We bring you the The Iconic Italian Trifecta. Brunello di Montalcino, called by many the ‘King of Wines,’ is the most highly regarded wine of Tuscany. If Brunello is the ‘King of Wines’, Barolo is ‘The Wine of Kings’. Produced in the Piemonte in northern Italy, Barolo was the favourite wine of the nobility and made exclusively with the Nebbiolo grape. Barbaresco, also from Piemonte and made with the Nebbiolo grape, might be considered the “Queen of Wines.” Many Barbaresco wines tend to be lighter and more delicate than Barolos. It is regarded as a great expression of the Nebbiolo grape and is a favourite of many wine lovers. Today, we have a pack of some of the greatest of the Royal three B’s, two bottles of each, from our extensive Italian wine portfolio.
Bright deep red. Musky, bracing aromas and flavors of red cherry and orange peel, tarragon and violet. Full and tactile, with racy acidity giving the wine’s deep flavors real cut and grip. Finishes with lingering saline nuances on the clean, refined back end. A rather uncompromising style of Brunello, but very true to type; this will also age extremely well. Capanna has always made excellent solid, traditional Brunellos, but it strikes me as being an estate on a real roll of late.
95 points, Vinous (April 2020)
Plums and dried flowers with violets and lavender and hints of sandalwood. Full-bodied, dense and fruity with a big and juicy palate, yet the round and firm tannins hold it all together and give it form.
96 points, JamesSuckling.com (September 2019)
Though backed by stiff tannins, the cherry and strawberry flavors at the core are pure and defined. Earth, iron and woodsy elements accent the fruit. Rights itself in the end, showing fine equilibrium.
93 points, Wine Spectator (June 2020)
Capanna is one of the pillars of the Montalcino denomination. Giuseppe Cencioni purchased the estate in 1957 and it has been family-run ever since. Today, Cencioni's grandsons Patrizio and Amedeo tend the vineyard and the cellar, remaining true to Capanna's style which is restrained and firm rather than flashy or fleshy. Captivating savoury aromas reverberate as blood and rust notes on the palate. Dense fruit - typical of this vintage - is hemmed in by commanding tannins while tangy acidity cuts through the core.
93 points, Michaela Morris (February 2020)
A dusty Brunello with dried berries, walnuts, caramelized orange, felt-tip pen and dried tobacco. Full-bodied and warming on the palate, which reveals a sweet-and-sour character, created by the interplay of solid acidity and dried fruit.
95 points, JamesSuckling.com (September 2019)
Here's a confident and genuine expression of Sangiovese that manages to be both accessible and complicated at the same time. Brunello is one of the few Italian wines to bridge the gap between those two extremes. The Voliero 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers a steady stream of small berry fruit and cherry aromas. But there is width to this bouquet and deeper layers of spice, tar and licorice also play important roles. This Brunello ages in oak for 36 months in order to find harmony and balance.
94 points, Wine Advocate (February 2020)
Very charming and elegant enticing nose, earthy with leather and spiced notes. Rich and full bodied on the palate with plenty of jammy notes, dry flowers, and red forest fruits. Classic
94 points, Andrea Briccarello (May 2021)
Red berry, rose and camphor aromas waft out of the glass. Tangy and delicious, the smooth, full-bodied palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, fleshy raspberry and hints of ground baking spice framed in taut, polished tannins. It's already accessible but also has good midterm aging potential. Drink 2022–2029.
93 points, Wine Enthusiast (July 2021)
This red is light on its feet, exhibiting rose, strawberry, cherry, mint and iron flavors. Comes together with the bright acidity and civilized tannins, creating a harmonious impression.
92 points, Wine Spectator (November 2021)
This is one of the most accessible and trustworthy wines you can buy from Piedmont. Keeping in line with past vintages, the G.D. Vajra 2017 Barolo Albe opens to medium concentration and a very expressive or fruit-forward bouquet. This hot-climate 2017 edition shows a little more ripeness and roundness as is to be expected, but these results are a safe bet nonetheless. Cherry and raspberry aromas are followed by blue flower and pressed violets. Set this bottle aside for medium or long-term drinking.
93 points, Wine Advocate (June 2021)
Fresh and floral aromas with plum, orange peel and some cedar follow through to a medium body with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Very drinkable now, but will improve with age.
92 points, James Suckling (May 2021)
The 2017 Barolo Albe is exquisite. Bright and beautifully lifted, the 2017 Albe is a wine of pure and total pleasure. All the elements come together so gracefully. Crushed flowers, red berries, mint, cinnamon and lavender are some of the many notes that open in the glass. The 2017 is so nicely done in the way it captures the radiance of the year and the classicism that runs through all these wines. Vineyard sites are Fossati, Costa di Vergne and Le Volte.
91 points, Vinous (February 2021)
In 2014, Gianluca Grasso opted to bottle one Barolo that is a blend of juice from Gavarini and Chiniera. Grasso's 2014 Barolo is a beautiful wine that captures the personality of the vintage. Lithe, perfumed and aromatic, the 2014 exudes class from start to finish. The flavors are wonderfully bright and vibrant, with plenty of red fruit and expressive floral and overtones. The 2014 is a pretty, feminine wine that may very well surprise down the road. The Gavarini fruit saw 25 days on the skins, while fermentation and maceration for the Ginestra lots was 30-45 days, all with submerged cap. When bottling time came, Grasso preferred the blended Barolo to what would have been vineyard designate Gavarini and Ginestra Barolos. The juice from Rüncot went into the the Langhe Nebbiolo, which is the custom when the flagship Riserva is not bottled.
92 points, Vinous (February 2018)
The cherry and strawberry aromas, highlighting by a brunt-orange and violet undertone. Full to medium body, chewy tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. Drink or hold.
92 points, James Suckling (September 2018)
This is a new wine that was only made in this vintage to address low yields and difficult growing conditions. In truth, it was also produced in 2002 for the same reasons. The 2014 Barolo is a blend of Nebbiolo grapes from the Grasso family's best vineyard sites: Casa Maté and Gavarini Chiniera. In a very happy and nostalgic way, this wine brings us back in time to when Barolo was more streamlined and linear in style. The limestone-rich soils of Gavarini Chiniera give the wine its aromatic profile with delicate tones of wild berry and blue flower. The Casa Maté site provides the robust texture and structure you taste here. This wine was designed to be offered at a lower price point (that's great news for us!). It offers an accessible personality that makes it easy to enjoy at your favorite Italian restaurant. I put the plus sign next to my score to underline the value you get here.
92+ points, Wine Advocate (June 2018)
Cherry, plum, earth and spice flavors are the themes in this ripe, round red. Balanced, staying focused on the fruit through the long finish.
92 points, Wine Spectator (March 2019)
La Ca' Nova's 2015 Barbaresco is wonderfully open-knit and inviting. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, mint, spice and white pepper make a strong opening statement. The 2015 is a very pretty, easygoing wine. In other words, exactly what an entry-level Barbaresco should be. The ripeness of the year comes through in the wine's racy personality and slightly candied profile. There is so much to like, including the wine's undeniable appeal. The straight Barbaresco is a blend of fruit from Montefico, Montestefano, Ovello and Cole.
91 points, Vinous (October 2018)
The Sottimano 2018 Barbaresco Basarin shows tart cherry fruit and plum backed by lovely layers of crushed mineral, iron ore, spice and crushed flowers. The wine reveals an inner brightness or tartness that tastes terrific next the more nuanced character of the Nebbiolo grape. Basarin shows power and elegance in equal measure, and that is never an easy feat for any winemaker to accomplish.
95 points, Wine Advocate (June 2021)
Steeped plum, cherry, eucalyptus, tar and mineral flavors are backed by beefy tannins in this streamlined red. A core of ripe fruit plies the middle, before the tannins exert their grip on the finish. Muscular, yet balanced and long. Best from 2025 through 2043.
92 points, Wine Spectator (November 2021)
Balsamic aromas of camphor mingle with earthy whiffs of forest floor, new leather, cedar and wild berries on this elegant, full-bodied red. The tight, linear palate is delicious and loaded with personality, delivering ripe Morello cherry, mocha, licorice and an earthy note of truffle framed in firm, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it well-balanced. Drink 2026–2038.
95 points, Wine Enthusiast (December 2021)
