Italy
Italy, known as the "Land of Wine," is celebrated for its exquisite range of fine wines. With a winemaking history dating back thousands of years and a diverse array of terroirs, Italy offers a remarkable collection of wines that delight the senses and captivate wine enthusiasts worldwide.
In Tuscany, famous vineyards like Antinori, Marchesi di Frescobaldi, and Tenuta San Guido have become synonymous with excellence. Wines such as Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Tignanello showcase the region's mastery in crafting complex, age-worthy, and expressive wines. Piedmont is home to legendary vineyards like Gaja, Vietti, and Marchesi di Barolo. The region's iconic wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, crafted from the Nebbiolo grape, epitomize power, elegance, and longevity. These wines boast flavors of red fruit, floral notes, earthy undertones, and firm tannins. Veneto, renowned for its sparkling Prosecco wines, is also famous for Amarone della Valpolicella. Vineyards like Allegrini and Quintarelli produce exceptional Amarone wines with concentrated flavors of dark fruit, spices, and a velvety texture. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a different yet captivating expression of Italian wines. Vineyards like Planeta, Donnafugata, and Tasca d'Almerita craft remarkable wines from indigenous grape varieties such as Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese. These wines exhibit intense fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a unique volcanic minerality.
These are just a few examples of the renowned vineyards and wines Italy has to offer. From the northern regions of Piedmont and Veneto to the central regions of Tuscany and Umbria, and down to the southern regions of Sicily and Puglia, Italy's wine regions are a treasure trove of exceptional wines. Experience the allure of Italian wines and immerse yourself in the rich history, diverse terroirs, and passionate winemaking that define the Italian wine scene. Whether you're sipping a prestigious Barolo, a refined Brunello di Montalcino, a refreshing Prosecco, or a bold Nero d'Avola, Italian wines promise a journey of flavors and a celebration of Italy's winemaking heritage.
Read More
Italy
Photo
AI Chat
-
Vinous (94)
The 2013 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is a great introduction to the vintage at La Spinetta. Gallina tends to give open, soft Barbarescos that drink well young. Not here. The 2013 is unusually bright, tense and focused for this wine, with darker fruit and more tightly wound personality than I am used to seeing. Dark red cherry, mint, wild flowers and spices come together, but the 2013 is going to need time to fully come together. Even today, though, it is striking. There is a spherical breadth to the 2013 that is impossible to miss.HK$16,845.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2013 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is a great introduction to the vintage at La Spinetta. Gallina tends to give open, soft Barbarescos that drink well young. Not here. The 2013 is unusually bright, tense and focused for this wine, with darker fruit and more tightly wound personality than I am used to seeing. Dark red cherry, mint, wild flowers and spices come together, but the 2013 is going to need time to fully come together. Even today, though, it is striking. There is a spherical breadth to the 2013 that is impossible to miss.HK$6,805.00 -
Vinous (93+)
The 2014 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is a very beautiful, gracious wine. All it needs is time to absorb the French oak. Expressive aromatics, silky fruit and understated persistence are all evident, while the flavors are vivid and beautifully delineated throughout. Medium in body and gracious to the core, the Gallina is very pretty in 2014. Time and experience have taught me that the Gallina is often the most gracious of La Spinetta's three Barbarescos in aging.HK$10,595.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is absolutely gorgeous. Vivid and nuanced on the palate, the 2015 is fresh, juicy and flat-out delicious. The Gallina is often a shy wine that needs time in bottle to truly blossom, but the 2015 seems to have skipped that initial phase of reticence. In two separate tastings, the 2015 has been incredibly sensual and polished. Historically, the Gallina has the most consistent track record in aging of the three top Barbarescos in the range. It will be interesting to see if that is the case here as well. For now, the 2015 Gallina is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from La Spinetta.HK$10,155.00 -
Vinous (95)
Supremely elegant and light on its feet, La Spinetta's 2016 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is simply fabulous. Freshly cut flowers, mint, spice and a touch of French oak add nuance to a core of sweet red/purplish berry fruit. Wonderfully supple and racy, the Gallina captures every bit of the potential 2016 had to offer. This is such a gorgeous wine. I can't remember tasting a Gallina here with this much diversity.HK$12,590.00 -
Vinous (95)
Supremely elegant and light on its feet, La Spinetta's 2016 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is simply fabulous. Freshly cut flowers, mint, spice and a touch of French oak add nuance to a core of sweet red/purplish berry fruit. Wonderfully supple and racy, the Gallina captures every bit of the potential 2016 had to offer. This is such a gorgeous wine. I can't remember tasting a Gallina here with this much diversity.HK$5,220.00 -
HK$10,655.00 -
HK$5,980.00 -
Vinous (95)
A gorgeous, elegant wine, the 2018 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is captivating from the very first taste. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol build in the glass. More than anything else, though, I am impressed by the wine's vibrancy and poise. Gallina has always aged beautifully here. I expect that will be the case with the 2018 as well.HK$4,155.00 -
HK$7,015.00 -
HK$8,170.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2006 Barbaresco Starderi is easily the best of these three offerings, as the wine's balance is exceptional. Aromatics, fruit and structure are all woven together in an impressive display of power and elegance. The fruit retains the house's characteristic super-ripe style, but that element is more finely tuned here than in the estate's other Barbarescos. Simply put, the 2006 is another terrific Starderi from proprietor Giorgio Rivetti and his team.HK$12,190.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2007 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi (Magnum) immediately flaunts the density and important structure that is associated with this celebrated vineyard site. This is an overtly generous and bountiful expression of Nebbiolo that offers thick layers of aromatic intensity. The wine's best asset is the intact and vibrant quality of the primary fruit—so presented now, eleven years after the harvest. This is an expensive bottle for sure, but it does award a delicious and unforgettable experience.HK$7,955.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
This carefully evolved Barbaresco shows a finer texture and fiber than you might have expected given its relatively robust construction. You get loads of cola and balsamic herb from the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi (Magnum) and, of course, not as much primary fruit. This charmer of a wine confidently exudes tertiary notes of licorice, tar and smoky aromas with every pour. It's a mentholicious and balsamic Barbaresco that I wouldn't be afraid to serve now, at least not for a group of friends who absolutely deserve it. Only 600 magnums exist.HK$6,380.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2010 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is born in a vineyard that sits at 330 meters above sea level. Giorgio tells me that the challenge here is crafting a wine with both elegance and power. Thanks to ideal growing conditions in 2010, he has succeeded at his task. Firm structure is supported by fleshy fruit tones and elegantly integrated spice. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.HK$13,165.00 -
Vinous (94+)
La Spinetta fans won't want to miss the 2013 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi, but readers will have to be patient, as the Starderi is going to need time. The only question is how much. Classic bright red fruit notes typical of Starderi are matched by equally characteristic, imposing tannins that need time to soften. Linear, taut and pulsing with energy, the 2013 is full of potential for those who can wait.HK$12,330.00 -
Vinous (94+)
La Spinetta fans won't want to miss the 2013 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi, but readers will have to be patient, as the Starderi is going to need time. The only question is how much. Classic bright red fruit notes typical of Starderi are matched by equally characteristic, imposing tannins that need time to soften. Linear, taut and pulsing with energy, the 2013 is full of potential for those who can wait.HK$7,355.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2014 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is endowed with a huge center of fruit. Kirsch, rose petal, mint, dried flowers and hard candy fill out the wine's frame effortlessly. The firm Starderi tannins are present, but they are nearly buried by the sheer depth and luxuriousness of the fruit.HK$14,760.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2014 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is endowed with a huge center of fruit. Kirsch, rose petal, mint, dried flowers and hard candy fill out the wine's frame effortlessly. The firm Starderi tannins are present, but they are nearly buried by the sheer depth and luxuriousness of the fruit.HK$7,555.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi rounds out this series of Barbarescos from La Spinetta in grand style. I don't think the Starderi has ever been so elegant or refined as it is in 2015. Medium in body and translucent, the 2015 possesses remarkable purity and nuance in its red-toned fruit and floral aromatics. The oak needs time to fully integrate, but readers should not be planning on opening bottles anytime soon, as the youthful tannins are also imposing. Bright citrus and floral notes add the closing flourishes.HK$12,000.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi rounds out this series of Barbarescos from La Spinetta in grand style. I don't think the Starderi has ever been so elegant or refined as it is in 2015. Medium in body and translucent, the 2015 possesses remarkable purity and nuance in its red-toned fruit and floral aromatics. The oak needs time to fully integrate, but readers should not be planning on opening bottles anytime soon, as the youthful tannins are also imposing. Bright citrus and floral notes add the closing flourishes.HK$6,260.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2016 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is outrageously beautiful. Dense, powerful and rich, the 2016 races out of the glass with huge fruit to match its classically mid-weight profile. Super-ripe red/purplish berry fruit, wild flowers, licorice and mint play off the huge tannins with real grace. Readers have to be patient, but the 2016 Starderi is a rock star wine. That's pretty much all there is to it.HK$12,400.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2016 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is outrageously beautiful. Dense, powerful and rich, the 2016 races out of the glass with huge fruit to match its classically mid-weight profile. Super-ripe red/purplish berry fruit, wild flowers, licorice and mint play off the huge tannins with real grace. Readers have to be patient, but the 2016 Starderi is a rock star wine. That's pretty much all there is to it.HK$7,225.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2017 Barbaresco Starderi offers up its signature red/purplish fruit with soft contours and a bit less heft than is typical, all of which makes it more approachable than the norm for this Neive Barbaresco. In 2017, the Starderi is bold, lush and easy to enjoy, even now as a young wine. Rose petal, mint and a kick of new French oak punctuates the finish.HK$7,645.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2017 Barbaresco Starderi offers up its signature red/purplish fruit with soft contours and a bit less heft than is typical, all of which makes it more approachable than the norm for this Neive Barbaresco. In 2017, the Starderi is bold, lush and easy to enjoy, even now as a young wine. Rose petal, mint and a kick of new French oak punctuates the finish.HK$4,365.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2018 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is a powerful, structured wine. Readers will have to be patient with the 2018, as it is a mere infant. Dried cherry, mint, spice, rose petal, kirsch and sweet red cherry fill out the layers nicely as the Starderi shows off its characteristic volume. Give this a few years to soften.HK$4,715.00 -
HK$7,265.00 -
HK$6,605.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi (magnum) is in a gorgeous spot where it is starting to show the signs of having entered an early plateau of maturity. Even so, it retains formidable tannic clout and tons of intensity. The 2009 appears to have enough fruit to develop well for another 7-10 years. Even with considerable aeration the tannins remain formidable.HK$4,235.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2006 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is another exuberant wine. Here, too, the aromatics literally jump out of the glass, as layers of perfumed super-ripe fruit are intermingled with a persistent vein of minerality. The powerful, focused Valeirano offers outstanding balance, but needs a few years in bottle for the tannins to melt away.HK$7,465.00
