RED WINE - 2017

Pomerol - LIMITED
2 BOTTLES reamin at timne of offer
The 2017 L'Évangile, 100% Merlot for this first time, is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Dark, sumptuous and wonderfully inviting, the 2017 has so much to offer. Dark fruit, spice, mocha, leather and licorice infuse the 2017 with notable depth. Time in the glass brings out lovely aromatic top notes that add freshness. A rapturously beautiful wine, L'Évangile is stellar. Frost wiped out half of the potential crop, including all of the Cabernet Franc, which means the Grand Vin is 100% Merlot. Technical Director Jean Pascal Vazart opted for gentle pumpovers and longer extractions than normal. (97) ANTONIO GALLONI

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 
7 BOTTLES remin at time of offer
Nicolas Audebert and his team have done it again. The 2017 Canon is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Rich and vertical in construction, the 2017 possesses off-the-charts richness and intensity in all of its dimensions. In the glass, the 2017 is sumptuous and layered, with superb detail and tons of sheer pedigree. In 20 years, readers will have a fabulous time tasting the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 together and debating their respective merits. Dark plum fruit, striking Franc aromatics and the clean, focused energy of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau make for a ravishing, exquisite wine of the highest level. In a word: breathtaking. (97) ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2017 Canon was bottled on 15 May, 2019. This needs time to settle in the glass, the oak rather vocal at this early stage and overshadowing the blackberry and briary aromas. It only takes a couple of minutes for this Saint-Émilion to settle and reveal more limestone-infused fruit that really shows its terroir. The palate is very well defined with crunchy black fruit. I appreciate the chalky texture and freshness of this Canon, almost brittle, with blackberry and brine-like notes on the finish. Whilst not up there with the superlative 2016, the follow-up is still very fine. Note that over multiple tasting this Canon improved between September and December. (95) NEAL MARTIN

Saint-Estèphe 2ème Cru Classé 
13 BOTTLE remain at time of offer

Extremely aromatic with currant, wild-herb and fresh-violet aromas. This is regal cabernet sauvignon at its finest. The palate has unwaveringly long and defined tannins that carry such fresh, piercingly pure, redcurrant and cassis flavors. A twin to the superb 2015? A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.(97) JAMES SUCKLING

The 2017 Montrose is a very pretty, polished wine that speaks much more to finesse than power. Expressive floral and spices notes add an attractive inner sweetness to a Montrose that in 2017 leans more into the red fruit spectrum. Gracious yet deep, with terrific overall balance, the 2017 Montrose is a total winner. What impresses most about the 2017 is its freshness and sophistication. I won't be surprised if Montrose turns out to be even better than this note suggests further down the road. Graphite, licorice, menthol and sage lead to a finish with real grip and freshness. The 2017 is such a classy and promising wine. (95+) ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2017 Montrose was so impressive from barrel and now, bottled since July, it continues to put in a strong case for being one of the best Left Bank wines. It has a very pure and intoxicating bouquet with intense blackberry, light cassis, juniper and violet aromas, almost Margaux-like in terms of personality. Although there is a patina of new oak after bottling, it is in sync with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip on the entry. Tightly wound at the moment but supremely well focused, this is a classic Montrose, "cool" and reserved, demonstrating impressive tension and precision towards the finish. It will require less time in bottle than the 2016 for example, so broach this superb Saint-Estèphe after five or six years and then it will give 25 to 30 years of drinking pleasure, and knowing Montrose, probably longer. Tasted twice with consistent notes. (95) NEAL MARTIN

Pomerol

Just as it was en primeur, the 2017 Vieux Château Certan is regal and soaring right out of the glass. Inky blue and purplish fruit, chocolate, licorice, lavender, spice and mint come together in a dense, dark and powerful Pomerol. The 2017 is an explosive, vivid wine of monastic beauty. In this vintage, VCC is especially dark and somber, which adds to a real feeling of mysterious beauty. It is a towering achievement from Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont.. (98) ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

2 BOTTLES AVAILABLE
Saint-Estèphe 2ème Cru Classé 
Extremely aromatic with currant, wild-herb and fresh-violet aromas. This is regal cabernet sauvignon at its finest. The palate has unwaveringly long and defined tannins that carry such fresh, piercingly pure, redcurrant and cassis flavors. A twin to the superb 2015? A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.(97) JAMES SUCKLING

The 2017 Montrose is a very pretty, polished wine that speaks much more to finesse than power. Expressive floral and spices notes add an attractive inner sweetness to a Montrose that in 2017 leans more into the red fruit spectrum. Gracious yet deep, with terrific overall balance, the 2017 Montrose is a total winner. What impresses most about the 2017 is its freshness and sophistication. I won't be surprised if Montrose turns out to be even better than this note suggests further down the road. Graphite, licorice, menthol and sage lead to a finish with real grip and freshness. The 2017 is such a classy and promising wine. (95+) ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2017 Montrose was so impressive from barrel and now, bottled since July, it continues to put in a strong case for being one of the best Left Bank wines. It has a very pure and intoxicating bouquet with intense blackberry, light cassis, juniper and violet aromas, almost Margaux-like in terms of personality. Although there is a patina of new oak after bottling, it is in sync with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip on the entry. Tightly wound at the moment but supremely well focused, this is a classic Montrose, "cool" and reserved, demonstrating impressive tension and precision towards the finish. It will require less time in bottle than the 2016 for example, so broach this superb Saint-Estèphe after five or six years and then it will give 25 to 30 years of drinking pleasure, and knowing Montrose, probably longer. Tasted twice with consistent notes. (95) NEAL MARTIN

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Red berries, dried mint and aniseed, baking spice, roses. It's silty and slinky, with pumice stone tannin, a sort of volcanic feel, squishy strawberry and spice, juicy acidity, and a long finish, orange peel and perfume to close. Has a bit of an Etna rosso character to it, or so I think. Strange, but true. Such a good drink.GARY WALSH,  www.winefront.com.au

Full shimmering ruby. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe boysenberry, Chambord and Asian spices, and a sexy floral nuance gains strength with air. Sweet and seamless on the palate, displaying a suave blend of power and delicacy to the concentrated red and blue fruit, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors. Shows impressive energy and a mineral quality on the gently tannic, penetrating finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-driven tenacity. JOSH RAYNOLDS

Immediately a sense of darker fruit in this vintage. The nose has closed up a little since tasting in barrel. It has some reserved, sanguine notes and an essence-like raspberry core. Some stones and chalk here, too. Very long and focused palate. The grenache is singing here. Dense but soft and supple tannins, the product of thick, healthy skins. Best from 2025. JAMES SUCKLING

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

This is a brilliant joint venture between Dennis Roman, importer and sommelier and friend, third generation Bordelais winemaker Julien Mingo. Their aim to make a kick-ass Malbec that was awesome value and delicious - nailed it!

The Rendez-Vous Malbec is full of up-front fruit and boysenberry goodness. It's soft and supple with a core of sweet blackberry and plum fruit with a spray of fine, powdery tannins. There is a touch of savoury herb and a wonderful sweet-spice finish that lingers. It's all put together nicely and a little bottle age gives it a little extra dimension that you do not often see at this price.

Rose, violet and perfumed berry aromas lead the nose followed by whiffs of camphor and culinary spice. Full bodied, supremely elegant and surprisingly fresh for the hot vintage, the savory palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. Drink 2022–2032. (95) KERRIN O'KEEFE, www.wineentusiast.com

The south-facing Nervo vineyard is located at an altitude of over 300 metres, which may account for its elegance. Ernesto Dellapiana and his son Enrico produce wines with a light touch, and their Nervo is aged in concrete tanks as well as casks. The red-fruit nose is intense and pure, and the attack supple and silky. There's a taut structure here, and fine acidity that keeps it lively and peppery. This wine is marked by energy, stylishness, and persistence. STEPHEN BROOK, Decanter

Forman's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. Rich and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2017 has gorgeous depth and a touch of exoticism that is so appealing. Ripe red berry fruit, floral overtones and a touch of spice are all laced together. Just bottled, the 2017 is super impressive, even in the early going. This is an especially racy style for Ric Forman, and yet he clearly got every ounce of potential out of the year. 95 + ANTONIO GALLONI

This is 100% merlot from a 1.5 hectare vineyard located in Montravel, a sub-region of Bergerac.
The grapes are hand harvested in small lug boxes, in the cellar the bunches are destemmed and the fruits selected one by one by hand. The must is then macerated in micro oxygenated tanks, pump over every six hours, alcoholic and malolactic fermentations done in temperature controlled tanks. Aged for fourteen months on fine lees in 1/3 new and 2/3 one year old oak barrels.

This is terrific Merlot - there is even greater vibrancy and verve to the 2017 then the 2016. the fruit is pure and ripe with fresh picked plum and red cherry fruit. Some classy oak wraps gently around some pretty and lifted violet notes. and red fruits. This has plenty of fleshy fruit but in a compact and vibrant frame. There aint much merlo like this in Aus. PWS

7 BOTTLE AVAILABLE

The 2017 Barolo EnPiasì is such a pleasure to taste. A whole range of floral and savory nuances open first, suggesting the presence of whole clusters, even though the wine is made entirely from grapes that have been destemmed by hand. Silky, nuanced and beautifully persistent in the glass, the 2017 is a Barolo of pure and total finesse. I would prefer to drink it over the next 10-15 years, a bit of youthful Nebbiolo tannin notwithstanding, as it would be a shame to miss out on the extraordinary purity of fruit that is present at this stage. ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

The 2017 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is a dark, mysterious wine. Black cherry, menthol, tobacco, licorice, spice, new leather and pine meld together in a super-classic expression of Ginestra. Deep, rich and enveloping, the 2017 is so impressive in the early going. Here, too, the finesse of the tannins is remarkable. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com

Mauro Veglio's property in Paiagallo is at mid-altitude in what is called Vigna San Sebastiano, bordering Terlo, to which it is closer in style than the opposite side of the MGA. Garnet in colour, it has notes of watermelon, earthy strawberry and lemon leaf. Elegance and freshness prevail over the powerful palate. Nevertheless, it is full bodied, well extracted and with sweet tannins. Citrus notes and liquorice emerge on the finish. ALDO FIORDELLI, www.decanter.com

The 2017 Barolo Paiagallo is the most open and racy of Veglio's 2017. Ripe red cherry, kirsch, dried flowers, orange peel and cinnamon all develop as the 2017 opens in the glass. This is an especially ripe, forward Barolo, but it also has a bit better balance in its tannins. ANTONIO GALLONI

In this wine you glimpse the future of the estate. The lack of smaller oak here reveals a more open profile of red fruits, florals and fruit tannins (not oak tannins) which give life and an entirely different shape to the structural profile. The tannins are saturated and enlivening. I simply love this wine and it occurs to me it's the kind of wine which is the reason you drink Barolo. MICHAEL MCNAMARA, PWS

Vietti's 2017 Barolo Lazzarito is absolutely gorgeous. Whatever the challenges of the growing season, they appear to have been no problem here. More than anything else, the Lazzarito impresses with its magnificent depth and stature. Super-ripe red fruit, white pepper, mint, tobacco, cured meat, spice and rose petal open gradually with time in the glass. I would not be in a rush to open bottles anytime soon. The Lazzarito has been one of the most improved wines at Vietti for a number of years. The 2017 is so captivating. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com

The 2017 Barolo Ravera is a powerhouse. My impression is that the 2017 is going to develop into something truly special. It has all the energy that makes this site so distinctive, but with an extra kick of fruit density and a whole range of exotic aromatics that make for a truly drop dead gorgeous wine. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, chalk and white pepper build into a finish laced with searing intensity. This is such and impressive wine. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

It’s from such an unusual/cold/late season that shiraz was picked four weeks later than average.

It’s a peppery, twiggy, bunchy shiraz. It smells, feels and tastes like the result of a cool season. This wine will split drinkers down the middle. It’s smoky, herbal, berried, smooth-skinned and stringy at once. It both walks the tightrope and is one. There are menthol, alpine herb, walnut and peppercorn characters here in abundance. There are also substantial ropes of well-placed tannin. It’s a medium-bodied wine with a great deal to say. CAMMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

What can we say about this wonderful producer? Nothing that hasn't already been said. The consistency and quality is really quite astonishing and with Adama Wadawitz at the winemaking helm this a trend that will continue its upward trajectory. Their secret has been to continually improve and tweak the operations and that shows in every bottle. One of Australia's great estates. PWS

The 2017 Barolo Margheria is a compelling, multi-faceted Barolo loaded with personality. Sage, mint, lavender, spice, iron and red/purplish berry fruit grace this firm, classically built Barolo. This translucent, taut Barolo has so much to offer, but it also needs time to soften. Readers will find a terrific example of Margheria. ANTONIO GALLONI

1 BOTTLE AVAILABLE
Saturated ruby. Ripe black raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by suggestions of cracked pepper, allspice and pungent flowers. Supple, appealingly sweet red and blue fruit preserve flavors gain energy with air, and a bright mineral element adds back-end lift. Supple tannins add shape to a persistent, floral-accented finish, which leaves cherry and spice notes behind. JOSH RAYNOLDS, Vinous

Black cherry and berry aromas with some flowers, such as lavender, follow through to a full body with firm, racy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. The quality of the tannins is fantastic in this 2017. Drink after 2023. (96) JAMES SUCKLING

70%Cab. Sav. 30% Sangiovese.The 2017 Camartina is going to need a few years to open. That will be helpful as the wine ages, but it also means the Camartina does not have the opulence readers are likely to expect in this warm, dry year. Time in the glass brings out brighter tonalities of fruit and floral overtones that give a good idea to where the 2017 is heading. Readers should be in no rush here. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

The Siro Pacenti 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli is a robust and powerful expression with dark fruit nuances that transition to a dense core and a tightly woven inner fabric with more enriched black fruit and spice. Pelagrilli has a beautifully soft and open-knit character, and the tannins are well managed to show no rough edges or bitterness. What stands out best in this wine is the sheer density. Built like a tank, it will embrace long cellar aging. 25,000 bottles were produced. MONICA LARNER, Wine Advocate

The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne presents an intense bouquet of crushed raspberries and cloves giving way to dusty florals and hints of incense. The textures are wonderfully silky and refined, ushering in a rush of mineral-tinged primary fruits that are brighter and more red-toned in this vintage than usual, as well as incredibly concentrated. The tannins come forward through the close, grippy and youthfully dry, along with a salty flourish, while leaving hints of licorice to slowly taper off. Siro Pacenti cut their production down by 50% to create this successful expression of the 2017 vintage. ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

This is one of my all-time favorite Brunellos, and although personal tastes are fluid and may change from time to time, there is something timeless and solid about this wine. It's like a touchstone. The Casanova di Neri 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is graced with a similar interlude of elegant rose or crushed flower that we saw in the annata wine. It appears more prominently here, and with more shape and focused intensity. Make no mistake, Giacomo Neri builds wines for pleasure and sensual impact, and this wine ticks all those boxes. But it also shows floral elegance and sour cherry freshness that defies our expectations of the vintage. (96) MONICA LARNER, www.robertparker.com

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

With the first tilt of the glass, you know that this is not your average 2017 Brunello di Montalcino. An enthralling bouquet of spiced citrus peels, roses, sour cherries, crushed rocks and animal musk keeps you at the edge of your seat. This is remarkably pure and delicate, seeming to hover across the palate, yet delivering a vivid mix of ripe wild berries, salty minerals and purple-tinged florals. Beneath, saturated tannins build, yet the expression remains fresh - almost mouthwatering, in fact - as sweet hints of plum and tobacco slowly fade. While the Baricci family doesn't market their wine as a cru, this is indeed 100% Montosoli fruit from one of the region's top winemaking families. Bravo. ERIC GUIDO, vinous.com

The soil is made up of expandable clay rocks very rich in limestone. The vineyard, situated at 420 metres of altitude with a slope of 25%, is cultivated with a cordon spur training system and has a density of 5.000 plants per hectar. Vigna Quintodecimo is a fine balance of small fruits, floreal notes and spices. Seductive class and aromatic intensity is complemented by savory tannins and well expressed in a profound and refined style. It is a wine of extraordinary richness and elegance that reaches its peak within the first twenty years and still retains its character for many years after. LUIGI MOIO, quintodecimo

The soil, created by ashes and pumices, is volcanic, without limestone, well drained, deep and with rough texture. These conditions allow an elevated availability of oxygen for the roots. The vineyard, situated at 440 metres of altitude with a slope of 15%, has a density of 5.000 plants per hectar and is cultivated with a cordon spur training system. Vigna Grande Cerzito is characterized by refined flavours of cherry, plum and chocolate and by a full and delicate structure. Great longevity, it becomes even more delicate and elegant with the passing of the years complementing with fresh notes of mint, eucalyptus and incense. LUIGI MOIO, quintodecimo

Here's a nice Sangiovese to serve with an appetizer of wild mushroom pâté spread over slices of freshly baked whole wheat bread. The Poggio Scalette 2017 Il Carbonaione is a sultry and rich wine from a hot vintage. Fruit in 2017 is dark and ripe, but more importantly, the vintage delivers extra concentration and textural fiber because of the lack of rain and moisture for most of the summer. This wine shows lots of rich and concentrated fruit at its core, with lighter touches of baked terracotta, toasted spice and iron ore. You might be surprised by a floral tone of violet and dried lavender that pops up on the close. MONICA LARNER, Wine Advocate

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

The 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is a new wine in this range done in a super-classic style that saw 45 days on the skins, with submerged cap fermentation, an approach most often associated with old school Piedmont wines. The purity of the Sangiovese fruit is simply mind-blowing. Fine-grained tannins and an impossibly persistent finish round thins out in style. The new Gran Selezione is one of the most compelling young wines I have ever tasted at Querciabella. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

Attractive cassis and ripe purple fruit with a wealth of blueberries and hints of cola nuts. The palate has a juicy feel with exceptional depth, length and a complete tannin texture. Really seamless and long. Excellent cabernet. Drink or hold. JAMES SUCKLING

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

I always think this site suffers a little from the "Rousseau Effect" - not that Rousseau, the Domaine - in that it doesn't seem to be lavished with attention from the consumers as does its neighbour Clos St Jacques. Though the vineyards are, in my mind, potentially equal. In the right hands Cazetieres is a superb Premier Cru and is often one of the best wines produced at Faiveley.

Here the wood regimen is no longer subtle though it stops short of masking the beautifully layered aromas of plum, spice, dark currant and freshly turned earth. The highly energetic and delineated middle weight plus flavors exude noticeable minerality on the powerful and focused finish that displays outstanding depth and persistence. Moreover, the finish really fans out as it sits on the palate. "Sweet Spot, Outstanding" BURGHOUND

The 2017 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers comes from Faiveley's substantial four-hectare parcel. I find this has more gumption and detail than the Lavaux Saint-Jacques at the moment. The nose features layers of blackberry, raspberry and crushed stone aromas, and the sweet, candied palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin. Blood orange and quince infuse the red fruit toward the finish. Excellent. NEAL MARTIN

Since the takeover of Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot, Faiveley now have 4ha of Cazetiers spread across numerous plots. Rich dense purple with a heady nose of riper fruit including some black notes. Juicy dark raspberry notes, well spread across the palate, a few minerals at the back. Love the aftertaste (95) JASPER MORRIS MW

Ooh, deep, aromatic, complex, oaked. Full but fresh, mobile, good but not excessive energy - it's a new barrel so there's some of that too - but this is really a great wine, textured, and delicious. A wall of finishing flavour. BILL NANSON

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Salvioni remains one of the crown jewels of Montalcino. A recent vertical of the estate's wine back to the inaugural 1985 are a poignant reminder of how great these artisan, hand crafted wine are, even in less heralded vintages...These remain some of the most distinctive, pure wines made in Montalcino today...

The Salvioni family and their wines embody the essence of what makes artisan Brunello so special. Totally hand made, from the vineyard to the cellar and into the bottle, these wines have much more in common with the great reds of Piedmont and Burgundy than they do with the vast majority of what comes out of Montalcino these days. ANTONIO GALLONI

Salvioni's Brunello is a beautifully limpid ruby in colour, rather than saturated. Pretty scents of strawberry, rose and tea escape on an earthy backdrop. The palate is effortless and weightless, yet replete with dusty cherry and raspberry, while terracotta-textured tannins wrap around juicy nectarine flesh. The focus at Salvioni is one single wine - this Brunello, which is produced from the estate's four hectares in Montalcino's southeast. In years when quantities permit, like 2016, Salvioni also releases a Rosso. DECANTER

Roses upon roses, wild strawberries, dusty cedar spice box, mint leaf and a hint of wet stone open the stage for the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino from Salvioni. This is beauty personified in wine, and it's completely atypical for the harshly warm and dry vintage conditions. It fleshes out across the palate like fine silk, concentrated and poised, yet without a hard edge in sight, as cherries and plums give way to mounting minerality and sweet tannins toward the close. The 2017 boasts a crystalline structure and dramatic inner floral perfumes, as hints of cranberry and clove taper off. While this may not show the impeccable grace of the most classic vintages, it's a darling all the same and has medium-term cellaring potential. ERIC GUIDO, www.vinousmedia.com