2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva (Magnum), López de Heredia
From magnum, the 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva breathes with the timeless rhythm of Rioja Alta. The nose is an intricate tapestry of dried cherry, orange peel, tobacco leaf, and polished cedar — an aromatic world shaped by patience and air. On the palate, the wine is both delicate and commanding, with flavours of red fruit, sweet spice, and worn leather unfolding through a web of fine acidity. The texture is silken yet nervy, the finish long and savoury, echoing dried herbs and subtle oxidation. In magnum, the energy feels amplified — a living expression of tradition, vibrant and serene in equal measure.
2018 Barbaresco Pajè, Roagna
The 2018 Pajè from Roagna captures Nebbiolo in its most articulate form — transparent yet intense, structured yet whispering. Aromas of wild strawberry, rose petal, and crushed stone rise slowly, layered with iron and fresh herbs. The palate is taut and vertical, its fruit bright but tightly coiled around the tannic spine. Every detail feels etched — acidity gliding through flavours of pomegranate, blood orange, and mineral dust. It finishes with haunting persistence, a quiet vibration of energy and earth. A wine that reveals more in silence than in speech, built for long contemplation.
2006 Solaia, Antinori
The 2006 Solaia stands tall — dark, polished, and resonant. The bouquet unfolds with blackcurrant, graphite, violet, and sweet tobacco, the oak deeply woven into the fabric of the wine. On the palate, it’s broad and muscular yet impeccably balanced, the fruit ripe but never heavy. Layers of cassis, plum, and spice unfold with effortless precision, guided by vibrant acidity and fine tannins that carry the wine to a finish of enduring poise. Mature now but still youthful in its composure, the 2006 remains one of Solaia’s grand statements — powerful but quietly refined.
2011 Masseto, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia
The 2011 Masseto is a portrait of generosity shaped by discipline. The nose is opulent yet poised — ripe blackberry, cocoa, cedar, and dried violets swirling in harmonious depth. On the palate, the texture is velvet-like, expansive but controlled, each layer of dark fruit lifted by subtle minerality and freshness. There’s a luxurious calm in the structure, tannins polished to silk but still firmly in command. The finish is deep and resonant, a slow exhale of fruit and spice. This is Merlot with Italian composure — bold, sensual, and perfectly measured.
2016 Château Talbot, Saint-Julien
The 2016 Talbot shows the best of the vintage — classical, complete, and effortlessly balanced. Aromas of blackcurrant, graphite, and cedar flow with clarity, touched by hints of violets and cigar box. The palate is linear and precise, the fruit pure and cool, framed by fine, chalky tannins. It moves with quiet confidence — deep yet never dense, structured yet fluid. The finish lingers with notes of cassis, gravel, and savoury spice. A timeless Saint-Julien, elegant in its restraint, built for decades but graceful already.
