Kapriol Produced from juniper berries and aromatic herbs such as cardamom, mint and bay leaves. Delicate straw/yellow; aromas of chamomile, lemon zest and pekoe tea. Full bodied with impressive richness on the palate and a dry, herbal finish that is powerful. Enjoy this over the next 5-7 years. 38% alcohol.

This has aromas of waxed lemons, jasmine, white tea and apricot stones. Light to medium body with bright acidity and a waxy, lemony palate. Crisp and very fresh. Drink now.

Deep purple color. The nose is delightfully spicy, with tobacco, black pepper and green herbs over a deep core of plum and tart currant fruit, with notes of fallen leaves and dried mushrooms. The palate sports crisp acidity and grippy tannins, and the balance is on point, build solidly but fresh and vibrant, with tangy currant and red plum fruit. The complexity is great, with these spiced tea, tar, black pepper, chewing tobacco and dried violets. This has a lot of depth, personality and age-worthiness packed in, and it’s a crazy good value for a Barolo – which is quite the rare treat. Give it a decant or a leave plenty for the second day, but this is delightful.

The 2015 Barolo Riserva is a new wine from Vietti conceived as a blend that changes every year, a sort of Riserva of the Castiglione, in that it is a Barolo made from the many lots Vietti has at their disposal. Exotic red fruit, blood orange, spice, leather and cedar are some of the aromas and flavors that emerge from the glass. The 2015 shows the aromatic complexity of a wine that has been in bottle for a few years, naturally it does not offer the singularity of the vineyard designates. I won't be surprised if this bottling improves in future vintages as the direction becomes even more clearly defined.

Here's a treat from Casanova di Neri. Aged in tonneaux for 30 months, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is fleshed out and rich with pretty layers of dark fruit, dried blackberry, spice and cured tobacco. There is a point of sour cherry in this vintage that folds into crushed flower, balsam herb, licorice and crushed stone. The bouquet is classic, but the Casanova di Neri magic touch comes through thanks to the wine's balance and pretty intensity. I can't, however, overlook a powerful 15% alcohol content that leaves its mark. This is a production of 67,740 bottles.

2022 James Suckling Top 100 Italian Wines  #90.  Complex aromas of blackberries and black truffle with some lavender. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that spread across the palate. Rich and deep on the finish, showing fantastic length and gravitas. Better after 2025.

Pomegranate and peach aromas and flavors. It's a fuller rosé with lots of fruit and flavor. Peach and melon with some orange-peel undertones. Slightly oily. Drink now.

Made with 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo and Colorino, this has aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, camphor and French oak. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate offers steeped prune, cherry marinated in spirits and licorice framed in fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2026.