James Suckling (99)

This is an incredible wine that reminds me of the perfect 2000 Barolo Rocche de Falletto. Flowers, spices, leather and animals. Decadent. Dried mushrooms. Then changes to Japanese ginger and lemon peel. Full-bodied but refined and so long. It has layers of fruit and power. So refined. Ripe and intense. Perfect balance and harmony. It will be released in 2016.

Vinous (94)

Bruno Giacosa, like Bartolo Mascarello, often told me he preferred 1986 to 1985. Of course, 1985 is the vintage that got all the press, while 1986 is remembered for a devastating hailstorm in May that decimated production. Very little wine was made that year, but what was bottled turned out to be quite good, and in some cases, better than that. Sadly, this is not a great bottle of Bruno Giacosa's 1986 Barolo Riserva. The overall impression is of a delicate, lifted, fully mature Barolo. Only the memory of better bottles helps put this one into context, because taken on its own, this is still a very fine bottle of Barolo.

Vinous (90)

(15% alcohol): Bright red. Floral red berries and spicy red cherry on the bright nose. Then fresh and clean in the mouth, with mineral and inky notes complementing sweet dark cherry and underbrush flavors. The long finish features supple tannins and a repeating inky nuance. Much better than the 2007 Brunello normale.

Unveiling the artistic opulence of winemaking craftsmanship, the Fantinel Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso Sant Helena 2007 is an embodiment of excellence from Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. This magnificent red wine, cultivated by the family-owned Fantinel estate known for their extraordinary viticulture traditions, excels in rendering a rich, full-bodied flavour profile.

At its nucleus, this vintage wines art-fully showcases the Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso grape - a native varietal noted for its raspberry-red stalks ('peduncle'). Exquisite maturation in Slavonian oak barrels punctuates a harmonious balance between resilience, tannic structure and an impressive finish.

On the palate, sensory notes of ripe dark fruit swell, mingling effortlessly with subtle undertones of cocoa and tobacco. A testament to saturative persistence and refined complexity, the Fantinel Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso Sant Helena 2007 stands as a beacon of sublime craftsmanship for discerning wine aficionados.

The Fantinel Roncaia Refosco 2006 is a masterful expression of Friuli-Venezia Giulia winemaking. Conceived by the esteemed Fantinel family, this distinguished example was crafted using the Refosco grape, a historical variety native to northeastern Italy. It magnificently exemplifies the rich terroir of the Roncaia vineyard, situated on soil rich in marl and sandstone.

Stemming from 2006, a remarkable year for Friulian vineyards, the Fantinel Roncaia Refosco 2006 spent 18 months maturing in oak barrels before final bottling. The result is a wine with robust, rounded tannins and a lush, velvety texture. On the nose, it boasts enticing aromas of ripe red fruit, shading into spicy and smoky notes. This full-bodied ruby red blend offers a complex palate layered with dark fruit, anise, and tobacco nuances.

Delectable now, the Fantinel Roncaia Refosco 2006 will age gracefully, promising evolving complexity and depth.

Wine Advocate (94)

Fattoria dei Barbi's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino starts with a tightly wound personality that begins to unravel slowly, one delicate layer at a time. As it does, you become aware of dried fruit, cigar box, crushed mineral, plum, tar and cola. The wine puts on a beautiful display. I also loved the mouthfeel of this beautiful wine: It is tonic, tight and brimming with energy. Well-integrated oak notes give the wine a spot of softness and velvety spice. This is one beautiful Sangiovese.

Wine Advocate (95+)

Fattoria dei Barbi is one of the historic, grandfather estates of the appellation, and this important point comes to mind every time I have the honor of reviewing their new releases. The wines always show a distinctly traditional side that is just part of this estate's DNA, and I'd like to think that this defining characteristic would not change even if a concerted effort was made to do so. Territory speaks loud in the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. The wine offers purity and deep layering with alternating tones of dried cherry, dark spice, cola and crushed flowers. Only 4,000 bottles were made.

James Suckling (93)

A plush red with sweet-berry and spice aromas and flavors. Hints of vanilla. Full body. Lush and delicious. Needs a little time to come together, but already very attractive. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (93)

Notes of blueberries, blackberries, porcini and nutmeg. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins. Balanced with a fleshy texture. Round and velvety. Long, flavorful finish. Fine and fresh at the end. Drink or hold.

The Wine Independent (96)

This 2019 La Massa is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It starts with smoke, spice and bitter cherry notes on the nose. Oak notes dominate at first but on standing it opens up to fragrant, floral notes like rose and iris. On the palate it is round and smooth but not too heavy. This is a very stylish wine that manages to balance elegance with plenty of depth of flavor, tied together with juicy acidity and fine tannins. I love the purity, brightness of this wine and the deft touch of the winemaker. There is a brilliance to the fruit and a high quality to the tannins which mark it out as something special.

Wine Advocate (97)

This is a truly sumptuous wine that stands as a tall testament to the winemaking talents of Giampaolo Motta, his vision for interpreting this vintage and his specific vineyard site in Panzano in Chianti. This standout wine brings Fattoria la Massa to a new level of accomplishment and opens an exciting new chapter of possibility. The 2013 Giorgio Primo (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot) is dark and impenetrable on first impact. The aromas accelerate slowly and grow evenly in power and intensity after a few quick swirls of the glass. The bouquet peels back with dark fruit aromas, baking spice and Mediterranean herb. The effect is seamless and smooth. A velvety texture is accented by full-bodied richness and just enough freshness to keep the palate energized. And, of course, this is just the beginning of a long cellar life.

Wine Advocate (98)

The consistency and depth of this wine is just incredible. Like the Carla 6, the 2016 Giorgio Primo shows an inky dark color, almost totally black, with penetrating fruit and long waves of rich fruit flavor throughout. George the First casts mesmerizing spells of spice, tar and smoke. This is a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This is another outstanding effort from Fattoria La Massa and its eccentric but visionary founder, Giampaolo Motta. Some 16,000 bottles, magnums, double magnums and other large formats were created.

Wine Advocate (98)

The consistency and depth of this wine is just incredible. Like the Carla 6, the 2016 Giorgio Primo shows an inky dark color, almost totally black, with penetrating fruit and long waves of rich fruit flavor throughout. George the First casts mesmerizing spells of spice, tar and smoke. This is a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This is another outstanding effort from Fattoria La Massa and its eccentric but visionary founder, Giampaolo Motta. Some 16,000 bottles, magnums, double magnums and other large formats were created.