A round and juicy red with berry, cherry, mushroom and wet-earth character on both the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with integrated tannins that are soft and luscious. Long, flavorful finish. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.

The 2020 Amarone della Valpolicella Antonio Castagnedi is darkly alluring, as crushed black cherries blend with shavings of Baker's chocolate and sage. It is silken in feel, with a cascade of mineral-infused red berry fruits saturating the palate, all elevated by brisk acidity. The finish tapers off classically dry and gently tannic, leaving a pleasantly bitter tinge of cocoa and citrus that lingers. Don't be afraid of bringing this savory and sultry Amarone to the dinner table. Nicely done.

The 2024 Ciliegiolo is 100% Ciliegiolo presented in a clear, Burgundy-shaped bottle. It’s a fun, juicy red to drink over the warm summer months, ideally with a light chill. Don't look for anything fancy or deep. That said, the 2024 is a delight.

Showing an especially bold bouquet and rich concentration, the Siro Pacenti 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli is a big expression of Sangiovese by all means, but the wine is also balanced. The intensity is played up with aromas of baked fruit, toasted spice, sweet herb and grilled rosemary, and there is a hint of redwood and cedar or barbecue smoke. To the palate, the wine is very round and fleshed out. It covers all corners of the mouth. This is a big-boned wine with powdery young tannins and a velvety finish. Aging takes place in French barrique, which has always been the stylistic choice favored by this estate. Production is 26,000 bottles.  

JAMES SUCKLING TOP 100 ITALY 2025 - #56

A complex, mineral wine with apricots and lemon peel, angelica and mangoes. Full-bodied and richly flavored with mango and citrus flavors, vibrant and mineral acidity and a smooth finish. Precise and refreshing. Fermented and aged in large oak barrels. Drink or hold

A delicate Etna rosso with red-cherry, orange-peel and floral aromas and flavors. Light tannins and a crisp finish. Vivid. Drink now.

The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne is tightly wound and inward, with an intense mix of savory herbs, cedar shavings, ground cloves and blood orange forming its bouquet. Velvety smooth and deep, yet surprisingly vibrant, it casts masses of spiced-cherry and wild berry fruits across the palate, complicated by a hint of sour citrus. The structure emerges through the finish, impossibly long and tannic, yet still fresh, leaving a tart blackberry tinge and violet inner florals. This mixes balance and power in a wildly attractive way.

Brunate is also one of my favorite wines from Vietti (and, boy, is it hard to choose favorites) thanks to that playful hint of fresh mint that I usually find, especially in the best vintages. You certainly get it in the 2021 Barolo Brunate, and although I'm not sure how long it will last as the wine evolves, my experience suggests it only gets stronger and more beautiful in time. Indeed, this vintage (with 23 days of skin maceration) shows exceptional depth and precision with aromas that go beyond the mint, spanning instead to grilled rosemary and Darjeeling tea. The wine shows excellent textural support and broad shoulders, followed by tannins that are both sweet and chalky. It shows profound generosity and depth. Brunate always has an intense, dark soul. A total of 4,835 bottles were made.