Acclaim

Editor’s Choice “From fifty year old, high altitude vines on Mt. Etna, this is a stunning and structured rosato made from native grape Nerello Mascalese. It’s loaded with finesse, boasting tart apple, wild cherry, strawberry, white pepper, red grapefruit and intense mineral sensations alongside crisp acidity.” Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast, Sept. 2014

“The 2013 Chianti from Toscolo is absolutely gorgeous in this vintage. Dark red and black plums, lavender spices and leather meld together in a juicy, supple wine that massively overdelivers considering its modest price tag.” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous, September 2014

“Deep, bright red color. Aromas of plum, redcurrant and kirsch are complicated by soy sauce and flowers. Silky and rather minerally, showing a restrained sweetness and considerable finesse to its moderately ripe middle palate. Finishes with fine-grained tannins and lingering notes of red cherry, minerals, dried flowers and gunflint. A lovely ’09.” -Stephen Tanzer, Aug. 2014

“If you’re looking for a quaffer, this isn’t it. Mattia Vezzola blends this pale orange wine from gropello, marzemin, sangiovese and barbera grown on the western shore of Lake Garda. It’s left for only hours on the skins and pressed at night before half of the blend goes into small barrels for six months; the other half goes into stainless steel tanks. Right now, the 2012 is seriously oaky, but the wood quickly faded from consciousness. It has the fruitiness of fresh mushrooms, gentle and savory, and an earthiness that ranges from forest floor to saline minerality. Though delicate in flavor, it has real presence on the palate, the wine wanting a charcuterie spread of fennel salami and mortadella.” -Wine & Spirits, Aug. 2014

“Bright red. Mesmerizingly pure and intense aromas of raspberry, sour red cherry, minerals, licorice and violet. Sweet, lush and deep, with outstanding clarity and lift to the pure flavors of red cherry, raspberry and flint. Pristine and very long on the vibrant finish, which features extremely sophisticated tannins and superb length. The wine’s minerally, flinty quality runs through from nose to aftertaste. A paradigm of cooler-climate Montalcino sangiovese, this is the year’s best Brunello, and it will cost you a fraction as much as more famous Brunellos that other wine writers will surely score higher.” -Stephen Tanzer, Aug. 2014

“This simple but well-made wine from northern Italy opens with delicate floral and peach aromas. The palate offers golden apple and lemon zest alongside bright acidity.” Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast, Aug. 2014

“The excellent 2010 Barolo Pernanno opens to immediate spice and young Nebbiolo tones of forest fruit and blackberry that will flesh out with cellar aging. The wine’s style veers to plushness, softness and power. It’s a “big picture” wine, not a wine lost in superfluous fine print. Drink: 2018-2028.” -Wine Advocate, Jul. 2014

“The barrique-aged 2010 Barolo opens to a dark garnet color and shows a deep, velvety quality of fruit with black cherry, dried blackberry and light tobacco shadings. This wine delivers heft, good structure and rich texture. Fruit is a blend from Monforte d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba. Drink: 2017-2025.” -Wine Advocate, Jul. 2014

“The 2011 Barbaresco Chiaramanti shows a large frame of dark fruit with dried cherry and evolved notes of spice, leather and tobacco. The summer heat in 2011 comes through in terms of the richness of the mouthfeel, but the wine never feels heavy or flat thanks to mouth-puckering acidity at the back. Drink: 2015-2020. ” -Wine Advocate, Jul. 2014

“The 2010 Barbaresco Maria di Brun immediately shows the elegance of the vintage with a profound sense of berry, dried herb and loads of mineral layering. Nebbiolo in 2010 tends to favor elegance and length over brawn and power and this wine does a great job of underlying that aspect. The overall results are compact, linear, polished and well suited for longterm cellaring. Drink: 2016-2028.” -Wine Advocate, Jul. 2014