Italian Wine Course Week 1 Wines

A more serious Prosecco with peaches, grapefruit, chopped apples and wet stones on the nose. It’s focused, dry and bright with a refined mineral edge. Lively bubbles. Drink now. JAMES SUCKLING

Ruby red with first garnet reflections. Intense, fine bouquet - preserved cherries, rosehip, cinnamon, a hint of oriental spices and the typical slate minerality of the site. Dense and silky on the palate, with a remarkably integrated tannin structure for this vintage. The finesse carries. The finish - long, savoury, salty - is the silent argument in favour of Le Lucére 2018: elegance that gets to the point. SUPERIORE

The 2018 is the most elegant and effortlessly balanced wine I have tasted from this estate. It opens with attractive scents of cinnamon, violets and rosemary and has an impressive concentration of wild berry flavours, but is not heavy. The integrated acidity gives the wine the right support, and the tannins are long and fine, adding texture and shape. The best is yet to come. MICHAELA MORRIS, decanter.com

Le Lucére, the usual expression of the substance that characterises the wines of San Filippo, in a vintage that displays a beautiful opulence. Notes of Vignola cherries on the nose, a hint of rhubarb and undergrowth, with a finish of wild mint. Juicy tannins in the mouth, with a return of fruit and undergrowth. LUCA GARDINI

Already complex and open, with aromas of slate, dried rosemary, grilled sage, lemon peel, sour cherries and cardamom. Smooth and full-bodied with supple and fine tannins. I like the undertones of olive pits and herbs. Powerful, mineral finish. Try after 2025. JAMES SUCKLING

The 2017 Schioppettino di Cialla is wildly spicy and fresh, with an intense burst of peppery rose and smokey raspberry offset by a dusting of savory spice. This is silky-smooth and sapid with masses of mineral-tinged dark red fruits offset by zesty acidity. It finishes potent with a staining of primary concentration and a coating of sweet tannins. What a beauty, and with the potential for a very long life. In 2017, Ronchi di Cialla lost 30% of their production due to frost at the end of April. Eric Guido, Vinous

The 2020 Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Cannubi is fragrant, juicy and delicious, delivering aromas and flavors of succulent Marasca cherry, strawberry compote, licorice, crushed mint and tobacco. Velvety tannins provide seamless support. It's a great expression of the site's combination of elegance and structure. KERIN OKEEFE

The Alfieri estate has an extraordinary history begining in 1616 when Carlo Emanuele I of Savoy granted Urbano Alfieri the fiefdom of San Martino, progressing through the ages tunil 1988 when three sisters Emanuela, Antonella and Giovanna take over the winery following their father's passing. Since 1990 when the first 10,000 bottles of Marchesi Alfieri were produced, the sisters have persistently invested in improving the winemaking and viticultural excellence of the estate.

Made from 100% pinot noir fruit, first introduced into the Alfieri estate in the mid-19th century. Fermentation is done in bottle and the wines sits on lees for over two years. Dosage is only 4 grams, making the wine extremely dry and very fine. In a blind lineup, it would be difficult to pick this out from a set of Champagnes. PWS

Straw yellow color with light green highlights, fine and persistent perlage. Delicate aroma of citrus fruits melding with mineral hints of graphite and flint; eventually flowing into more persistent aromas of bread crust and yellow flowers. Soft and creamy on the palate with a long excellent finish. MARCHESI ALFIERI

Guido Porro remains one of the most underrated growers in Serralunga. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

They are traditionalist at heart employing large format oak, no fining or filtering nor any herbicides or pesticides in the vineyards. The approach across the board is thoughtful, deliberate and with a hands-off approach in the winery. The wines are all hand harvested with either concrete or stainless steel for fermentation.

Pear, apple, a little green herb, some perfume, candle wax and smoked almond. It’s medium-bodied, bright and has good flavour, though not too much, and it keeps itself trim with some light citrus bite, a slightly waxy texture, some chalkiness, and offers a finish of good length with some preserved lemon tang. It’s well-balanced and drinks very well. Nice. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Aluigi Campo ai Peri is 100% Sangiovese from a single vineyard in Panzano that faces Lamole. It spent two years in cask and a third year in a larger cask Rich, sumptuous and beautifully layered, the 2020 is all class, all refinement. Silky tannins, expressive red-toned Sangiovese fruit and lifted, soaring aromatics give the 2020 tons of finesse. This sensual Gran Selezione is lights out. (97) 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!

With vineyards tucked into Friuli's cool, forest-framed hillsides, Ronchi di Cialla crafts a Ribolla Gialla of clarity and elegance. Aromas of fresh melon, orchard fruit, and white flowers give way to a palate that is taut and mineral driven. Crisp acidity highlights the purity of the fruit, while subtle almond and wet stone notes lend complexity. Finishing long and refreshing, it's a superbly honest expression of this historic, local variety. PWS

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 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Ansari takes its time in the glass, initially darkly floral with an herbal tinge. Coaxing brings about an attractive blend of wild berries, violets and crushed stone. Silky and refined, this impresses with its perfect balance of ripe red and blue fruits offset by salty minerals and savory spice. Brisk acidity maintains a wonderfully fresh persona as the 2019 tapers off structured and long. Grippy tannins linger, and the mouth is left watering for more. (95) ERIC GUIDO, Vinous

The name is an acronym reflecting the names of the three siblings. Fine, pure fruit of the density and amplitude that one expects from Amarone. Yet the wine is impressively fresh, marked by a gorgeous skein of acidity that keeps it light on its feet while towing good, sappy length. A paradox of power and balletic detail, almost suggestive of a warm vintage Pinot such are the redder fruit allusions. Dangerously drinkable. An excellent, somewhat modern interpretation of Amarone. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. (95) NED GOODWIN, JamesSuckling.com

Sweet white flowers, chamomile and spice give way to crushed apples as the 2024 Etna Bianco Pietradolce wafts up from the glass. Pleasantly ripe in style, it splashes across the palate with crisp orchard fruits and minty herbal tones. This finishes with a sense of refinement as a tactile mineral tinge lingers. ERIC GUIDO

Coming from the northern slopes of Etna outside the vineyard, the 2024 Etna Bianco is raised without oak and is a pure expression. Pouring a medium yellow color, it reveals citrus oils and fresh sage, rosemary, and notes of white pineapple. Medium-bodied, it's pure and inviting, with a delicate salinity and a soft, stony texture. AUDREY FRICKE

Beautiful white from Carricante that captures the energy of Etna and reflects its essence. Sparkling lemon yellow with a drop of gold. Yellow stone fruit, mint, flowers and spice aromas on the nose. Complex flavour, full fruit and subtle minerality on the palate. Racy, delicately flavoured and sophisticated. SUPERIORE

100% Vernaccia with vineyards at altitude of 100/300m above sea level. Hand picked, softly pressed, fermentation in stainless steel tanks at temperatures under 20°C, light filtering and bottling. The refinement in bottle lasts at least 3 months.  

Straw yellow colour, floral and fruity notes. On the palate crisp and tasty with a lively acidity - FONTALEONI

Golden in colour. Grilled nectarines, ginger and tangerine mix with crushed rocks on the nose. Its flavoursome core flows nicely across the palate, there's just the right amount of flesh to minerally tension. Nectarines and ginger follow through on the core with an underlying simmer of minerally tension, signs off with a saline bite. Pass me the buffalo mozzarella please. GABRIELLE POY

Stylish and seductive, Querciabella’s 2022 leads with rooibos, mace and mocha atop dark red cherry. The palate is polished with sophisticated sweet oak spice tucked into the ripe and generous fruit core. Suede-like tannins expand, weaving smoothly throughout, while Sangiovese's brilliant acidity makes this sparkle. Splendid completeness and energy. Long-time winemaker Manfred Ing remains at the helm of production. DECANTER

Pouring a youthful jeweled ruby color, the 2022 Chianti Classico is entirely Sangiovese from Greve, Lamole, and Radda. (The producers have stopped using fruit from Gaiole in the blend, as they are concentrated on vines closer to home, including the higher elevation site in Lamole for freshness.) The nose is very pretty and fruity, with aromas of mixed berries, crushed flowers, and sweet earth. Medium to full-bodied, it’s elegant on the palate, with a fresh feel, fine tannins, and a refined texture. It is elegant all the way through and is going to offer a lot of pleasure over the next 10-12 years. JEB DUNNUCK

Deep ruby with orange tinges. Rich layered nose of cinnamon, marasca cherry and savoury spice notes. The fruit has a brooding intensity. Intense yet sleek with the perfect balance between cherry fruit and finely ground, chewy tannins. Will age well, no doubt. WALTER SPELLER, Jancis Robinson

This mid-weight, vibrant Chianti Classico has so much to offer. 
The 2022 Chianti Classico is a polished, sophisticated wine. Dark red cherry, plum, blood orange, spice, cedar and new leather are front and center. Medium in body and layered, with terrific depth, the 2022 is a delight. ANTONIO GALLONI

The wine has a pale ruby red color. The nose is ethereal and intense with hints of red fruits. The palate is dry and mineral with pleasant acidity and salinity, persistent and harmonious.

The 2023 Roero is a terrific entry-level offering from Correggia. Sweet red cherry, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, mint and dried herbs open first. It offers gorgeous mid-palate pliancy and fine balance, both especially of note given the challenges of the growing season. Quite simply, this is reference-point Nebbiolo from Roero. ANTONIO GALLONI

A bright ruby hue, the 2023 Roero offers an inviting aromatic profile in its notes of cranberries, raspberry seeds, dusty earth, graphite, and small purple flowers. Medium-bodied, it offers vibrant energy with well-defined, angular tannins and a mouthwatering finish. Early harvesting preserves freshness while maintaining ripeness and balance. Drink 2026-2036. 23,000 bottles were produced. AUDREY FRICKE

As the 2023 Pecorino Poggio Salaia blossoms in the glass, a delicate blend of crushed rocks and dusty sage gives way to fresh pears and mint. It's pleasantly sweet within, with a tinge of zesty citrus and crunchy mineral tones complementing sour melon. The fresh, medium-length leaves a resonating salty flourish. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous

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!

Vinsanto production in Tuscany and in the Chianti Classico region dates back to the Middle Ages. Observing traditional methods and strict production regulations, Vinsanto Tenute Marchese Antinori is produced from selected Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes that are left to dry in a completely natural process requiring time and patience. The resulting wine is intense and pleasing for its generous aromas and soft palate.

The stunning Le Chiuse 2021 Brunello shows great intensity and structure as well as the elegant restraint the estate is known for. It opens with aromas of ripe plum, wild berry, forest floor, dark spice and blue flower as well as a camphor note. Vibrant, full-bodied and delicious, the palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, crushed black raspberry, licorice and fine tobacco blend lifted by fresh acidity. Taut, well-integrated tannins provide polished support. (99) KERIN O'KEEFE

Mid to deep ruby. Dramatic deep, serious nose with hints of cracked pepper and mace. Cherry, damson and plum. Real complexity that reveals itself with aeration, but still a little subdued overall. Suave, succulent, deep fruit supported by beautiful, gravelly tannins. Fantastic balance but still very much curled up. Although full-bodied the whole conveys a sense of medium weight on the palate. (17.5) WALTER SPELLER, www.jancisrobinson.com

The straight Pieropan Soave Classico is one of the absolute best values in the entire wine world and the fantastic 2025 even brings it up a notch, starting with intense aromas of white spring flower, exotic fruit, citrus, crushed stone and wild herb aromas that almost leap from the glass. Showing poise and energy, it's utterly delicious, with flavors of white peach, lime, Williams pear and tangy saline mineral sensations. A note of honeydew melon and a hint of bitter almond signal the close. A great wine that's made with organically farmed grapes to boot. Abv: 12% (95) KERIN O'KEEFE

Notes on the previous release
Perfumed wine with citrus and minerality, forthright, intense and focused. Medium-bodied, vibrant and savory, it displays super-cool freshness and weight, with a polished finish. One of the top Italian whites for quality-per-price ratio. Drink now. (95) ALDO FIORDELLI, jamessuckling.com

Fruit selection for this wine casts a wider net in the celebrated Vorbeg vineyard that also fuels the exceptional Rarity bottling. This 52-hectare site has incredibly steep (70%) inclines at 450 to 650 meters above sea level with south and southwestern exposures. The 2022 Alto Adige Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg (with 60,000 bottles produced) is a creamy, mid-weight expression from a warm and dry vintage. The wine offers pretty aromatic highlights of melon, Golden Delicious apple, pie crust and crushed oystershell. This is a beautiful and more accessible taste of the best of Alto Adige. MONICA LARNER

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!