Acclaim

A deep dark red with orange hues, the 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva makes an impactful statement from start to finish. There are depths of crushed black cherries, plums, strawberries, sweet spices and mentholated herbs which rise up effortlessly from the glass. Further coaxing adds notes of cedar, dusty rose and hints of animal musk. It’s silky in feel yet quickly firms up through a mix of tart red berries, minerals, zesty acids and an unbelievably youthful coating of tannin which mounts toward the close. The 2001 Riserva is still on a steady path to its peak, structured and primary, as it tapers off with a grippy feel under an air of inner florals. Sampled from the winery’s cellar. Drinking window: 2022 – 2034

The 2001 Costanti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva displays a rich, autumnal and sweetly alluring bouquet. It shows ripe black cherries dipped in dark chocolate, with spice orange peel, hints of brown sugar and candied ginger. It’s ripe and extroverted on the nose, as silky textures flesh out across the palate delivering pure red fruits with inner rose, framed by saline-minerals and brisk acids. The finish is long and focused on tension, tugging at the cheeks with residual tannins. While there is already a good amount of pleasure to be found here, it appears that this 2001 Brunello needs more time to fully resolve its tannins, and I have to wonder if the fruit is up to the test of time. Tasted from my own collection held in professional storage. Drinking window: 2021 – 2028

The 2019 Pinot Grigio Ramato delle Venezie is packed full of character, showing a pretty pink hue, and wafting up refreshing aromas of nectarine, lime zest and nuances of spice. It’s silky and textural yet also full of lively energy, as tart orchard fruits and juicy acids create a mouthwatering expression. This finishes long, layered yet wonderfully fresh, with salty minerals, green apple, inner florals and a twang of sour citrus. Drinking window: 2021 – 2025 – Eric Guido

There’s something musky and sweetly inviting about the 2017 Soave Superiore Runcata 1er that keeps you coming back to the glass. This 100% Garganega lifts up with rich hazelnut, dried apricots, pears and baked apple. It’s silky-smooth and medium-bodied, yet there’s plenty of acid to maintain balance, as tart orchard fruits give way to salty mineral underpinnings and hints of roasted almond. A sour citrus twang and hints of savory herbs linger as the mouth waters for more. This shows the warmth of the vintage, yet it remains wonderfully balanced throughout. Drinking window: 2021 – 2026 – Eric Guido

The 2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sant’Urbano is lifted and floral, pulling you close to the glass with a gorgeous display of blackberries and cherries complemented by fresh mint and lavender. It’s silky in texture, contrasted by a savory mix of wild berries, woodland herbs and salty minerals. This is full of energy with a mentholated freshness, tapering off to notes of tart raspberry and sour citrus. You’d never expect that this wonderfully lifted and balanced Valpolicella was the result of a warm, dry vintage.  Drinking window: 2022 – 2028 – Eric Guido

The 2018 Valpolicella Classico Superiore La Roverina impresses with a display of musky cherries and raspberries before opening further to reveal pretty violet florals. It’s soft and juicy, mixing tart red berries and minerals with vibrant acids, coming across as more savory than sweet. The wonderfully fresh finale showcases cooling herbal tones and a subtle hint of citrus. Very nice. Drinking window: 2021 – 2025 – Eric Guido

The 2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore La Roverina shows a bit more of a warm vintage character, with intense dark red and black fruits given lift through mentholated herbal tones. It’s fleshy and enveloping, with depths of wild berry fruits and spices enlivened by brisk acidity. While a bit shorter than I’d expect, this tapers off clean and refreshing. Drinking window: 2021 – 2024 – Eric Guido

While the 2017 is all about power, the 2018 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso is deeply alluring yet lifted and spry. A beautifully perfumed mix of violets, roses, sage, white pepper and crushed blackberries forms in the glass. The textures are silky, yet this is wonderfully juicy in feel, with sour cherry and zesty citrus giving way to inner herbal tones. Nuanced tannins linger, framing the expression nicely, as residual acids keep the mouth watering for more. I seldom find myself using the word “delectable” to describe a Ripasso, but that’s exactly what this is. Drinking window: 2022 – 2030 – Eric Guido

The 2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso is spicy and savory in the glass, with a dark and inviting display of sage and mint giving way to crushed wild berries. It’s deeply textural yet also full of nervous tension, as salty minerals and blackberries are brought to life by zesty acids, forming a note of purple inner florals toward the close. Although finishing amazingly fresh, there’s a coating of subtle tannins and fruit concentrate that clings to the senses. Give the 2017 another year of cellaring to show its best. Drinking window: 2022 – 2028 – Eric Guido

The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant’Urbano takes some time to blossom in the glass, as mineral-tinged blackberry evolves into a display of currants and cherries complemented by hints of sweet mint, lavender and violets. It’s velvety in texture and savory to the core, coasting dark red and black fruits across a medium-bodied frame, contrasted by vibrant acids, as grippy tannins form up toward the close. This finishes youthfully structured yet amazingly long, with echoes of licorice and purple inner florals. The 2016 is geared for the cellar, and in need of some time to soften, but my expectations are very high. Drinking window: 2025 – 2040 – Eric Guido