Acclaim

Nebbiolo from the Einaudi family’s 5.8-acre Cannubi plot yielded an impressively focused wine in 2018. There’s an inner brightness and clarity to the dark fruit tones that is further enlivened by notes of orange peel and dark spice that carry through on the long finish.

Best Buy. This is an impressive first release from Einaudi’s latest vineyard acquisition, and it captures the high-toned character typical of Barolos from Verduno’s most renowned MGA. The wine’s fresh cherry and red-berry flavors are framed by smooth tannins and laced by delicate white-peeper notes. It may lack a bit of stuffing in this vintage, but this is a promising start.

This 100% Pinot Noir Franciacorta Rosé is a prime example of the beauty of this region. Made only from free-run juice, this wine is elegant with aromas of roasted strawberries, wild cherries, and pie crust. The 50 months the wine spends on the lees prior to release builds a richness and depth, with flavors of raspberry, blackberry and a touch of salinity. Vibrant acidity on the finish gives way to a long and enjoyable finish. – Jeff Porter

The nose of this Pecorino seems to fill a pan with herbs, butter, lemon and garlic, all simmering by the seaside, while the palate reduces those flavors into sweet-and-sour lemon, long toasted bread crumbs, and the green part of a slice of honeydew coming through at the end. Confident acid and a saline quality throughout result in a supremely satisfying harmony.

“This is the first release of Barolo from a prestigious DOCG cru on the Monvigliero hill at 1000 feet above sea level. With its limestone and chalk soils, the Monvigliero vineyard, recently acquired by the Einaudi family, makes for expressive Nebbiolo grapes giving this Barolo, which is matured in large oak barrels, floral scents, spicy red fruit flavors, and lots of personality.” – Baroness Sheri de Borchgrave 

The 2017 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva Villa Bucci pulls me close with a deep mix of dried apricots and pears complemented by hints of chamomile and wet rocks. This is a dense yet energetic effort with a burst of saline-minerals up front that give way to white pit fruits and savory spices. The 2017 finishes long and lightly structured, leaving a staining of primary concentration and a lemon pith tension. Bucci did a great job of dealing with the warm and dry vintage conditions, as the Riserva really shows a purity, but also density and structure that will promote a long and steady evolution. Drinking window: 2023 – 2029

The 2021 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore is an understated expression, impressing with its pretty mix of dusty dried florals and nuances of pear. It’s on the palate where it really comes to life, silky-smooth with vivid ripe apple and an enriching note of gingery spice. It leaves a citrus twang through the finale, along with a salty flourish of minerality; the 2021 finishes with mouthwatering freshness. Any readers seeking value, balance and purity from Verdicchio owe it to themselves to check this out. Drinking window: 2023 – 2027

A beguiling mix of crushed hazelnut, dried apricot, dusty flowers, marzipan and stone dust makes the 2018 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva Villa Bucci almost impossible to pull away from. Its medium-weight textures have an almost-glycerol feel, casting a dense wave of ripe orchard fruits and subtly sweet spices across the palate with ease. The 2018’s minerality comes through in the finale, tapering off slightly grippy yet not as structured as past vintages; a note of sour melon lingers. The Riserva of Bucci typically takes a bit of cellaring to really perform, yet the 2018 is already showing quite well today. That said, losing some bottles in the cellar for a few years certainly won’t hurt. This is a unique vintage for this wine, but one that really shouldn’t be missed. Drinking window: 2023 – 2028

#65 Top 100 Wines of 2022

“Made with 100% Pinot Nero and packaged in a unique, square-bottomed bottle, this lovely sparkling rosato offers alluring scents of red woodland berry, botanical herb and brioche. Dry and tangy, the elegant palate features juicy pomegranate, red cherry and baking spice alongside a hint of orange drop. Bright acidity and a refined perlage provide balance and elegance.“

#31 Top 100 of 2022

An intriguing note of orange peel joins black cherry, blackberry, wild rosemary and iron flavors in this sleek, firmly structured red. There’s drive and energy from the vibrant acidity, along with a solid base of refined tannins, making this a compelling wine with fine potential ahead. Shows terrific length. Sangiovese and Colorino. Best from 2023 through 2040. 750 cases made, 400 cases imported. —BS