This has a savory character with crushed red berries, dried herbs, hints of grapefruit peel and wet stones. Medium-bodied, vibrant and crunchy with a touch of white pepper, dusty tannins and a tense Julicy profile. Appealing and easy to drink. Enjoy now or hold. 

The 2022 Soave Classico I Palchi wafts up with a smoky, expressive blend of rosemary, gingery spice and musky citrus complicating crushed apples. It is silken and opulent in feel, enveloping the palate with ripe pit fruits, coming across as weighty and rich yet wonderfully balanced. Nuances of grapefruit mix with inner sage and hints of candied lime as the 2022 tapers off with excellent length yet remains wonderfully fresh.

Always a classical wine, the Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Gresy 2021 Barbaresco Martinenga brings us the sharpness and power of an epic vintage. This wine has a medium-dark luminous color and is light on its feet. The aromas are bright and lively with fresh berry and cassis. The oak contouring is delicate, and the wine benefits structurally from healthy skins, grapes and pulp. There is a delightful hint of Nebbiolo sweetness on the close. This is a 24,000-bottle release.

Rosés, like babies, are almost all beautiful, but this one from the Montepulciano vineyards of Marche is especially lovely with its apricot hue. The wine ain’t bad, either – refreshingly tart flavors of peach but mainly peach skins that linger in a good way. The structure is lean but not emaciated, and the light tannins and a hint of bitters give it a pleasant finish.

This is a new submission from Tenuta Tascante. The 2022 Etna Bianco Contrada Sciaranuova reveals a tonic and fresh personality with a citrusy note that follows in step with bitter almond, crushed stone and dried ginger. These vineyards were planted in 2017 at 730 meters in elevation with northern and southern exposures on volcanic soils. The wine is fermented in Slavonian casks (with no malolactic fermentation) and aged in oak for 12 months.

Opening like a veritable spice box, the 2020 Carmignano Villa di Capezzana entices with its autumnal blend of allspice, clove, and star anise before giving way to steeped plums and sage. It’s silky and refined, with supple textures and ripe red and blue fruits that swirl across a stream of vibrant acidity. It leaves a pleasantly chewy sensation while finishing with fine-grained tannins and a staining of primary concentration. Wait a full minute and hints of white pepper still linger. Wow. While richer than usual and easier to appreciate out of the gate, the 2020 is balanced for a long and steady evolution.

Plum sauce and sage combine with crushed black cherries and balsamic spice to create a darkly seductive bouquet as the 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli comes to life in the glass. It's silken in feel with cool-toned acidity and racy wild berry fruits that flow across the palate with ease. Incredibly long and expertly balanced, the 2020 leaves hints of black raspberry and sour cherry pits over a layer of sweet tannins. Patience will be required but also rewarded.

A graceful style for this wine, showing strawberries, blood oranges, peachy vibrancy and mint. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has gentle tannins with woven acidity and overall freshness. The superpolished aftertaste is juicy, youthful and flavorful. A contemporary Barbaresco. Drink or hold.