Wine Spectator (96)

Toasty oak gives way to bright cherry, blackberry and violet aromas and flavors in this sleek, vibrant red, with wild herb, tobacco and mineral notes adding complexity. Supple, yet there's a firm matrix of refined tannins and the finish is defined by lively acidity and finesse. Sangioveto and Malvasia Nera. Best from 2024 through 2045. 2,500 cases made.

Wine Spectator (96)

Toasty oak gives way to bright cherry, blackberry and violet aromas and flavors in this sleek, vibrant red, with wild herb, tobacco and mineral notes adding complexity. Supple, yet there's a firm matrix of refined tannins and the finish is defined by lively acidity and finesse. Sangioveto and Malvasia Nera. Best from 2024 through 2045. 2,500 cases made.

Vinous (97)

The 2018 I Sodi di San Niccolò is the most elegant Sodi I have ever tasted, and I have tasted them all. Sodi can be quite the bruiser in its youth, as the tannins are often imposing, but the 2018 is impressive because there is more than enough fruit to balance things out. Dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice and gravel build in a Sodi endowed with mind-blowing purity and exceptional finesse. Superb!

Vinous (97)

The 2018 I Sodi di San Niccolò is the most elegant Sodi I have ever tasted, and I have tasted them all. Sodi can be quite the bruiser in its youth, as the tannins are often imposing, but the 2018 is impressive because there is more than enough fruit to balance things out. Dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice and gravel build in a Sodi endowed with mind-blowing purity and exceptional finesse. Superb!

Vinous (97)

The 2018 I Sodi di San Niccolò is the most elegant Sodi I have ever tasted, and I have tasted them all. Sodi can be quite the bruiser in its youth, as the tannins are often imposing, but the 2018 is impressive because there is more than enough fruit to balance things out. Dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice and gravel build in a Sodi endowed with mind-blowing purity and exceptional finesse. Superb!

Falstaff (97)

Clear ruby with a fine garnet sheen. Impressive nose, very finely drawn, aromas of juicy cherries, blood orange and dried thyme, some liquorice in the background. Polished and precise from the attack to the finish, finely-meshed, very well-integrated tannins, flows beautifully, finely worked out fruit, long finish.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (96)

Aromatic white pepper, dried roses, sage and bay leaf spices, you are taken right into the heart of Tuscany. Elegant, structured, raspberry, pomegranate and redcurrant fruits, savoury and mouthwateringly dry, rippled with savoury aromatics of black tea, tobacco and underbrush. Alessandro Cellai winemaker, 66% new oak, 10 months in bottle after barrel ageing. Such a fan of this wine, just built to be shared.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (96)

Aromatic white pepper, dried roses, sage and bay leaf spices, you are taken right into the heart of Tuscany. Elegant, structured, raspberry, pomegranate and redcurrant fruits, savoury and mouthwateringly dry, rippled with savoury aromatics of black tea, tobacco and underbrush. Alessandro Cellai winemaker, 66% new oak, 10 months in bottle after barrel ageing. Such a fan of this wine, just built to be shared.

Sourced from Tuscany's prestigious wine-growing regions, the Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Marrucheto 2017 exemplifies true Italian artistry. This highly esteemed product of the venerated Castello Banfi estate exhibits its deep Tuscan heritage through its robust Sangiovese grape. Meticulously cultivated in the Marrucheto vineyard, the Sangiovese grape reveals its rich character, yielding an impressive structure and elegance.

Having undergone fermentation in custom hybrid French oak and stainless-steel tanks, the Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Marrucheto 2017 nestles in Slovenian oak barrels for vital maturation, creating a balance between traditional and modern winemaking. Hints of ripe blackberry and chocolate interweave with a touch of tobacco and white pepper, a seductive palate left lingering on the senses.

Standing testament to the mastery of Castello Banfi, the Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Marrucheto 2017 confirms why this region remains an iconic viticultural hotspot. A timeless investment for fine wine lovers and collectors alike.

Vinous (96+)

The 2009 d'Alceo comes across as much more classic in style and structure than the 2008. According to Luca di Napoli, the trick to 2009 was harvesting on the early side. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, plums, mint and licorice all take shape in the glass Over the last few months, the 2009 d'Alceo has softened a bit, releasing expressive, floral aromatics, brighter shades of fruit and striking inner perfume, but it remains quite vibrant in the context of a vintage in which so many wines are quite a bit riper in style. The 2009 is a wonderfully deep, resonant d'Alceo that should offer a wide drinking window starting in a few years. It certainly looks like Rampolla nailed the vintage.

Vinous (100)

Rampolla's 2010 d'Alceo is utterly spellbinding today. Even better than it was last year, the 2010 impresses for its exceptional balance and pure finesse. Everything is simply in the right place. Silky, layered and unbelievably expressive, the 2010 d'Alceo is a thrill from the very first taste. Over the decades the Di Napoli family has made so many breathtaking wines, but the 2010 d'Alceo is something more than breathtaking, and that something more is hard to express with words. Readers lucky enough to taste the 2010, however, will know it right away. What a magnificent wine this is.

Vinous (97)

The 2011 d'Alceo is fascinating to taste next to the Sammarco, as it is much more open-knit, silky and expressive. Cherry jam, pomegranate, spice and new leather flesh out in the glass. The integration of fruit, tannin and acidity is further along than in the Sammarco. The 2011 d'Alceo should open up pretty early, which should be welcome news to readers cellaring some of the more tannic vintages. I expect the 2011 will provide readers with a long drinking window of pure pleasure.

Wine Spectator (97)

A focused, balanced style, evoking pure cherry, raspberry, mineral and floral aromas and flavors, this is elegant and fluid yet dense and well-structured, ending with lively acidity and dusty tannins. The finish goes on and on. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2025.

Vinous (100)

Readers should do whatever they can to get their hands on a few bottles of the 2013 d'Alceo. Seamless and voluptuous in the glass, it is an epic wine that embodies all the qualities that make these terraced vineyards in Panzano so special. Blackberry jam, crème de cassis, plum, licorice and spice meld together in the glass, but it is the wine's textural intensity that elevates it into the realm of the profound. The 2013 has been nothing short of moving on the two occasions I tasted it recently.

Vinous (95)

The 2014 d'Alceo is more in line with previous years than Sammarco. Deep, unctuous and super-powerful, the 2014 exudes richness and textural intensity from the very first taste. Readers will have to give the 2014 at least a few years in bottle to help some of the baby fat meld away. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, sage, mint and lavender are some of the many notes that start to emerge as the wine sits in the glass. This is a terrific effort for the vintage.

Vinous (97)

Dark, powerful and explosive, D'Alceo is one of the epic wines of 2015. Crème de cassis, plum, graphite, sage, lavender, and menthol rush out of the glass in a deep, beautifully resonant wine loaded with class. A wine with striking inner sweetness, depth and structure, the 2015 will thrill readers lucky enough to own it for a number of years to come. The 2015 was fermented in cement and then spent 14 months in oak. It is rich, sumptuous and simply irresistible.

Wine Spectator (97)

This elegant red features cherry and black currant flavors interwoven with its silky texture. Tobacco and spice accents add complexity as this unfurls to a lingering aftertaste of fruit, mineral and savory elements. Firmly built and still young. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2035. 925 cases made, 150 cases imported.

Vinous (100)

The 2017 D'Alceo possesses mind-blowing intensity and pedigree to burn. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2017 is magnificently impressive right out of the gate. Lavender, rose petal, spice, kirsch, mint and violet lead into a core of inky dark blue/purplish berry fruit. Soft contours and suave, silky tannins give the 2017 so much immediacy, but there is plenty of cellaring potential too. In a word: epic.

Vinous (99)

The 2018 D'Alceo is a wild, exotic wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot come together in a wine that is sumptuous, layered and exceptionally beautiful. Inky blue/purplish fruit, sage, mint, lavender and chocolate are some of the many notes that take shape. The 2018 was fermented in cement then aged 12 months in a combination of 500L tonneaux and barriques. This really blooms with time.

Vinous (99)

The 2018 D'Alceo is a wild, exotic wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot come together in a wine that is sumptuous, layered and exceptionally beautiful. Inky blue/purplish fruit, sage, mint, lavender and chocolate are some of the many notes that take shape. The 2018 was fermented in cement then aged 12 months in a combination of 500L tonneaux and barriques. This really blooms with time.

Wine Advocate (98)

This is a classic beauty. The 2019 d'Alceo, made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot, is dark and enriched, but magically, it is never heavy or bulky. It carries its weight with feather-like grace backed by dry tannins and lovely fruit layering. There is blackcurrant, kirsch, blackberry liqueur, exotic spice, black rose and crushed stone. That mineral note stands out like a filigree of shiny silver stitched through the wine's rich, velvety texture. Production is 13,749 bottles and 200 magnums.

The Castello dei Rampolla Liu 2020 is the epitome of Tuscan elegance. Produced by the revered estate of Castello dei Rampolla, nestled in the heart of Chianti, this wine is testament to Italian viticulture at its finest. The vineyard's commitment to biodynamic growing methods, allowing the grapes to express their luscious, distinct terroir purely, is evident in each sip.

Composed of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, the wine is matured in traditional oak barriques, providing a robust structure and finesse. It radiates inviting notes of ripe strawberries, black currants, and subtle hints of sweet spice. On the palate, the Liu 2020 offers a harmonious balance of acidity, rich fruit, and velvety tannins with a lingering finish.

Every bottle of Castello dei Rampolla Liu 2020 is an unforgettable journey into the heart of Tuscany. Indulge in its refined sophistication, exceptional depth, and mesmerising complexity.

Vinous (95)

The 1988 Sammarco is fantastic. Sweet, perfumed and highly expressive, with a lot of Sangiovese character coming through. Tobacco, iron, herbs, smoke, dried cherries and menthol form a super-appealing bouquet. The tannins are silky, while the lively acidity ensures well-stored bottles will drink well for another handful of years. What a gorgeous wine this is.

Vinous (95)

The 1988 Sammarco is fantastic. Sweet, perfumed and highly expressive, with a lot of Sangiovese character coming through. Tobacco, iron, herbs, smoke, dried cherries and menthol form a super-appealing bouquet. The tannins are silky, while the lively acidity ensures well-stored bottles will drink well for another handful of years. What a gorgeous wine this is.

Vinous (97)

One of the many highlights in this vertical, the 1990 Sammarco has it all. Sweet, sensual and layered in the glass, with exceptional balance, the 1990 presents a compelling mélange of intense aromatics, silky fruit and phenomenal length. Now a mid-weight wine, the 1990 nevertheless has enough depth to drink well for another decade, perhaps beyond.

Vinous (94)

The 1996 Sammarco is one of the many highlights of the 1990s. The tannins have now softened, but there is plenty of fruit left. Graphite, smoke, black cherries and plums add further layers of nuance. One of the more lithe, mid-weight wines in this vertical, the 1996 is all about grace. I very much like the sense of freshness here.

Vinous (95+)

The 2011 Sammarco is so youthful it almost tastes like a barrel sample! Dark, rich and inviting, the 2011 possesses notable concentration and depth, with round yet powerful tannins and a surprising level of freshness for the year. A host of black cherry, graphite, smoke, plum and lavender notes accompany the powerful finish. It will be quite some time before the 2011 is ready to drink, but there is plenty to look forward to.

Vinous (98)

The 2013 Sammarco is a stunning wine. Super-expressive aromatics make a strong opening statement in a wine endowed with myriad dimensions of nuance and complexity. The 2013 is deep and fleshy, with generous fruit, beautifully integrated tannins and exceptional finesse. Readers should not plan on opening a bottle of this any time soon, though, as it seems likely to age at a glacial pace.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2014 Sammarco was bottled in August and will be released in January 2019. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese. At this young stage, the wine already offers an impressive array of complex aromas with dark berry, spice and grilled herb neatly overlapping. Those tones are delivered with perfume-like grace and intensity. This vintage is streamlined and compact in terms of mouthfeel, and those youthful tannins remind us that this wine will award the best results to those who have the patience to wait.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Sunbaked earth, mature black-plum, fragrant blue-flower and leather aromas mingle with balsamic whiffs of camphor on this full-bodied, delicious red. Made with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese, the creamy palate is earthy and full of flavor, boasting juicy blackberry, raspberry, dried mint, cocoa and licorice. Taut velvety tannins provide plenty of support and finesse. Drink through 2035.