The 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella boasts incredible richness and depth. Blackberry jam, graphite, smoke, licorice, tar and plums are beautifully integrated in this dark, seamless Amarone. Despite its considerable weight and density, the 2006 comes across as fairly accessible for a young Dal Forno Amarone. Hints of truffle, tobacco and new leather wrap around the finish.

The 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella boasts incredible richness and depth. Blackberry jam, graphite, smoke, licorice, tar and plums are beautifully integrated in this dark, seamless Amarone. Despite its considerable weight and density, the 2006 comes across as fairly accessible for a young Dal Forno Amarone. Hints of truffle, tobacco and new leather wrap around the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021.

Polished and expressive, this shows a smoky baseline of graphite-laced minerality, with fine-grained tannins and mouthwatering acidity focusing the flavors of date, kirsch, ground anise and clove, with a touch of cocoa powder. Drink now through 2022.

This is very lifted and intense with treacle tart, licorice, light asphalt, chili and chocolate. Full body with very intense dried fruits like raisins, sultanas and prunes, but there's a nutmeg and clove undertone to it. Very chewy and intense on the finish. Big wine but racy and fresh. Stunning Amarone.

The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Coltassala is classy and refined from start to finish. Sweet red cherry, mint, chalk, flowers and blood orange add a very appealing upper register. New oak gives the Coltassala a modern touch, without completely overpowering the wine.

The 2016 Chianti Classico is all class. Fresh, floral and beautifully lifted, the 2016 offers a terrific expression of the estate in its mid-weight personality. All the elements meld together in this effortless, classy wine from the family. The 2016 is quite accessible today, but it also has enough brightness to age nicely for a number of years. What a pretty wine it is.

The 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Castello di Volpaia is a dark, powerful wine. Black cherry, smoke, licorice, incense, mocha menthol, lavender and leather infuse this virile, brooding Riserva with tons of character. In this tasting, the Riserva stands out for its depth and weighty substance. This is a decidedly virile wine from Volpaia.

A firm and silky red with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium to full body, fine and silky tannins and a fresh finish. Finesse as always. A blend of sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon.

The 2016 Balifico, Volpaia's blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, shows the estate at its very best. Espresso grilled herbs, plum, licorice, leather, menthol and spice open up effortlessly in a beautiful, resonant wine loaded with personality and sheer class. The tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty to like.

A similar blend, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Boisrenard checks in as 66% Grenache, 12% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, and the balance a mix of permitted varieties, that saw 10% new oak. It has a thrilling bouquet of black cherries, cassis, bouquet garni, scorched earth, and graphite. Tasting like a Grand Cru Burgundy with its tension, purity, and elegance, it has building tannins, terrific concentration, and a great finish. Still tight, backward a

The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc is similarly colored compared to the 2017 and has a fresh, clean, nicely balanced profile as well as classy stone fruits, crushed citrus and white flowers. It's medium-bodied, has integrated acidity, and terrific purity, as well as the fresher, more moderately concentrated style of the vintage. As with most of the wines here, it’s a field blend of just about every permitted variety.

Tart peach, pineapple, white flowers, and spice notes all emerge from the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Boisrenard Blanc, which has a more concentrated style compared to the classic white, yet still plays in the fresh, lively end of the spectrum. With subtle background oak, terrific balance, and a great finish, it's going to gain weight with another year in bottle and keep for over a decade.

Shimmering orange-pink. Powerful, oak-spiced aromas of nectarine, strawberry, blood orange, vanilla and honey, plus a hint of smoky minerality in the background. Deep-pitched, mineral-driven red berry and pit fruit flavors pick up fennel, vanilla and candied lavender nuances with air. Clings with serious tenacity on the penetrating finish, leaving notes of peach nectar and raspberry preserves behind. Fermented in new Austrian oak demi-muids and r

Light bright orange. Pungent, mineral-tinged red and pit fruit and floral aromas are complemented by a subtle herbal nuance that gains strength as the wine opens up. Juicy and well-delineated on the palate, offering subtly sweet raspberry, tangerine and white peach flavors that spread out on the back half. Concentrated yet lithe in style, finishing with strong mineral and floral thrust.

Vivid orange-pink. High-pitched strawberry, peach and jasmine scents are complemented by building floral and herb nuances. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering fresh red berry and pit fruit flavors and a hint of bitter orange pith. Finishes silky and precise, displaying very good persistence and a repeating floral note

Shimmering orange-pink. Powerful, mineral-accented red berry, nectarine, orange zest and floral scents are complemented by a subtle garrigue element that gains strength as the wine opens up. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering gently sweet strawberry, white peach and tangerine flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Concentrated yet lithe in character, finishing with strong mineral thrust and resonating florality.

This leads with an explosion of dark cherries and vanilla. Then come spices and earth. Dense and complex, but showing polish and form. Full-bodied, very structured and long on the finish. Drink from 2023.

Here's a very beautiful Valpolicella showing fresh lavender and violets, as well as dried herbs. Vibrant and mineral on the medium-bodied palate with citrusy undertones throughout. Drink now.

This is a re-release of a wine that first hit the market some seven years ago. The Il Greppo estate did not make a Riserva in the 2011 vintage, and the 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is being reintroduced to the market (with only 2,500 bottles) to fill in this gap. This is a stunning wine that absolutely merits this considerable score increase.

Perfumed and structured, this wine opens with alluring scents of rose, tobacco, mint, underbrush and woodland berry. The vibrant, focused palate offers intriguing tension and intensity while at the same time showing finesse, delivering red cherry, raspberry, licorice and baking spice tones framed by firm tannins. Drink 2023–2043.