2019 Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri DOC
The 2019 Serre Nuove displays the precision and polish of a strong Bolgheri vintage, shaped by clarity rather than excess. The nose opens with ripe black cherry, cassis, and plum, layered with cedar, graphite, and a subtle note of Mediterranean herbs. There is an underlying coolness to the aromatics that keeps the wine focused and composed.
On the palate, the wine is supple and finely balanced. Dark fruit unfolds smoothly across polished tannins, while fresh acidity adds lift and definition. Notes of cocoa, sweet spice, and a gentle savoury edge appear with air, lending depth without weight. The finish is long and measured, lingering on dark berries and mineral tones. A refined, confident expression of Serre Nuove, offering both immediate pleasure and structure for the years ahead.
2018 Morey-Saint-Denis Aux Petits Moix Domaine Stephane Magnien
The 2018 Aux Petits Moix is a quietly expressive Morey-Saint-Denis, marked by purity and gentle depth. The nose reveals red cherry, raspberry, and rose petal, underpinned by forest floor, dried herbs, and a faint mineral note. There is a natural ease to the aromatics, unforced and finely detailed.
On the palate, the wine is supple and fluid, its red fruit carried by fresh acidity that keeps the wine light on its feet. Tannins are silky and discreet, giving shape without interrupting the wine’s graceful line. Savoury and floral nuances emerge as it opens, leading to a balanced, persistent finish marked by red fruit and soft earth. A refined and honest expression of Morey-Saint-Denis, elegant rather than demonstrative.
1982 Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo Angelo Gaja
The 1982 Sorì San Lorenzo is a wine of profound maturity and quiet authority. The nose is deeply complex, offering dried cherry, rose petal, leather, and truffle, layered with notes of tobacco, balsamic herbs, and warm earth. There is a remarkable sense of harmony, where evolution has added nuance rather than fatigue.
On the palate, the wine moves with graceful ease. The tannins have softened into a seamless texture, allowing flavours of dried red fruit, savoury spice, and mineral tones to unfold effortlessly. Acidity remains vibrant, giving the wine lift and freshness despite its age. The finish is long and resonant, echoing dried flowers, tea leaf, and stone. A hauntingly elegant Barbaresco, expressive of both place and time.
2014 Solaia Marchesi Antinori
The 2014 Solaia reflects the intelligence of its making in a challenging vintage, favouring balance and finesse over power. The nose is cool and refined, with blackcurrant, sour cherry, and violet framed by graphite, cedar, and subtle herbal notes. The aromatics unfold slowly, inviting contemplation rather than immediacy.
On the palate, the wine is sleek and linear, its fruit precise and lifted by vibrant acidity. Tannins are finely woven, giving structure without weight, while flavours of dark berries, tobacco, and gentle spice emerge with clarity. The finish is long and composed, marked by freshness and restraint. A thoughtful, nuanced Solaia — less opulent than warmer years, but deeply expressive in its precision and poise.
