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.
Italy
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Vinous (96+)
White truffles, mocha, spices, incense, grilled herbs, plums and black cherries are some of the many notes that burst from the glass in the 2001 Alzero. Firm tannins provide the backbone for this striking, beautifully delineated wine. Unlike the 1997 or 2000, the 2001 is an Alzero that doesn’t give up its charms too easily, instead it is a wine clearly built for the cellar. Readers will have to be patient, but those who can find the 2001 should not hesitate, as it is magnificent. Sweet floral and spiced notes resonate on the vibrant, textured finish. Alzero is Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It remains one of the truly unique wines not just of Italy, but of the world.HK$25,260.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2005 Alzero is all about finesse. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet red berries are laced together in a finessed, racy Alzero loaded with class. Because of its mid-weight structure, the 2005 should drink well relatively early, although it will always have the bright, refreshing acidity of the cool vintage. The mid-weight structure makes the 2005 accessible today. Quintarelli fans should note that there will be no Amarone in 2005, only Rosso del Bepi. The 2005 is approximately 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot.HK$20,205.00 -
(1x150cl) 2009Vinous (96)
The 2009 Alzero Cabernet is a knockout, showing a captivating display of sour cherries, licorice and mint offset by mocha and hints of tobacco. This is elegance personified, as a velvety wave of sweet red and black fruits is further complemented by confectionary spices and contrasting notes of espresso and cacao. There is so much energy to be found within the 2009. It bristles with residual acids, minerals and sour citrus through the finale, while still showing a gorgeous inner sweetness through a note of ripe plums under an air of violets and lavender. This is so easy to like today that it’s hard to recommend waiting. However, there’s much more to be seen over time, and patience will be rewarded. The Alzero Cabernet is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot dried prior to vinification through appassimento.HK$6,575.00 -
(1x150cl) 2012Wine Advocate (96)
The Quintarelli Giuseppe 2012 Cabernet Alzero (packaged in a heavy glass bottle) is a stunning wine that delivers a level of cautious brawn, intensity and fruit weight that sets this wine apart within the portfolio. The blend is 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, and the grapes all undergo a few months of appassimento. I've been asked about possible perception of VA (volatile acidity) that can sometimes appear in wines made with air-dried fruit. As a much-respected Italian colleague once told me, "serve a dare spalla," ("it gives a shoulder to the wine"), and I can't help but admire the beautifully lifted and upright quality of the bouquet that appears especially radiant and buoyant in this wine. The magic, whatever it is, works.HK$6,985.00 -
(6x75cl) 2013HK$16,625.00 -
HK$16,955.00 -
HK$15,565.00 -
(1x150cl) 2016HK$5,915.00 -
HK$13,388.00 -
(5x75cl) 2007Wine Advocate (96)
The 2007 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico was bottled seven months before I tasted it. Grapes undergo a four-month appassimento for extra concentration and intensity. Despite this heavy-handed winemaking technique (in which the clusters lose up to 30% of their water mass in the air-drying process), this is a surprisingly delicate and nuanced wine. The aging process has definitely broken down and assimilated any of the hard edges that come from dried grapes. In its wake, the wine is polished and tight with a long, silky texture.HK$19,795.00 -
(1x75cl) 2011Vinous (96)
The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is spellbinding, showing the power and richness of the vintage with a display of crushed plums and cherry sauce, further complemented by sweet exotic spices. Notes of lavender, milk chocolate and a hint of espresso bean come forward over time. This is pure elegance and class, with velvety textures over a full-bodied frame, yet maintaining perfect balance, giving way to a staining of floral-laced red and blue fruit that can be both tasted and felt as they saturate the senses. A coating of dusty fine tannin settles in, reminding you of just how youthful this is today, but the endnote is freshness. Today, the 2011 can be enjoyed for its primary intensity, but the best is truly yet to come.HK$4,070.00 -
Vinous (94)
It’s rare that you take in the aromas of an Amarone and the first thing that comes to mind is how wonderfully fresh and perfumed it is, but that’s exactly what you’ll experience from the 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico from Quintarelli. Sour cherries are complicated by notes of rose, sweet spice and hints of cedar and mint. It’s deeply textural yet precise, with a polished and pure display of purple-tinged red fruit contrasted by zesty acids and a slight herbal twang. Remarkably feminine and undeniably elegant, with a slow-mounting structure that sneaks up on you through the finale. This gentle giant tapers off long and floral, only hinting at the depths that further cellaring will bring.HK$19,245.00 -
Vinous - Eric Guido (96+)
A total seductress, the 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a dark beauty. It opens with a dusty bouquet of dried flowers and masses of cherry sauce, offset by spiced orange and nuances of violet pastille. It sweeps across the palate, a model of purity, with crisp wild berry fruits energized by tantalizing acidity and shavings of dark chocolate. Crunchy mineral tones emerge toward the close. The 2017 lingers impossibly long yet remains completely fresh. Grippy tannins remain as hints of dried blueberry and lavender resonate throughout. The Quintarelli winery has been working hard to perfect a style that mixes the magic of older vintages with a new level of freshness, and the 2017 is a big step in the right direction. Bravo.HK$16,753.00 -
(6x75cl) 2007Wine Advocate (97)
The previous vintages of the wine immediately preceding this one are 2003 and 2000. Jump forward in time, and the 2007 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva will linger on the market for a while because the estate has not yet decided which vintage will be next, but as a rule of thumb, the Riserva is only made two or maybe three times per decade. Only 5,838 bottles of this wine were produced. I'm told that the 2015, 2016 and 2017 vintages are all very strong contenders for Riserva status. In any case, this is the last Riserva to be made in Giuseppe Quintarelli's lifetime (he passed away in 2012). One of the criteria that makes a Riserva is the appassimento process that is extended by a couple of months here. This wine boasts 17% alcohol, and that enormous inner power is ultimately what drives this wine. That motor is enhanced by rich fullness, dense texture and beautifully balanced aromas of dried fruit, exotic spice, cigar box and moist potting soil. The quality of the aromas is absolutely clear and pristine, and the tannins have been softened into absolutely silkiness.HK$31,315.00 -
(2x75cl) 2009HK$19,115.00 -
(1x150cl) 2021HK$1,570.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2023 Bianco Secco is a model of purity with its bouquet of dusty florals, cracked slate, lime zest and green melon. It opens with a balanced inner sweetness offset by a sour citrus tinge as tart green apple enhances its tension. A salty flourish punctuates the experience as hints of young kiwi mix with apricot through the long and wonderfully fresh finish. This is a refined and captivating vintage of Bianco Secco, a wine that continues to punch well above its class.HK$2,490.00 -
HK$3,176.00 -
HK$2,604.00 -
HK$5,775.00 -
Vinous (98)
Time has only been a friend to the 2004 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico. Soaring and vivid in its beauty, the 2004 is simply stunning today. Bittersweet chocolate, cloves, menthol, leather and sweet dark cherry are front and center, but it is the wine's poise and overall nuance that truly elevate it into the stratosphere of wine elixirs. Don't make the same mistake I have made in the past. Avoid the half bottles. The 2004 is a wine to buy in the 750s. This is as good as Recioto gets.HK$15,315.00 -
HK$3,885.00 -
HK$4,615.00 -
Vinous (89)
The 2010 Rosso del Bepi has a savory, exotic and almost animalistic personality that keeps you coming back to the glass, as a dusting of confectioner’s sugar gives way to wild strawberry, spiced citrus, sour apple and hints of flowery undergrowth. Its textures are soft, offset by salty minerals, a hint of bitter coffee and a tart display of red and black fruits. This tapers off a bit short and struggles to find balance, with a slight green streak running through its lingering note of cherry pits and savory spice. Because of heavy rains, Quintarelli decided to declassify their Amarone and produce this rendition of Rosso del Bepi instead.HK$9,285.00 -
(1x150cl) 2015HK$2,705.00 -
(6x75cl) 2015HK$4,965.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The Quintarelli Giuseppe 2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore (made with 55% Corvina and Corvinone, 30% Rondinella and 15% Cabernet, Nebbiolo, Croatina and Sangiovese) goes through a brief appassimento (that leans to the Ripasso method) and sees between five and six years in large oak cask. The wine's maturation has been slightly shortened over recent years, down from seven years in botte. This wine was bottled in February 2024, and we can expect the 2018 vintage to go into bottle in January or February 2025. The 2017 vintage is a little shy initially, but the wine does open to dark fruit and dried blackberry. There are two to three grams per liter of residual sugar that help to amplify the softness and texture of the mouthfeel.HK$4,285.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022An exquisite offering from the esteemed Italian winemaker, Quintodecimo, the Via Del Campo 2022 affirms their dedication to crafting premium wines with immense ageing potential. Located amidst the wondrous Campania region, Quintodecimo emphasises organic viticulture and minimal intervention, resulting in a winemaking process that truly honours the sun-kissed soils of Campania alongside the natural heritage of native Italian grape varieties.
This sophisticated blend of Fiano and Greco reveals itself in a gilded hue, carrying complex aromas of ripe orchard fruits, mingling with subtle mineral undertones. On the palate, the Quintodecimo Via Del Campo 2022 demonstrates a stimulating interplay between opulent fruit character and invigoratingly crisp acidity, culminating in a delicately balanced finish. A fine testament to Quintodecimo’s laborious winemaking technique, this wine serves as the hallmark of southern Italian viticulture.
Indulge in the Quintodecimo Via Del Campo 2022 and savour each note of a wine steeped in the timeless allure of tradition and innovation.
HK$2,800.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2016 Chianti Classico impresses for the heightened level of vibrant freshness and aromatic precision that distinguishes it in a large playing field. Proprietor Maurizia di Napoli tells me that the 2016 growing season was not without its ups and downs. Farming was difficult, and not all sites came to ripeness with the same consistency because it was cooler toward the end of the growing season. Castello dei Rampolla avoids the use of sulfites in winemaking. However, these results are stunning, especially as this is positioned as a more affordable wine. The blend is 85% Sangiovese, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot.HK$3,165.00 -
James Suckling (93)
A classic Chianti Classico with plums, strawberries and peaches on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a long, linear finish with brightness and focus. Juicy finish. Drinkable now, but even better in a year or two.HK$1,270.00
