Wine Advocate (100)

The golden touch, that proverbial Gaja magic, is taken to a whole new level in the 2016 Barolo Sperss. Angelo Gaja has taught his children to follow their own path, and now that the generational switch is well underway at the family estate, we can see that Gaia, Rossana and Giovanni have done him proud. Very proud. This stunning expression from the 2016 vintage (with 16,000 bottles released) represents quite a few celebratory milestones. We are now in the fifth generation to protect the Gaja legacy in an unbroken family chain that has endured since 1859. This wine is 100% Nebbiolo, and since the 2013 vintage, it is part of the Barolo DOCG appellation. Winemaking has been tweaked to embrace a more elegant, ethereal and streamlined personality, instead of the bigger extraction we saw in the past. This upgraded identity is distinctly evident in this newest release of Sperss. Starting with appearance, the wine is luminous and bright with shiny ruby and garnet gemstone. Its aromatic reach is three-dimensional with width, height and depth. Delicate berry tones cede to pressed lilac, anise, sandalwood and cardamom spice. I double decanted and left the bottle open for a few hours before my tasting. The results are tight and gentle, and the wine shows beautiful vertical lift and intensity. To achieve this much power without the excess fruit weight is really quite an accomplishment. This is the magic of Nebbiolo, and the magic of Gaja.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

In retrospect, I am not quite sure why I placed the 2004 Monfortino in our first flight. It’s a stunning wine, one of the finest made here. I suspect I put the 2004 in this first set of wines to show the contemporary approachability of modern Monfortino. Silky, perfumed and gracious on the palate, the 2004 is every bit as vibrant and complex as it was when I first tasted it. Sublime.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

A rare bird, the 2010 is among the most coveted Monfortinos because of the reputation of the year and reduced production. It is one of the most austere Monfortinos in recent times, a Barolo I would not open right now. Its acid, tannin and fruit structure are those of a wine that needs time in bottle to blossom.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

A rare bird, the 2010 is among the most coveted Monfortinos because of the reputation of the year and reduced production. It is one of the most austere Monfortinos in recent times, a Barolo I would not open right now. Its acid, tannin and fruit structure are those of a wine that needs time in bottle to blossom.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2014 Monfortino, on the other hand, belongs to a group of later-ripening years that includes 2002 and 2008. Dark and intensely aromatic, the 2014 is also supremely refined, especially within the context of young Barolo. It’s another wine that ideally is best forgotten in the cellar for at least a few years.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2014 Monfortino, on the other hand, belongs to a group of later-ripening years that includes 2002 and 2008. Dark and intensely aromatic, the 2014 is also supremely refined, especially within the context of young Barolo. It’s another wine that ideally is best forgotten in the cellar for at least a few years.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2014 Monfortino, on the other hand, belongs to a group of later-ripening years that includes 2002 and 2008. Dark and intensely aromatic, the 2014 is also supremely refined, especially within the context of young Barolo. It’s another wine that ideally is best forgotten in the cellar for at least a few years.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I’ve tasted the 2019 Barolo Monfortino three times before bottling at the estate, and it’s one of those vintages where no Francia was made, so all the fruit went into the Monfortino. This is a highly structured expression of the cuvée, yet it shows remarkable finesse and nimbleness in the glass. Aromas of leather, smoky earth, cherries, and floral cologne emerge with clarity and depth. The palate is tightly woven and precise, with firm yet balanced tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, resonant finish. It’s already showing beautifully, and this is truly as good as it gets. The nobility of its structure is profound and promises decades of evolution. Speaking with Roberto Conterno during this tasting, he likened the wine to the 2013, but noted that it carries more elegance even now, something he attributes to the inclusion of Arrione in the final blend.

Wine Advocate (100)

The Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse di Sotto 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a stunning wine with so much vitality, life and energy. It shows a brazen level of clarity and frankness. If you seek the truth in Sangiovese, I think you find it here. This Brunello unfolds to lasting purity, elegance and length. It is luminous and radiant. When tasted next to the 2015 Riserva from this estate (something I did on multiple passes), I continued to recognize the lifted and exciting personality of this wine next to the broader and heavier character of the Riserva. This Brunello shows extreme precision and focus, both to the bouquet and the mouthfeel. Wild berry, blue flower and licorice converge to perfection, and it's impossible to beat this quality at this price.

James Suckling (100)

This is a splendid Brunello, showing extraordinary purity of sangiovese character. Cherry and floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with incredibly integrated tannins that seem like they are not there. But they are and are comprehensive on the palate. Great depth and agility. Just floats on the palate. Magic carpet. Drinkable, to enjoy the magic, but needs three or four years to come around.

James Suckling (100)

This is a splendid Brunello, showing extraordinary purity of sangiovese character. Cherry and floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with incredibly integrated tannins that seem like they are not there. But they are and are comprehensive on the palate. Great depth and agility. Just floats on the palate. Magic carpet. Drinkable, to enjoy the magic, but needs three or four years to come around.

James Suckling (100)

Seamless is a great way to describe this red wine with intense aromas of plums, cherries, walnut and sandalwood. Some lightly toasted oak, roses and lavender as well. Really aromatic. The palate is full and extremely polished with super fine tannins that go on for minutes and spread across your palate. A great wine, following the perfect, 100-point 2015. Better to start drinking this after 2023.

James Suckling (100)

Seamless is a great way to describe this red wine with intense aromas of plums, cherries, walnut and sandalwood. Some lightly toasted oak, roses and lavender as well. Really aromatic. The palate is full and extremely polished with super fine tannins that go on for minutes and spread across your palate. A great wine, following the perfect, 100-point 2015. Better to start drinking this after 2023.

James Suckling (100)

Seamless is a great way to describe this red wine with intense aromas of plums, cherries, walnut and sandalwood. Some lightly toasted oak, roses and lavender as well. Really aromatic. The palate is full and extremely polished with super fine tannins that go on for minutes and spread across your palate. A great wine, following the perfect, 100-point 2015. Better to start drinking this after 2023.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Bigger and richer, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Gallimardes is mostly Grenache (there’s 10% Syrah) all from incredibly old vines in the Les Gallimardes lieu-dit located in the southern part of the appellation. This estate owns a tiny parcel here, and this cuvée is incredibly limited, with just 250 cases made. Possessing a huge, incredible nose of blackberries, black raspberries, crushed rocks, garrigue, melted licorice, and cured meats, this full-bodied 2016 has a wealth of fruit and richness, no hard edges, building tannins, and awesome purity of fruit. It’s the finest example of this cuvée ever made and a perfect wine. Don’t miss it!

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Bigger and richer, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Gallimardes is mostly Grenache (there’s 10% Syrah) all from incredibly old vines in the Les Gallimardes lieu-dit located in the southern part of the appellation. This estate owns a tiny parcel here, and this cuvée is incredibly limited, with just 250 cases made. Possessing a huge, incredible nose of blackberries, black raspberries, crushed rocks, garrigue, melted licorice, and cured meats, this full-bodied 2016 has a wealth of fruit and richness, no hard edges, building tannins, and awesome purity of fruit. It’s the finest example of this cuvée ever made and a perfect wine. Don’t miss it!

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and in the same league as the perfect 2010. Awesome notes of blackberries, crème de cassis, charred meats, licorice, and violets all soar from the glass. It's powerful, opulent, and structured, with building tannin, a huge mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish, yet it never loses its sense of purity and elegance. It's an incredible achievement from this estate. The blend is 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah, all aged in 55% new French oak.

Wine Advocate (100)

The two Roennfeldt Road cuvees, from one of Barossa’s most esteemed addresses, appear to be the finest since the legendary 1998s The 2002 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz was aged in new French oak. Aromas of pain grille, truffle, mineral, violets, blackberry, and blueberry compote are ethereal and lead to a voluptuous, densely layered, succulent, complex Shiraz with 10-15 years of aging potential, This extraordinary effort should drink well through 2040.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2005 Cote Rotie la Landonne is utterly profound, and is certainly in the same league as the '10, '09, '03, '99, '90, '89 and other incredible vintages (the list of top vintages here is almost too long to list). Inky colored, structured, tannic, massively concentrated and still with phenomenal texture and richness, it has the classic dark fruits, tapenade and meatiness of the cuvee, but at age 10, is still an infant. It needs 4-5 years and will be a 50+ year wine.