Showing a sketch on the front label of a lady with a big flower on her head, the Tenuta Scerscé 2018 Valtellina Superiore Valgella Riserva is another beautifully fine and polished wine from the mountainous north of Italy. It offers high-elevation aromas of wildflower, crushed slate, ash and polished metal. The wine ends with a very elegant finish that is lean and bright.

The 2020 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rive di Colbertaldo Vigneto Giardino Dry is another classic wine from the charismatic Franco Adami. This festive bottle shows aromas of honeysuckle, candied lemon, crushed stone and Golden Delicious apple. Franco writes "Asciutto" in Italian instead of the English "Dry," and there's a lot to read into that. Is this a protest against the fact that the word Dry is confusing to the consumer? Production is 40,200 bottles.

This is one of my sweetheart wines from Castiglione Falletto. The Vietti 2018 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is beautifully etched and sharp with an especially delineated quality that is uncommon in this vintage. Fruit comes from a small 8,000-square-meter parcel, and like the other wines in this cru series from Vietti, it ages in oak casks for two years. The wine's texture is beautifully smooth and polished thanks to the carefully integrated tannins. Only 3,693 bottles were made.

Dark and imposing, the 2016 Carmignano Riserva Trefiano smolders up from the glass, with rich plums giving way to crushed violets, stone dust, hints of tobacco and saddle leather. An opulent wave of velvety textures floods the entire palate with ripe red and black fruits, leaving a saturation of minerals and grippy tannins in its wake. This is potent, long and structured; yet the balance is on point, as notes of hard red candies and hints of licorice fade. The 2016 Trefiano is quite a wine. This is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Caniolo that spends eighteen months refining in medium-toast tonneaux, half new and half second pass.

A very refined 2018 with ultra-fine tannins and lovely berry, orange peel and cream aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture and a delicious finish. Why wait here?

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.

Vietti is one of a handful of estates to bring the Ravera MGA of Novello to the current popularity it enjoys now. Their 2018 Barolo Ravera has a smoky personality with crushed stone and pencil shavings. There is plenty of dark fruit at the back, ripe cherry and blackberry mostly, and the wine is tonic and firm in terms of its structure and tannins. The Ravera is a wine of enormous length and a finely tuned texture. Exactly 7,560 bottles were made.

There is more depth to the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova, with light smoky earth, black cherry, licorice, and black pepper. It is polished with fresh crunchy fruit yet retains a good amount of concentration, with notes of black raspberry, turned fresh soil, and graphite. Mouthwatering, with salinity, fresh acidity, and great length, it has fine tannins and warming spice on the finish. Drink 2024-2044.