Bright, medium deep yellow; aromas of spearmint, green herbs (basil) and dried yellow flowers. Medium-full with a rich, layered mid-palate, very good acidity, excellent persistence and excellent typicity; the finish has notes of lemon peel and green tea. Notable complexity – enjoy over the next 3-5 years.

Aromas of sliced apples, peaches, stones, herbs and white pepper. It’s medium-bodied with fresh acidity and a concentrated, complex and spicy palate. Delicious finish. Drink now

The 2017 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Bellovedere is massive with an oak-inspired burst of mocha mixed with mentholated herbs, cedar, black currants and exotic spice forming its bouquet. However, what impresses most here are the textures, supremely elegant and pure, yet also lifted, as the 2017 balances its rich dark fruits with brisk acids and mineral tones that add liveliness, but also depth. The tannins are fine but sweet, and in need of mellowing; this finishes incredibly long through the cocoa and cinnamon-tinged finale. The Bellovedere spends eighteen months in a combination of barriques and tonneaux, yet the integration is spot on. Give this sexy beast a few years in the cellar to soften its contours and integrate some oak.

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.  

WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 #63 

A lively, medium- to full-bodied red, with rich hints of melted licorice and espresso layered with aromas and flavors of blackberry tart, dried mint and olive tapenade. Well-knit, with a fine frame of chalky tannins. Drink now through 2025. 7,500 cases made, 2,500 cases imported.

The 2021 Chardonnay Gaun is vividly fruit-focused, with an alluring mix of ripe peaches, tropical melon and candied lemon forming its bouquet. This soothes with its texturally ripe orchard fruits and exotic inner florals, all perfectly balanced by a core of brisk acidity. This finishes potent and long yet fresh, leaving tangerine nuances that linger on and on. What a treat. The 2021 Chardonnay Gaun is a real charmer.

Cherry, fresh herbs, anise, clove, rosebud and sandalwood aromas open the nose of this pretty Barolo. Finesse-driven with a balance between fruit, earth, floral and structure, the wine hits on all points of a good Barolo. It's drinkable now but will show more subtle earthiness with age. Drink now–2040.

I have long awaited the first rendition of the Giovanni Neri Brunello di Montalcino, and the 2018 does not disappoint. Here I’m finding a beguiling mix of lavender, white pepper and crushed stone giving way to dried black cherries and foreign spice. This washes across the palate with a supple wave of ripe red berries carried by vibrant acidity, as nuances of sour citrus and clove resonate throughout. Its tannins are crunchy, almost chiseled in feel, yet coupled with a staining of primary concentration that lingers under an air of violet inner florals, tapering off with tremendous length and structured for a long and balanced maturation. Made from vines that are 50 years old, the Giovanni Neri hails from a vineyard acquired in the southeast of Montalcino. This is a fabulous debut bottling.