A dense, racy and expressive red, offering black cherry, black currant, violet, iron and a hint of rosemary aromas and flavors. This is driven by vivid acidity and refined tannins, which lend both finesse and length. Features great harmony and elegance. Best from 2025 through 2047.

The 2018 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is suave, silky and caressing right out of the gate. Sumptuous and racy, with silky tannins, the Rocche possesses superb depth and plenty of resonance that builds over time. The 2018 is an especially potent Rocche that is going to need a number of years to unwind.

Vietti has the enormous advantage of 10 MGA sites at its disposition for blending purposes (and for making single-vineyard wines). This allows them to select the fruit they want to best express any one vintage. The 2018 Barolo Castiglione draws upon those 10 sites (including the recent additions of Mosconi, Ginestra, Bricco Ravera and Briccolina) to make what is ultimately its best-selling wine (with 35,000 bottles released). This classic rendition is tonic and clean with varietal tones of wild berry, rose and rusty nail.

The 2020 Barbera d'Alba Scarrone Vigna Vecchia captures all the magic of the old vines in this Castiglione Falletto cru. Black cherry, plum, licorice, incense, melted road tar and spice all meld together in a Barbera of uncommon complexity, power and elegance. Here, too, the purity of the flavors is nothing short of compelling.

The 2018 Oratorio di San Lorenzo Riserva is reserved yet wonderfully floral, almost dusty in character, with pepper-tinged strawberries and roses offset by a hint of sweet spice. This is silky and pure in style with a pretty inner sweetness complicated by a core of brisk acidity as perfumed inner florals and depths of dark red fruit settle upon the senses. It tapers off lightly structured with sweet tannins yet finishes long, leaving a staining of tart wild berries and savory spice to taper off slowly. While quite finessed, an underlying power here will promise a long and steady maturation. That said, while already in the bottle for two years, the 2018 is still almost a year away from being released.

Made with air-dried grapes, the Tenuta Scerscé 2018 Sforzato di Valtellina Nebbiolo Infinito opens to a medium-dark color and moderate fruit weight that feels velvety, rich and open-knit. The sforzato, or appassimento, process brings on extra heft and intensity for sure, but the Nebbiolo grape never loses its inner grace and poise. Aromas of dried rose, wild cherry, plum and sweet earth rise from the bouquet. A pretty layer of cured tobacco gives the wine a more fleshed-out feel on the close.

A blend of 85% Pinot Nero and 15% Chardonnay, the sparkling Enrico Serafino 2018 Alta Langa Metodo Classico Millesimato Oudeis Brut shows a light and luminous golden hue with rich aromas of orchard fruit, preserved lemon and freshly baked breakfast pastry. The wine is clean, sharp and mid-weight, thanks to tight beading and 36 months of lees aging.

EDITOR'S CHOICE Savory and inviting, this has alluring scents of wild berries, citrus, Mediterranean brush and sea breeze. It's crisp, dry and delicious, delivering juicy Morello cherry, pomegranate and dark spice notes set against crisp acidity.