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 an impressive wine.

The 2017 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Spelt wafts up with a display of savory cherry sauce and wild herbs complemented by hints of sweet spice and smoke. It’s velvety in texture yet lifted and refined, with a mix of polished red and black fruits and a web of fine-grained tannins toward the close. While youthfully structured and poised, a lasting flourish of licorice, currant and tobacco lingers incredibly long. As enjoyable as this is today, the 2017 needs another year or two of cellaring to show its best.

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.

The Poliziano 2016 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Le Caggiole opens to a dark and sultry appearance, showing a rich and elegant side of the Sangiovese grape. There is a snappy or tart element to the fruit with sour cherry and black plum; however, the wine does not lack for ripeness. There is depth and rich concentration here, giving this wine a step up when it comes to a possible steak or meat roast dinner. The tannins (both the fruit and the oak tannins) are astringent, so give the wine a few more months of bottle aging.

Best Buy! Roberto Stucchi Prinetti makes this wine with fruit from the estate's vineyards in Gaiole and Castenuova Berardenga, fermenting on naive yeast and aging the wine in a mix of French and Austrian oak casks. It opens with fresh scents of roses and violets evocative of the moderators 2018 growing season. Those appealing aromas lead into flavors of juicy red cherry and raspberry brightened by notes of orange zest. It's an excellent value and a mouthwatering wine for the dinner table. 

Spicy, perfumed and loaded with character, the 2019 Sauvignon lifts up with a mix of crushed green apples, geraniums and savory spice. The textures are silky and refined, with a pure display of ripe orchard fruits and zesty citrus that contrasts between sweet and sour. Pretty inner florals, notes of chamomile, kiwi and peach resonate throughout the wonderful long finale.

The 2019 Vermentino di Gallura Superiore Sciala is very pretty and perfumed, with yellow flowers giving way to ripe apples and sweet spice. This is silky in feel yet full of nervous energy, as a mix of saline minerals and acids creates inner tension. A mix of ginger and lime lingers long, making for a clean and precise finale.

Lively acidity and tangy salinity drive this creamy, light-bodied white, whose flavors of pineapple, apricot and lemon thyme show a zesty orange peel edge, followed by a lingering finish. Drink Now.