Six bottles of premium Italian wine. All highly rated and acclaimed wines for $47 a bottle. 5 red carpet Italian red and 1 gorgeous white wine. All from Italy's acclaimed wine-growing regions.

1 x Rocca delle Macie Campo Maccione Vermentino 2021 - Tuscany, Italy

91/100 James Suckling
90/100 Falstaff
90/100 Danielle Callegari, Wine Enthusiast
Bronze James Suckling (2020 vintage)
90/100 James Suckling (2019 vintage)
Silver Medal Mundus Vini (2020 vintage)
Bronze James Suckling (2018 vintage)
90/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage)
91/100 James Suckling (2016 vintage)
Bronze Wine Spectator (2016 vintage)
91/100 James Suckling (2015 vintage)

James Suckling "Freshly cut lime and seashell in the nose. Medium to full body, layers of fruit and a bitter-lemon and pear aftertaste. Delicious. Drink now."

Falstaff (Panel tasting- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler) "Pale straw yellow with greenish reflections. Intense and fragrant nose of elderflower, lemon and acacia, reverberating with hints of Mediterranean scrub and almonds. On the palate it is salty and clear, filigree, with a long finish."

Wine Enthusiast "Fresh grass, stone, citrus and the peppery herbaceousness of new olive oil show on the nose of this Vermentino. The wine remains savory on the palate with brine and stones but also toasted nuts, tahini and shortbread. These contrast with the bright acidic pop of lemon juice alongside rich lemon curd."

James Suckling "Lime zest and curd, green apple and jasmine tea on the nose. Flint, too. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity. Tangy and refreshing. Drink now." (2019 vintage)

James Suckling "A subtle vermentino with white stones, sliced apples and preserved lemons. Medium body, fresh acidity and a taut finish. Drink now." (2017 vintage)

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973, when film producer Italo Zingarelli – of Ettore Scola’s “We All Loved Each Other So Much” fame, and also the wildly popular series of films featuring comedy duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (including “They Call Me Trinity” and “Trinity Is Still My Name”) – decided to realize his lifelong dream by acquiring the “Le Macìe” estate – extending across 93 hectares (230 acres) in all, of which only two were under vine – in order to create a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone.

Enjoy this wine made on the Zingarelli family’s Maremma estates. Morellino di Scansano takes center-stage but has been complemented over the years by white and rosé wines bearing the recently created Maremma DOC denomination, along with Typical Geographical Indication (IGT) wines in a more modern style that nevertheless respects the Tuscan tradition.

Vermentino (“vur-men-teeno”) is a light-bodied white wine that grows mostly in Italy on the island of Sardinia. What’s exciting about Vermentino is it can be deliciously complex in taste in similar style to Sauvignon Blanc; One style is richer and creamier and the other is lighter, more floral and zestier. Because Vermentino is so unknown, you can find high quality wines for a great value. Wines with similar body and taste profile include Albariño, Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Soave and Verdejo.
Despite the typical light-bodied character of Vermentino, it’s actually quite complex to taste. A glass of classic Sardinia Vermentino will offer up lively aromas of pear, white peach, lime and pink grapefruit with subtle notes of crushed rocks and citrus zest. On the palate, Vermentino is almost always dry and somewhat oily with flavors of grapefruit and citrus, with a crushed rocky minerality and saltiness. On the finish, it can be a bit snappy with bitterness similar to the taste of grapefruit pith or, if it’s on the riper side, fresh almond.
In Provence, Vermentino is called Rolle (“roll”). It’s the secret ingredient to the region’s top-rated Rosé.

The Chianti region in Italy's Tuscany wine growing region is split between Chianti and Chianti Classico. Accordingly, two separate DOCG designations apply to wines from the Chianti region: the Chianti Classico DOCG for the heartland of Chianti, and Chianti DOCG for all other Chianti regions. (In 1984, the Chianti region was promoted from DOC to DOCG - Italy’s highest classification - and in 1996, Chianti Classico - the historic heartland of the region - DOCG was created, which gave autonomy to that region. In the last 20 years, a consortium of Chianti Classico producers have researched new Sangiovese clones, replanted vineyards, updated cellar practices and generally made Chianti Classico DOCG a world-class appellation. Chianti Classico must contain a minimum of 75% Sangiovese. In the 2014 edition of its annual compendium of wine ratings, Gambero Rosso noted that Chianti Classico DOCG wines were noteworthy for their “significant return to a more defined style, true to tradition.” The typical Chianti Classico wine is a ruby-red, Sangiovese-based wine with aromas of violets and cherries and a hint of earthy spice.

The Chianti DOCG designation covers wines from six Chianti sub-zones (Colli Pisane, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colli Aretini, Montalbano and Rufina) as well as all other Chianti wines. The Chianti Classico DOCG is located in the very center of Tuscany, between Florence and Sienna.

1 x Pietra Pura Mandus Primitivo di Manduria 2021 - Puglia, Italy

Bronze - Natalie MacLean (2019 vintage)
Bronze - Natalie MacLean (2018 vintage)
Bronze - Natalie MacLean (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Natalie MacLean (2016 vintage)
Bronze - Natalie MacLean (2015 vintage)

Silver - Mundus Vini
Silver - Mundus Vini (2019 vintage)

Natalie MacLean "Rich & juicy....So much happening here and it all comes together nicely with great acidity for food....100% Primitivo produced from select grapes from the area of San Marzano in the Salento region of Puglia. Intense on the nose and complex on the palate with layers of dark plum, cocoa, anise, pepper and toasty oak spice, cold tea and smoky vanilla flavours." (2019 vintage)

Natalie MacLean, "This is a rich and juicy Zinfandel produced from select grapes from the area of San Marzano in the Salento region of Puglia. Smooth and lush with ripe blueberry, red berry, plum, vanilla, toasty oak spice finishing with a whiff of smoke on the palate.'' (2018 vintage)

Natalie MacLean, '' well-priced Primitivo Di Manduria from the Puglia wine region with rich mocha, ripe black raspberry, blueberry and smoky flavours. Pair with rack of lamb.'' (2017 vintage)

Natalie MacLean, "This Primitivo Di Manduria from the Puglia wine region is dark chocolate and a mouthful of black and blueberry flavours. This Zinfandel is produced from select grapes from the area of San Marzano in the Salento region of Puglia. Mocha and sweet chocolate on the nose from oak aging. This Italian red wine also features sweet blackberry and blueberry flavours. Smooth and full-bodied. Perfect for barbecued ribs or chicken wings.'' (2016 vintage)

Natalie MacLean, ''Mocha and sweet chocolate on the nose from oak aging. This Italian red wine also features sweet blackberry and blueberry flavours. Smooth and full-bodied. Perfect for barbecued ribs or chicken wings.'' (2015 vintage)

100% Primitivo

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973, when Italo Zingarelli – producer of Ettore Scola’s “We All Loved Each Other So Much”, and also of the wildly popular series of films featuring comedy duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (including “They Call Me Trinity” and “Trinity Is Still My Name”) – decided to realize his lifelong dream by acquiring the “Le Macìe” estate – extending across 93 hectares (230 acres) in all, of which only two were under vine – in order to create a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone.

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973, when film producer Italo Zingarelli – of Ettore Scola’s “We All Loved Each Other So Much” fame, and also the wildly popular series of films featuring comedy duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (including “They Call Me Trinity” and “Trinity Is Still My Name”) – decided to realize his lifelong dream by acquiring the “Le Macìe” estate – extending across 93 hectares (230 acres) in all, of which only two were under vine – in order to create a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone.

The Pietra Pura range is the result of the shared objectives of making the most of the native vines of the Salento area and of creating wines that express the very best of the terroir. Rocca delle Macìe has combined experience and expertise to create three different types of wine using Primitivo and Negroamaro grapes. Mandus and Cotis, two expressions of Primitivo di Manduria DOC, Dolceluna – Primitivo Dolce Naturale DOCG- and Negramaro -Salento IGT- represent the high end of the range and are produced using grapes cultivated in vineyards selected by Rocca delle Macìe’s technicians. The grapes are then vinified and bottled in the Puglia Region, under the watchful eye of the Zingarelli family’s chief winemaker, Luca Francioni.

Puglia, also known as Apulia, is a long, narrow region comprising the heel of southern Italy's boot. Puglia is a major producer of both wine grapes and table grapes. Its name comes from a-pulvia, or “lack of rain” in Roman. The terroir is influenced by a sunny, warm Mediterranean climate with breezes from the Adriatic sea and fertile soil rich in limestone. The Puglian wine region is divided into three subregions: Foggia in the north, Bari and Taranto in the center, and Brindisi and Lecce in the south.

After Veneto, Puglia is tied with Sicily as the second biggest wine region in Italy. The Puglia area is mostly home to grape growers, rather than wine producers. However, there are winemakers producing quality wines in Puglia in smaller quantities. In addition to grapes, Puglia produces 40 percent of Italy's olive oil.

The grape of most interest to non-Italians is the early-ripening Primitivo, a speciality of the Gioia del Colle plain just south of Bari and Manduria, the western coast of the heel just south of Taranto. DNA analysis has proved what many had suspected all along, that this vine variety is one and the same as California's Zinfandel.

Primitivo is a dark-skinned grape known for producing inky, tannic wines, particularly Primitivo di Manduria and its naturally sweet Dolce Naturale variant. Although there have been contentious and long-running debates about the variety's geographical origins, there is little question that Primitivo's modern-day home is in southern Italy, particularly Puglia.

1 x Rocca delle Macie Famiglia Zingarelli Chianti Classico Riserva 2019 Chianti Classico, Italy

93/100 Luca Gardini
92/100 James Suckling
92/100 Wine Spectator
92/100 Natalie Maclean
90/100 Stephen Blandford, The Real Review
90/100 Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critics
90/100 5 Stars Wine - The book - Vinitaly
Bronze - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
94/100 James Suckling (2018 vintage)
93/100 Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critics (2018 vintage)
90/100 Falstaff (2018 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Spectator (2018 vintage)
94/100 Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critics (2017 vintage)
93/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage)
91/100 Falstaff (2017 vintage)
90/100 Wine Enthusiast (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Spectator (2017 vintage)

Gold - Decanter World Wine Awards
Gold - Selections Mondiales des Vins Canada
Silver - Mundus Vini
Gold - Mundus Vino (2018 vintage)
Gold - Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 vintage)
Gold - International Wine & Spirit Competition (2018 vintage)

Luca Gardini ''Another great classic from Zingarelli family’s estate, from Castellina in Chianti area. Sangiovese, with Cabernet and Merlot to enrich the blend, berry jam on the nose, with notes of iris and peony. The mouthfeel has iodine-brackish 93 tannins, with floral-fruity return and good persistence.''

James Suckling "Savory plums, mushrooms, leather and spiced oranges on the nose, with a medium-bodied palate rounded by firm but polished tannins. Elegant and refined."

Wine Spectator "Boasts juicy cherry, blackberry, plum, earth and tobacco aromas and flavors, with undertones of leafy underbrush. Firm and balanced, with a lingering aftertaste that echoes the fruit and picks up a mineral note. Sangiovese, Colorino and Cabernet Sauvignon."

Natalie Maclean " ...a vibrant, medium-bodied and mouth-watering Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colorino and Merlot red wine blend, aged in French oak barrels for 24 months. Vibrant with dark fruits, plum, cherry, vanilla and toasty oak spice flavours on the palate. Pour with a meaty lasagne.

Stephen Blandford, The Real Review "Garnet with orange/brick edges. The bouquet offers iris and violet perfume with raspberry fruits, clean and fresh if not overly complex. In the mouth there is ripe fruits riding on savoury elements, a thread of saline minerality carrying the wine along, tannins are rusty but fine in texture, the whole lingering pleasantly. An enjoyable drop."

Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critics "Slightly cloudy on the nose showing notes of black prunes, crumbled tobacco and leather. Medium bodied, light tannins and a finale of medium length."

Falstaff "Clear garnet red with ruby highlights. On the nose there's aromas of savoury herb and wood alongside red bell pepper and plum jam. Mouth-filling on the palate, with noticeable acidity. Some bitter notes and broad tannins make for a slightly drying finish."

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "This vintage naturally delivers a step up in concentration and flavor, and those characteristics are felt here, although overall winemaking is simple and rather consistent over the years."

James Suckling "Aromas of cherries, red plums, mushrooms, truffles and dried flowers. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins and bright acidity. Layered and textured, with spicy character. It’s balanced and focused with great freshness. Succulent, long finish." (2018 vintage)

Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critics "Extremely intriguing in the mixed floral and fruity profile showing a bohemian energy with notes of pressed red flowers, raspberries, ripe blackcurrants and orange juice. Meduim to full bodied, rounded tannins and a juicy finale which both merchants and consumers will enjoy. Well made." (2018 vintage)

Falstaff "Light, brilliant ruby ​​red. Citrus on the nose, also floral tones, violets, wild berries, then cherry and blood orange again. Fresh and clear on the palate, with crunchy fruit and red berry core, drying tannin then shows in the rear area." (2018 vintage)

Wine Spectator "There's a nice mix between the cherry, plum and berry fruit and savory notes of eucalyptus, juniper and oregano in this red, adding in accents of iron and tobacco for complexity. Just a touch dry in the end." (2018 vintage)

International Wine & Spirit Competition "An elegant, stylish and harmonious wine with creamy, ripe black and red fruit; spice and cedar wood flavours supported by ripe, soft tannins. Medium-bodied, sleek and polished, with excellent balance and length." (2018 vintage)

Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critics "The slight reduction in the glass defines an opalescence that gives intrigue and attracts attention. The hints of black plums, currants and raspberries slowly make their way through the liveliness of the orange juice and reveal the main soul of this young Riserva. Medium-full body, ripe tannins precise in the extraction and a warm and enveloping finish of remarkable beauty." (2017 vintage)

James Suckling "Pretty density to this with blackberries, currants and plums, as well as hints of walnuts on both the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins and a delicious, succulent finish." (2017 vintage)

Falstaff "Intense bright ruby ​​red. Subtle expression on the nose, light forest and cherry fruit, lacquer, a hint of fine leather, spicy, after a little aeration again fruity with ripe strawberries. On the palate then superficial, ripe red berry fruit, with rich enamel, also powerful, you should put it away." (2017 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "Crushed berry, botanical herb and baking spice aromas mingle with a whiff of sunbaked earth. The medium-bodied, savory palate offers ripe Marasca cherry, licorice and coffee bean alongside fine-grained tannins." (2017 vintage)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "From a hot and dry vintage that leans toward darker and more concentrated fruit, this is a mid-weight Tuscan red with dried plum and black currant backed by spice and dry tobacco. The Rocca delle Macìe 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Famiglia Zingarelli does reflect the characteristics of the hot vintage, and it's a little dry and brittle as a result. However, there is enough easy fruit to pair with a grilled steak and pan-fried porcini mushrooms on top." (2017 vintage)

Wine Spectator "Smoky cherry and plum fruit is interlaced with earth, iron and tobacco flavors in this dry red, which turns leaner and more focused on the finish, echoing the earth and tobacco notes and picking up tea and spice accents." (2017 vintage)

The Chianti region in Italy's Tuscany wine growing region is split between Chianti and Chianti Classico. Accordingly, two separate DOCG designations apply to wines from the Chianti region: the Chianti Classico DOCG for the heartland of Chianti, and Chianti DOCG for all other Chianti regions. (In 1984, the Chianti region was promoted from DOC to DOCG - Italy’s highest classification - and in 1996, Chianti Classico - the historic heartland of the region - DOCG was created, which gave autonomy to that region. In the last 20 years, a consortium of Chianti Classico producers have researched new Sangiovese clones, replanted vineyards, updated cellar practices and generally made Chianti Classico DOCG a world-class appellation. Chianti Classico must contain a minimum of 75% Sangiovese. In the 2014 edition of its annual compendium of wine ratings, Gambero Rosso noted that Chianti Classico DOCG wines were noteworthy for their “significant return to a more defined style, true to tradition.” The typical Chianti Classico wine is a ruby-red, Sangiovese-based wine with aromas of violets and cherries and a hint of earthy spice.

The Chianti DOCG designation covers wines from six Chianti sub-zones (Colli Pisane, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colli Aretini, Montalbano and Rufina) as well as all other Chianti wines. The Chianti Classico DOCG is located in the very center of Tuscany, between Florence and Sienna."
"Tuscany is Italy's third most planted region (behind Sicily and Apulia) but it is eighth in terms of output, reflecting both the poor soil of Tuscany and deliberate efforts to limit yields and increase the quality in the wine. After Piedmont and the Veneto, Tuscany produces the third-highest volume of DOC/DOCG wines. More than 80% of the regions' production is in red wine, with the Sangiovese grape being Tuscany's' most prominent grape. Trebbiano is the leading white variety of the region.

The history of viticulture in Tuscany dates back to the Etruscans in the 8th century BC. From the fall of the Roman Empire and throughout the Middle Ages, monasteries were the main purveyors of wines in the region. As the aristocratic and merchant classes emerged, they inherited the share-cropping system of agriculture known as mezzadria. Many Tuscan landowners would turn their half of the grape harvest into wine that would be sold to merchants in Florence. Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Tuscany returned to the rule of the Habsburgs. Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Super Tuscan are Tuscany’s best known wines.

Sangiovese (or Nielluccio in Corsica), a dark-berried vine, is the most widely planted grape variety in Italy. Virtually synonymous with the red wines of Tuscany, and all the romanticism that goes with the territory, Sangiovese is the core constituent in some of the great names in Italian wine. Italy's love affair with Sangiovese – and indeed the world's – is generations old, though recent grapevine research suggests the variety is not as ancient as once thought.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.

1 x Buccia Nera Tenuta Di Campriano Chianti Riserva 2016 - Tuscany, Italy

94/100 5 StarWines & Wine Without Walls 2020
92/100 Raffaele Vecchione

Chianti Riserva DOCG

Sangiovese 85% Merlot 7.5 % and Cabernet 7.5%

Raffaele Vecchione “Precise on the nose, it seduces in its sensorial fragrance with lively notes of raspberries, currants and cocoa powder. Medium-full body, rustic and bold in the center of the palate..... True expression of the most genuine Tuscany.”

Winemaker "At the palate it is very soft, followed by a good sense of volume that fills the mouth well. Tannins are present but enveloping and warm sustained by good acidity that lets predict a good aging potential. Good persistence and length that completes the tasting leaving the mouth pleasantly dry. Food pair with game, red meat, and mature cheeses."

Buccia Nera is an award-winning, organic winery situated on the hills beyond the city of Arezzo, in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. The winery has 60 hectares of vineyards and olive yards extended from 200 mt to 500 mt above sea level. The name 'Buccia Nera' means 'Black Skin' and is from family’s nickname, and the black skin of Sangiovese grapes they produce.

Buccia Nera has been organic since 2002 when all chemicals, pesticides and insecticides were eliminated. Buccia Nera is known for upholding the principles of organic farming, sustainability, water and energy conservation.

The winery handpicks all of its the grapes allowing the preservation of the quality of the grapes. Vinification is also done naturally, without the use of additives, but by controlling the temperature of the tanks. Careful and limited use of sulphur enables the wines to have a very low quantity of SO2.

Chianti, situated in the region of Tuscany in central Italy, is home to probably the best-known of all Italian wine districts, closely associated with red wines based on the Sangiovese grape. Chianti's winemaking zone is located between the cities of Florence (to the north) and Siena (to the south), and stretches into these provinces plus Prato, Arezzo, Pistoia and Pisa. Its vineyards yield more than any other Italian DOC, producing 75 million litres (20 million gallons) per year.

By law, modern-day Chianti wines must be made from at least 70 percent Sangiovese. For the region's most prestigious wines (such as Chianti Classico) this minimum rises to 80 percent.

1 x Illuminati - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva 'Zanna' 2017 ~ Abruzzo, Italy

90/100 Wine Enthusiast (2015 vintage)
94/100 Ian Dagata - Vinous Media (2010 Vintage)
92/100 Wine & Spirits (2010 Vintage)
92/100 Wine Review Online (2010 Vintage)
90/100 Wine Spectator (2010 Vintage)

Commended International Wine Challenge

100% Montepulciano

Wine Enthusiast “Aromas of crushed herbs and spiced cherry show a pleasing depth on the nose. Medium in weight, the palate brings juicy red cherry, tobacco and earth, with slightly sandy tannins rising up on the finish. Sourced from a single vineyard in the Colline Teramane DOCG, it shows very good vibrancy and concentration.”

Wine Spectator - "Elegant and well-spiced, with a finely meshed range of black raspberry, licorice string, grilled herb and black olive flavors structured by velvety tannins. Medium- to full-bodied, with a sweet, lasting hint of fig bread on the finish." (2010 Vintage)

Ian Dagata - Vinous - "Multilayered, deep and complex, Zanna is always one of Abruzzo's most refined Montepulcianos....Deep ruby. Ripe but fresh red cherry and spice aromas are complemented by refined notes of lead pencil and coffee. Very suave on the palate too, with brightly focused red cherry, flint and herb flavors that carry through a very long aftertaste." (2010 Vintage)

Wine & Spirits - "The 45-year-old vines at the Zanna Vineyard provides the fruit for this Riserva, aged in Slavonian oak for two years. It’s supple and concentrated, packed with black fruit that slowly yields hints of strawberries, red berries and licorice. The tannins remain smoky and as black as carbon, the finish clean and vast." (2010 Vintage)

Wine Reviews - "The flagship Zanna is produced only in the best vintages. Besides coming from old vines (45 years average age) of a single vineyard called Zanna, the wine ages for four years at the winery compared to only one year for the Riparossa. The 2010 Zanna has pronounced aromas of blackberry, spice and flowers, with mineral notes joining those impressions on the palate. It is full-bodied with impressively rich and smooth texture and soft tannins. For a wine so laden with fruitiness, it has beautiful complexity and holds your interest as only great wines can. (2010 Vintage)

Montepulciano Riserva 'Zanna' is the winery's flagship wine, a 3 Bicchieri Award winner for years in a row. Produced only in the best vintages, Zanna is made with a selection of grapes from old vines (45 years old on average) from a single vineyard, pergola-trained with monitored low production through green harvest.

Zanna is intense ruby red in color, turning garnet with time. There are hints of blackberry, berry fruits, and dried flowers on the nose. On the palate the wine has great texture and soft tannins, with an elegant and long finish. It will pair perfectly with red meat, game, truffles, and aged cheeses, particularly gorgonzola.

The Zanna vineyard, from which this wine takes its name, is located 287 metres a.s.l. in the Municipality of Controguerra, along the hills to the right of the Tronto river that gradually decline towards the Adriatic sea, with a gentle climate characterized by natural fresh ventilation.

The Zanna vineyard was one of the first vineyards to be planted by the Company and is provided with a pergola trellis system with approximately 1,100 stocks per hectare.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane is the jewel in the crown of central Italy's Abruzzo region – a fact confirmed by its promotion to DOCG status in 2003. Its name (Colline Teramane) means hills of Teramo, and it is thanks to this prime hilly site with outstanding growing conditions that the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo gem can shine.

This territory in the province of Teramo, with its special microclimate and good soil structure, is located between the high peaks of the Gran Sasso National Park and the Adriatic coast. Local wine growers demonstrate passion, professionalism and respect for the Colline Teramane terroir, as well as treating the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grape gently by cropping it at reasonably low levels so the vines can bear first-class fruit.

The wines require a minimum of 90% Montepulciano and a maximum of 10% Sangiovese. At least two years of ageing is required, with at least one year in oak barrels and at least six months in bottle before release. Those under the Riserva label must have spent a minimum of three years maturing. The result is a unique wine with distinct organoleptic sensations; it is often notable for its muscular and earthy character, robust but at the same time offering an elegant and velvet-smooth texture. Like a Vosne-Romanee, this wine can be described as ‘an iron hand in a velvet glove’. It is an expressive red delivering an intense purity of fruit, abundant in fresh dark cherries and black plums, with hints of spice and smoke evident from the time in oak. It comes into its element when paired with food

1 x Collosorbo 'Rosso di Montalcino' Sangiovese 2019 - Tuscany, Italy

93/100 James Suckling (2016 Vintage)
90/100 Robert Parker ~ Wine Advocate (2016 Vintage)

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

James Suckling "Offers more concentration on the nose with mostly notes of blackberry pie, plum cake and even some Christmas pudding. On the palate, the fruit is melded beautifully with chewy yet tight tannins and taut acidity. Great stuff for what it is." (2016 Vintage)

Robert Parker "The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino opens to a bright ruby colour with purple highlights. The wine is youthful and bright in personality with a full load of plump cherry and ripe blackberry. You also get hints of spice, crushed mineral and balsam herb to round off the bouquet. The mouthfeel is rich, generous and nicely structured. This is an excellent value buy (55,000 bottles were made).” (2016 Vintage)

The Winemaker "A traditional, fresh velvety wine, Rosso di Montalcino comes from the Estate’s best vineyards, the same that produce Brunello. It is made from 100% Sangiovese with persistent, fruity aromas and considerable structure. This is a very versatile wine suitable for average periods of aging." (2016 Vintage)

The Tenuti di Collosorbo has been owned by the Ciacci family since 1850. The first bottle of Brunello di Montalcino was made in 1966 by Giuseppe Ciacci, a progenitor of the first of the three generations of this winery. Now Giovanna Ciacci and her daughters, oenologist Laura and agronomist, Lucia Sutera Sardo, operate the vineyard and winery, assisted by esteemed oenologist Paolo Caciorgna and cellar master, Daniele Guidotti, who has been in charge of the Tenuta's winery for more than twenty years and is considered one of the family.

The region of Rosso di Montalcino is found in the same defined area as its bigger brother, the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. Both are situated in the heart of Tuscany, in central Italy. This DOC was created in 1984 in order to make the most of the fruit from younger vines of new plantings. The idea was to create a fresher style of wine that needed considerably less ageing time (one year with only six months in oak) than its sibling.

Sangiovese (or Nielluccio in Corsica), a dark-berried vine, is the most widely planted grape variety in Italy. Virtually synonymous with the red wines of Tuscany, and all the romanticism that goes with the territory, Sangiovese is the core constituent in some of the great names in Italian wine. Italy's love affair with Sangiovese – and indeed the world's – is generations old, though recent grapevine research suggests the variety is not as ancient as once thought.