6 stunning Italian wines birthed from the vineyards of sunny Tuscany and Piedmont. Bring the taste of Italy back into your own home. Pair these award winning wines with the Italian food you love to eat!
1 x Bruno Rocca Nebbiolo 2016 ~ Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
94/100 Mike Bennie
Antonio Galloni, Vinous - “… Bruno Rocca is without question one of the hottest estates in Barbaresco right now. And my feeling is that Francesco Rocca (Bruno’s son and Luisa’s brother) is just getting started.”
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “Don’t destroy what mother nature has given” says Luisa Rocca, “this is the overarching philosophy at Bruno Rocca”. There’s plenty to back that up, from organic farming (certified, but they don’t broadcast that), hand-harvesting in small baskets, a vibration de-stemmer a recent and expensive addition to ensure gentle handling of fruit. Natural yeast is used to create a bank of mini ferments in each vineyard – this is to ‘inoculate’ from each vineyard source individually, “we wish to preserve the terroir at this level too”.
Bruno Rocca is a family-owned wine estate in Barbaresco. It makes wines from various Piemontese appellations and varieties but is best known for its complex, refined, aromatic Nebbiolo wines from the Barbaresco DOCG. For many decades the family operated a mixed farm, but the modern estate began to take shape in 1958 when the family moved from the centre of Barbaresco to the south of the Rabajà zone and bought some prime vineyards. Grapes were sold to the Barbaresco co-operative until 1978 when Bruno Rocca took over the estate and made the first wines under the family name. In the 1990s, the winery gained an international reputation and began to acquire further vineyards. The winemaking style of Bruno Rocca is generally regarded as being modernist. Barbaresco grapes are fermented in wooden vats, with stainless steel used for other wines. Individual vineyards are vinified separately, with larger vineyards divided into plots.
Nebbiolo is the grape variety behind the top-quality red wines of Piedmont, northwestern Italy, the most notable of which are Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo wines are distinguished by their strong tannins, high acidity and distinctive scent – often described as "tar and roses". A less obvious characteristic, visible only over time, is their tendency to lose colour. Within just a few years of vintage, most Nebbiolo wines begin fading from deep, violet-tinged ruby to a beautiful brick orange.
2 x Castello di Gabiano - Barbera D'Asti 'Adornes Superiore' 2013 ~ Piedmont, Italy
Kerin O' Keefe, Wine Enthusiast "Tobacco, dark berry and new leather aromas take shape in the glass. The structured, juicy palate offers blackberry jam, licorice and white pepper alongside polished tannins."
Wine Enthusiast - "This dense, savoury wine has tobacco, black-skinned berry and red plum aromas and licorice, blackberry jam and black pepper flavours. Fine-grained tannins provide support." (2011 vintage)
The Winemaker - "Concentrated and balanced... with a long finish. This wine can be a lovely match with grilled red meats, roasted meats, wild fowl and aged cheese." (2011 vintage)
The Castello di Gabiano vineyard and winery, situated in the Piedmont Region of the northwest of Italy, boasts more than a century of history. In the 8th century, a document signed by Carlo Magno indicated the presence of a “Cortem magnam nomina Gabianam,” proving the land has been owned by the Gabiano family since that time. Today, Giacomo Cattaneo Adorno, the last Marquis of Gabiano, and his wife Emanuela are personally involved in the winery.
Castello di Gabiano vineyards are planted on the highest fields with exposure at noon. The chalky clay soil enhances the wines' unique terroir. Two different prunings are made throughout the year: the first one in July, which equalizes the bunches, the second one in August, aims to achieve the maximum concentration and quality. Harvest in small cases with an accurate selection of the best grapes. Fermentation with native yeast in cement tanks and oak vats. Many délestages and pumping over ensures a rich extraction with the calcareous clay soils giving great structure and complexity to this wine. The wine is finished in barrels for 18 months and in bottle for 12 months.
1 x Conterno Fantino - Barolo Vigna del Gris 2017 ~ Piedmont, Italy
Kerin O’Keefe (Wine Enthusiast)– “Aromas of underbrush, camphor and cellar floor lead the nose. The assertive palate lacks fruit richness, offering sensations of incense, coconut, licorice and oak alongside extremely astringent tannins.”
James Suckling– “This is extremely perfumed with rose petal and orange zest to the ripe-strawberry and cherry character. Full and intense palate with layers of fruit and firm, dusty tannins. Chewy at the finish, but there’s plenty of fruit. Try after 2025.”
Robert Parker– “I always love the purity of aromas delivered in wine from this 1.8-hectare site with loose, well-draining soils in the celebrated Ginestra cru of Monforte d'Alba. The Conterno Fantino 2017 Barolo Ginestra Vigna del Gris boasts a slightly more delicate and finessed aromatic approach with tighter weaving and an almost fragile personality. However, the warm 2017 vintage conditions do their part to build up the concentrated power and fruit weight of this Barolo. I found this wine to be more reticent in terms of mouthfeel; however, that may be a reflection of my early tasting. I'd love to come back and visit this wine at the 10-year mark and later. This was a release of exactly 9,082 bottles.”
Founded in 1982, Conterno Fantino testifies to the talent and vision of viticulturist Claudio Conterno and his partner, oenologist Guido Fantino. These great wines start in exceptional vineyard sites in Monforte d’Alba. Conterno Fantino’s historical nucleus is Ginestra, one of Monforte’s historical crus documented as far back as the 1800’s. is based on a hillside close to the village of Monforte d'Alba. The focus of the estate falls to four key grape varieties: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Chardonnay.
Barolo is a traditional hillside village in the rolling hills of Piedmont, northwestern Italy. The vineyards and wineries there have long been famous for producing some of Italy's very finest red wines – predominantly from the region's signature grape variety, Nebbiolo.
Nebbiolo is the grape variety behind the top-quality red wines of Piedmont, northwestern Italy, the most notable of which are Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo wines are distinguished by their strong tannins, high acidity and distinctive scent – often described as "tar and roses". They also tend to lose color. Within just a few years of vintage, most Nebbiolo wines begin fading from deep, violet-tinged ruby to a beautiful brick orange.
1 x Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Riserva Vecchie Viti DOCG 2018 - Tuscany - Italy
Falstaff "Brilliant ruby red with a sparkling core. In the nose of sour cherries, wild berries and a hint of black pepper, cranberries in the aftertaste. Fresh and balanced on the palate, shows well-integrated acidity, great nerve, balanced, drinks very well" (2018 vintage)
Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critics "Herbaceous in the main profile alternates notes of raspberries, currants, broken stalk and cut grass. Medium body, little extracted tannins and a simple finish that lacks juiciness and smoothness. Probable deviation in the bottle. Drink now." (2018 vintage)
Decanter "a subtle aroma of fresh red berries and spice, followed in the mouth by integrated, chocolatey tannins and tangy red fruit. The mid-palate opens up to reveal chocolate, sweet spices and a dash of black pepper, with black fruit, wood and tobacco notes on the persistent finish, carried by the acidity." (2017 vintage)
Falstaff “Rich ruby with a fine garnet shimmer. Very clear and intense nose, cherries and cloves ripe after cranberries. Firm and substantial in approach and course, shows a lot of ripe fruit, fine-meshed tannin, wrapped in sweet melt, very juicy in the finish.” (2016 vintage)
Castello di Nipozzano is owned by the famous Frescobaldi family – a Tuscan wine producer which can trace its history back 700 years the time of the Florentine Republic. The Castello di Nipozzano, built in year 1000 as a defensive fortress, became the centre of communal life for the village. Today the castle houses the wine cellar, where the estate red wines are produced and cask-aged. Nipozzano also serves as Frescobaldi’s centre for fine food and wine.The estate lies in the heart of the Chianti Rufina area, covering 626 hectares at elevations between 250 and 400 metres. 240 hectares are planted with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The soil, rich in clay and limestone, and its dry, well-ventilated weather compose the ideal terroir for the production of wines that are elegant and well balanced, full bodied, with firm structures to last them over many years.
1 x Collosorbo - Brunello di Montalcino 'Sangiovese' 2017 ~ Rosso di Montalcino, Italy
James Suckling - "Full body, exotic and intense. A wealth of fruit yet remains vibrant and firm. Extremely focused. Long finish. Beautiful aromas of black cherry and apricot. "
Vinous - "Very attractive wine of impeccable balance. Well done......Palish red. The intensely floral nose (violet, peony, iris, rose) also offers aromas of red cherry and incense. Dense but juicy, showing a sappy quality, but plenty of extract nicely frames the red fruit and candied violet flavors. The long finish is given added punch by strong underlying minerality."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "a dark and thickly textured wine from a cooler vintage. The wine exhibits a deeply saturated appearance with little light penetration. The bouquet is enhanced by dark fruit aromas of black cherry and crème de cassis, with licorice, spice and tobacco at the back. There is a sweet spot on the close, and the tannins are neatly folded into the wine's thick texture. The overall effect is slower and thicker than its peers. This is an immediate expression, best for short and near-term consumption."
The Winemaker - "The fruit is a highlight to the enduring popularity of Brunello di Montalcino, but it’s the tannins and acidity that extend the life of this wine."
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, 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.
6 stunning Italian wines birthed from the vineyards of sunny Tuscany and Piedmont. Bring the taste of Italy back into your own home. Pair these award winning wines with the Italian food you love to eat!
1 x Bruno Rocca Nebbiolo 2016 ~ Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
94/100 Mike Bennie
Antonio Galloni, Vinous - “… Bruno Rocca is without question one of the hottest estates in Barbaresco right now. And my feeling is that Francesco Rocca (Bruno’s son and Luisa’s brother) is just getting started.”
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “Don’t destroy what mother nature has given” says Luisa Rocca, “this is the overarching philosophy at Bruno Rocca”. There’s plenty to back that up, from organic farming (certified, but they don’t broadcast that), hand-harvesting in small baskets, a vibration de-stemmer a recent and expensive addition to ensure gentle handling of fruit. Natural yeast is used to create a bank of mini ferments in each vineyard – this is to ‘inoculate’ from each vineyard source individually, “we wish to preserve the terroir at this level too”.
Bruno Rocca is a family-owned wine estate in Barbaresco. It makes wines from various Piemontese appellations and varieties but is best known for its complex, refined, aromatic Nebbiolo wines from the Barbaresco DOCG. For many decades the family operated a mixed farm, but the modern estate began to take shape in 1958 when the family moved from the centre of Barbaresco to the south of the Rabajà zone and bought some prime vineyards. Grapes were sold to the Barbaresco co-operative until 1978 when Bruno Rocca took over the estate and made the first wines under the family name. In the 1990s, the winery gained an international reputation and began to acquire further vineyards. The winemaking style of Bruno Rocca is generally regarded as being modernist. Barbaresco grapes are fermented in wooden vats, with stainless steel used for other wines. Individual vineyards are vinified separately, with larger vineyards divided into plots.
Nebbiolo is the grape variety behind the top-quality red wines of Piedmont, northwestern Italy, the most notable of which are Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo wines are distinguished by their strong tannins, high acidity and distinctive scent – often described as "tar and roses". A less obvious characteristic, visible only over time, is their tendency to lose colour. Within just a few years of vintage, most Nebbiolo wines begin fading from deep, violet-tinged ruby to a beautiful brick orange.
2 x Castello di Gabiano - Barbera D'Asti 'Adornes Superiore' 2013 ~ Piedmont, Italy
Kerin O' Keefe, Wine Enthusiast "Tobacco, dark berry and new leather aromas take shape in the glass. The structured, juicy palate offers blackberry jam, licorice and white pepper alongside polished tannins."
Wine Enthusiast - "This dense, savoury wine has tobacco, black-skinned berry and red plum aromas and licorice, blackberry jam and black pepper flavours. Fine-grained tannins provide support." (2011 vintage)
The Winemaker - "Concentrated and balanced... with a long finish. This wine can be a lovely match with grilled red meats, roasted meats, wild fowl and aged cheese." (2011 vintage)
The Castello di Gabiano vineyard and winery, situated in the Piedmont Region of the northwest of Italy, boasts more than a century of history. In the 8th century, a document signed by Carlo Magno indicated the presence of a “Cortem magnam nomina Gabianam,” proving the land has been owned by the Gabiano family since that time. Today, Giacomo Cattaneo Adorno, the last Marquis of Gabiano, and his wife Emanuela are personally involved in the winery.
Castello di Gabiano vineyards are planted on the highest fields with exposure at noon. The chalky clay soil enhances the wines' unique terroir. Two different prunings are made throughout the year: the first one in July, which equalizes the bunches, the second one in August, aims to achieve the maximum concentration and quality. Harvest in small cases with an accurate selection of the best grapes. Fermentation with native yeast in cement tanks and oak vats. Many délestages and pumping over ensures a rich extraction with the calcareous clay soils giving great structure and complexity to this wine. The wine is finished in barrels for 18 months and in bottle for 12 months.
1 x Conterno Fantino - Barolo Vigna del Gris 2017 ~ Piedmont, Italy
Kerin O’Keefe (Wine Enthusiast)– “Aromas of underbrush, camphor and cellar floor lead the nose. The assertive palate lacks fruit richness, offering sensations of incense, coconut, licorice and oak alongside extremely astringent tannins.”
James Suckling– “This is extremely perfumed with rose petal and orange zest to the ripe-strawberry and cherry character. Full and intense palate with layers of fruit and firm, dusty tannins. Chewy at the finish, but there’s plenty of fruit. Try after 2025.”
Robert Parker– “I always love the purity of aromas delivered in wine from this 1.8-hectare site with loose, well-draining soils in the celebrated Ginestra cru of Monforte d'Alba. The Conterno Fantino 2017 Barolo Ginestra Vigna del Gris boasts a slightly more delicate and finessed aromatic approach with tighter weaving and an almost fragile personality. However, the warm 2017 vintage conditions do their part to build up the concentrated power and fruit weight of this Barolo. I found this wine to be more reticent in terms of mouthfeel; however, that may be a reflection of my early tasting. I'd love to come back and visit this wine at the 10-year mark and later. This was a release of exactly 9,082 bottles.”
Founded in 1982, Conterno Fantino testifies to the talent and vision of viticulturist Claudio Conterno and his partner, oenologist Guido Fantino. These great wines start in exceptional vineyard sites in Monforte d’Alba. Conterno Fantino’s historical nucleus is Ginestra, one of Monforte’s historical crus documented as far back as the 1800’s. is based on a hillside close to the village of Monforte d'Alba. The focus of the estate falls to four key grape varieties: Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Chardonnay.
Barolo is a traditional hillside village in the rolling hills of Piedmont, northwestern Italy. The vineyards and wineries there have long been famous for producing some of Italy's very finest red wines – predominantly from the region's signature grape variety, Nebbiolo.
Nebbiolo is the grape variety behind the top-quality red wines of Piedmont, northwestern Italy, the most notable of which are Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo wines are distinguished by their strong tannins, high acidity and distinctive scent – often described as "tar and roses". They also tend to lose color. Within just a few years of vintage, most Nebbiolo wines begin fading from deep, violet-tinged ruby to a beautiful brick orange.
1 x Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Riserva Vecchie Viti DOCG 2018 - Tuscany - Italy
Falstaff "Brilliant ruby red with a sparkling core. In the nose of sour cherries, wild berries and a hint of black pepper, cranberries in the aftertaste. Fresh and balanced on the palate, shows well-integrated acidity, great nerve, balanced, drinks very well" (2018 vintage)
Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critics "Herbaceous in the main profile alternates notes of raspberries, currants, broken stalk and cut grass. Medium body, little extracted tannins and a simple finish that lacks juiciness and smoothness. Probable deviation in the bottle. Drink now." (2018 vintage)
Decanter "a subtle aroma of fresh red berries and spice, followed in the mouth by integrated, chocolatey tannins and tangy red fruit. The mid-palate opens up to reveal chocolate, sweet spices and a dash of black pepper, with black fruit, wood and tobacco notes on the persistent finish, carried by the acidity." (2017 vintage)
Falstaff “Rich ruby with a fine garnet shimmer. Very clear and intense nose, cherries and cloves ripe after cranberries. Firm and substantial in approach and course, shows a lot of ripe fruit, fine-meshed tannin, wrapped in sweet melt, very juicy in the finish.” (2016 vintage)
Castello di Nipozzano is owned by the famous Frescobaldi family – a Tuscan wine producer which can trace its history back 700 years the time of the Florentine Republic. The Castello di Nipozzano, built in year 1000 as a defensive fortress, became the centre of communal life for the village. Today the castle houses the wine cellar, where the estate red wines are produced and cask-aged. Nipozzano also serves as Frescobaldi’s centre for fine food and wine.The estate lies in the heart of the Chianti Rufina area, covering 626 hectares at elevations between 250 and 400 metres. 240 hectares are planted with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The soil, rich in clay and limestone, and its dry, well-ventilated weather compose the ideal terroir for the production of wines that are elegant and well balanced, full bodied, with firm structures to last them over many years.
1 x Collosorbo - Brunello di Montalcino 'Sangiovese' 2017 ~ Rosso di Montalcino, Italy
James Suckling - "Full body, exotic and intense. A wealth of fruit yet remains vibrant and firm. Extremely focused. Long finish. Beautiful aromas of black cherry and apricot. "
Vinous - "Very attractive wine of impeccable balance. Well done......Palish red. The intensely floral nose (violet, peony, iris, rose) also offers aromas of red cherry and incense. Dense but juicy, showing a sappy quality, but plenty of extract nicely frames the red fruit and candied violet flavors. The long finish is given added punch by strong underlying minerality."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "a dark and thickly textured wine from a cooler vintage. The wine exhibits a deeply saturated appearance with little light penetration. The bouquet is enhanced by dark fruit aromas of black cherry and crème de cassis, with licorice, spice and tobacco at the back. There is a sweet spot on the close, and the tannins are neatly folded into the wine's thick texture. The overall effect is slower and thicker than its peers. This is an immediate expression, best for short and near-term consumption."
The Winemaker - "The fruit is a highlight to the enduring popularity of Brunello di Montalcino, but it’s the tannins and acidity that extend the life of this wine."
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, 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.
