely precise in terms of its aromas. The effect is direct and layered, showing different sides and increasing complexity as it opens in the glass. Dried floral notes, purple flower and iris also appear delicately. The chalky tannins feel abrupt at this young stage, but this wine is built to last nonetheless. Only 3,512 bottles were created.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPThe 2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a magical wine from a magical site. It marries finesse and volume to a degree that is not found in most of the other wines in this range. Castiglione Falletto is the center of the Barolo production zone, literally and figuratively, the place where many different soil types meet. As a result, the wines often possess mind-blowing balance, which is very much the case here.Vinous Media | 96 VMCharming and enticing with aromas of sweet cherries, strawberries, cedar, dried herbs and some baking spices. Sensational concentration with a vivid center-palate on the full to medium body. The fine and firm tannins are harmoniously balanced by the succulent red currants and crisp acidity. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Try after 2028.James Suckling | 96 JSA dense, solidly built version, whose core of cherry and raspberry fruit is accented by iron, wild herb and juniper notes. Focused by vibrant acidity and underlined with chalky tannins, this red is long and detailed on the finish. Best from 2027 through 2045. 270 cases made, 100 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 95 WSVibrant raspberries and juicy red fruits take the lead, creating a lush and fleshy palate that’s impossible to resist. But wait, there’s more! A surprise twist of herbs and mixed spices keeps things interesting, adding depth and complexity to the fruity core. It’s like a blockbuster movie with a plot that keeps you guessing – thrilling, entertaining, and always leaving you wanting more. Drink Now - 2035 Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE