2016 Barolo Clerico
A vintage that has already become a reference point in Piedmont, and Clerico’s interpretation is textbook Barolo at once muscular and refined. The nose rises with dark cherries, dried roses, and the faint bitterness of iron-rich earth. On the palate, the tannins are formidable yet polished, coiling around flavors of black tea, licorice, and truffle. There’s a stern backbone here that demands patience, but beneath it a profound grace is emerging, the kind that only Nebbiolo can muster. 91 corked Points
2022 Chianti Classico Berardenga, Felsina
From one of Tuscany’s most reliable houses, the 2022 is a reminder that even in warm years Fèlsina manages to hold onto authenticity and poise. The wine greets you with fresh sour cherries, violets, and a trace of tobacco leaf. The palate is taut, driven by Sangiovese’s trademark acidity, with flavors of red currant, crushed herbs, and a faint saline note that keeps it wonderfully savory. This is classic Chianti Classico—energetic, food-friendly, and deeply rooted in Berardenga’s soils. 90 corked Points
2014 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers
From a challenging Burgundy vintage comes a lesson in the value of great terroir. Les Cazetiers, perched high above the village, has yielded a wine of unexpected clarity. Aromas of wild raspberries, damp earth, and forest floor unfold with quiet insistence. The palate is delicate but not weak: silken textures carry red fruit, rose petal, and subtle spice. The finish lingers with a mineral coolness, almost chalky, a sign of resilience and elegance in the face of adversity. 89 corked Points
2019 Brunello di Montalcino, Cerbaiona
Cerbaiona remains one of Montalcino’s cult names, and the 2019 proves why. The wine is a study in precision and tension: brooding aromas of black cherry, cedar, and balsamic herbs give way to a palate of striking depth. Tannins are finely grained yet authoritative, balanced by an acidity that feels like a mountain stream. Flavors of dried fig, blood orange, and crushed stone give the wine both gravitas and vibrancy. A Brunello that speaks softly but commands absolute attention. 89 corked Points
2015 Barolo La Serra, Voerzio
Voerzio’s La Serra is as much sculpture as wine—something chiseled from the Langhe hillsides. The 2015 vintage delivers richness without excess. The nose is full of violets, tar, and sweet spice, while the palate is dense with dark plums, espresso, and graphite. The tannins are firm but polished, more architectural than aggressive. There’s an almost weightless finish, carried by lifted acidity, making this one of those Barolos that will only grow in complexity with time. 91 corked Points
2018 Solaia
Antinori’s iconic blend is unabashedly international yet unmistakably Tuscan, and the 2018 vintage underscores restraint over power. The bouquet is perfumed with cassis, graphite, and hints of sage and mint. The palate offers plush black fruit wrapped in velvet tannins, punctuated by notes of cocoa, cedar, and pencil shavings. What might have been a show of muscle in hotter years is here an exercise in finesse: balance, harmony, and a finish that glides rather than roars. 93 corked Points
