Italy wines in the Flickinger Fine Wines inventory http://www.flickingerwines.com/wineregions/italian.asp WA 85 (12/1987): No tasting note givenhttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Allegrini.aspWA 95 (8/2004): The impressive 1999 Amarone della Valpolicella is from a vintage which was anything but easy, but apparently created few problems here. Rich, jammy, and spicy aromas are followed by full and voluminous flavors, broad and warmly alcoholic with abundant super-ripe fruit and notes of chocolate, solid but voluptuous and extremely long on the finish. Drink: 2005-2020._x000D_http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Allegrini.aspWA 93 (12/2002): The 1998 La Poja, the estate's flagship wine, was produced from 100% Corvina Veronese and aged 27 months in new French oak demi-muids. An opaque blue/purple color is accompanied by dazzling aromas of blackberries, lead pencil shavings, acacia flowers, and pain grille. Superbly concentrated with great purity, and a palate staining intensity and richness ... all without any heaviness ... a real achievement. This is stunning stuff! Drink it over the next 10-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Allegrini.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Allegrini.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Allegrini.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Allegrini.aspIWC 92 (8/2002): Dark garnet with a ruby rim. Lovely scents of plum, mocha and tobacco regale the nose. Sweet on entry, then nicely delineated, with flavors of plum jam, licorice, mint and tar. Plushly textured, with full fuzzy tannins, this medium-to-full-bodied wine exudes earthy undertones in the lingering finish.WS 91 (6/2002): Wonderfully floral aromas, with plenty of ripe fruit and hints of minerals and spices. Full-bodied and chunky, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Fresh and refined. Best after 2003. 5,000 cases made.WA 91 (12/2002): Altesino's medium to full-bodied 1997 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a dense ruby/garnet color in addition to aromas of creosote, new saddle leather, figs, plums, dried herbs, and white flowers. It is a meaty, complex, accessible, concentrated yet still young, vigorous Brunello with good underlying acidity and moderate tannin. It can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Altesino.aspWS 95 (10/2004): Deep, dense aromas of porcini and wild strawberry turn to fresh tobacco. Full-bodied, with tight and refined tannins. The finish goes on for minutes. A big, muscular, powerful Montosoli. Austere now; needs years of bottle age. Best after 2009. 1,500 cases made.WA 91 (4/2005): The single-vineyard 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli, riper and spicier in aroma than the regular bottling, full and with interesting notes of anisette and tar, features flavors of an important richness and density, slightly backward but very substantial and sustained. The additional intensity on the finish suggests another fifteen years of good drinking ahead.IWC 86 (10/2004): Bright, dark red. Very ripe nose shows a distinctly party quality. Sweeter and fatter than the basic bottling, with notes of herbs and licorice, but offers less definition and verve, despite possessing rather strong acidity. Finishes with dusty, drying tannins. A rather awkward combination of roasted flavors and ungiving texture.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Altesino.aspWS 90 (4/1996): A soft, luscious dessert wine boasting wonderful creamy, buttery, nutty flavors that are complex and intriguing. Very sweet and concentrated, and long on the finish. 800 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Anselmi.aspWS 94 (12/2007): Dark ruby-garnet. Rich aromas of dried fruits, mushroom and meat follow through to a full body, with superrich fruit and a long, long finish. Big and rich, like an Amarone. Where's the game?--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Drink now. 1,105 cases made.WA 89 (12/2002): The 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Altero exhibits a saturated dark ruby/purple color in addition to a sweet nose of ripe black cherry fruit intermixed with leather, spice box, and weedy tobacco. Rich and medium to full-bodied, with noticeable new oak, it has the potential to merit 90 points, but at present it is a bit angular and austere. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PoggioAntico.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PoggioAntico.aspWS 97 (6/2002): Amazing Brunello. Fantastic aromas of blackberries, flowers and minerals. Captivating. Full-bodied, with incredible layers of ripe fruit and silky tannins. The finish last for minutes. Racy and firm now. Give it some bottle age. Best from 2004 through 2014.WA 90 (12/2002): This sexy, up-front 1997 Brunello offers aromas of lead pencil, cedar, espresso, and black cherry liqueur. Lush and medium-bodied, with sweet tannin, and a forward personality, it's a modern-styled effort that traditionalists may feel lacks the grip and tannin normally found in Brunello. Nevertheless, it is a delicious, already accessible Brunello di Montalcino to enjoy over the next 8-10 years. Drink 2002-2012.IWC 90 (8/2002): Medium to dark garnet. Fresh, engaging nose suggests mocha, cinnamon, cedar and vanilla. Forceful entry of black cherry leads to juicy, high-toned flavors of dark berry fruits. Smooth, glossy and graceful but ultimately a wine of very good rather than outstanding weight and length. Ripely tannic finish. This property is part of Antinori far-flung wine holdings.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PieroAntinori.aspWS 97 (11/1993): The best example of Solaia to date. Electrifying aromas and flavors, ranging from black currants and berries to mint and herbs. Full-bodied, with silky tannins; it will last for decades. Don't touch until 1997.--Super Tuscan retrospective.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PieroAntinori.aspWA 96 (1/2009): The 2004 Solaia is breathtaking, as it so often is. Soaring aromatics lead to a sweet, layered expression of dark fruit. The wine possesses super clarity and precision with a gorgeous inner tension that carries all the way through to the long finish. The tannins remain incredibly finessed and silky. This is a more restrained, elegant style than the full-throttle 2001. 2004 is the first vintage in which the component wines were aged separately, rather than together, as had been the custom in previous vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.WS 96 (10/2007): Shows beautiful, complex aromas of flowers, currant and Christmas cake. Full-bodied, chewy and powerful. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2010. 5,835 cases made. IWC 89 (8/2007): (cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese and cabernet franc) Very saturated dark ruby, almost black. Intense bell pepper slaps you across the face, with aromas of dark cherry, cigar box and underbrush following. Dense, highly concentrated and intensely flavored, with harmonious acidity framing the sweet black fruit and black pepper flavors, and little of the bell pepper character showing on the palate. Finishes long, with very silky tannins. But the green pepper aroma is neither typical nor endearing in what is usually one of Italy's greatest wines. Perhaps I have caught this at an awkward stage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PieroAntinori.aspWA 91 (12/2002): The deep ruby/purple-colored 1999 Tignanello exhibits rare elegance married to considerable flavor intensity as well as power. Normally a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc aged in French oak for 12 months, the 1999 offers up aromas of new saddle leather intertwined with black cherries, currants, creosote, vanilla, and spice box. Rich and medium-bodied, with adequate acidity as well as sweet but noticeable tannin, it is the third consecutive exceptional vintage from this reference winery for modern, aggressively-styled Tuscan reds. Anticipated maturity: now-2012.WS 90 (9/2002): Attractive plum, cherry and berry aromas, with a hint of toasted oak. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a lovely, sweet fruit, berry aftertaste. Delicious. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2005. 27,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PieroAntinori.aspWS 89 (10/2005): A fine red, with clean berry and coffee cream character. Medium-bodied, with medium tannins and a chewy berry and cappuccino finish. A new wine from the Antinori and Fratini family, with Bordeaux's Stéfane Derenoncourt. Best after 2008. 8,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Argentiera.aspWA 94 (10/2001): A fine offering, the 1999 Solengo is a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Syrah. This opaque purple-colored offering exhibits gorgeously ripe blackberry and cassis fruit mixed with scents of leather, charcoal, earth, and wood. Dense, opulent, and full-bodied, with sweet tannin in the finish, it is still youthful and unevolved, but promises to drink splendidly well between 2004-2015.WS 94 (11/2001): A wine with a generous amount of everything, but in a harmonious, pretty way. An abundance of tobacco, cedar and berry character. Full-bodied and chewy, with loads of fruit and a long, long finish. One of the hottest wines in Tuscany at the moment. Best after 2006. 3,165 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Argiano.aspWA 95 (12/2002): There is no doubting the phenomenal quality of the 2000 Solengo, a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah with a tiny dollop of Petit Verdot included in the blend. Its opaque ruby/purple color is followed by a stunning perfume of creme de cassis, blackberries, espresso, licorice, and new saddle leather. Full-bodied, sensationally concentrated, pure, and well-textured, with a 45-second finish, this unformed, youthful black beauty possesses extraordinary upside potential. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2022._x000D_WS90 (9/2002): Aromas of raisins, grilled beef and aged tobacco. Full-bodied, with round, ripe tannins and a long, ripe fruit, raspberry aftertaste. Slightly overripe, but impressive. Solid. Best after 2005. 3,330 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Argiano.aspWS 95 (10/2003): Still one of the top wines of the region. Bold and exotic, with a muscular style. Full-bodied, with fantastic, velvety tannins and a long, opulent finish. Got to love this wild wine. Best after 2007. 3,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Argiano.aspWA 76-78 (8/1999): The 1997 Barolo Sorano is unimpressive, with hard, dry tannin, an element of dilution, and a vegetal character to the meager fruitiness. It did reveal such classic Nebbiolo characteristics as melted tar and a floral component, but it was compressed and lean.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GiacomoAscheri.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Avignonesi.aspWS 87 (10/2005): Plum and blackberry aromas with hints of plums and flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Best after 2005. 9,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BadiaaColtibuono.aspWA 89 (2/1996): This sweet, rich, medium to full-bodied Chianti (all the Riservas are made from 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo) exhibits a deep ruby/garnet color and a moderately intense, sweet nose of tobacco, red and black fruits, and toasty oak. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, with excellent, possibly outstanding richness, this firmly-structured yet accessible Chianti should reach full maturity in 2-3 years and last for 12-15. It is an impressive 1990.WS 85 (2/1995): Fresh, dried cherry and berry aromas and flavors, medium body and tannins and a silky finish. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BadiaaColtibuono.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BadiaaColtibuono.aspWS 89 (5/2005): Extremely perfumed, with raspberry, blackberry and toasty oak character. Full-bodied, with round, velvety tannins and a lovely finish. Slightly hollow midpalate. Nice. Best after 2005. 55,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.aspJS 96 (1/2011): This is so balanced and refined and polished. I love the berries and blackberries and flowers on the nose. Full bodied, with super well-integrated tannins and a long, long finish. So much there. Racy and gorgeous. Give it three to four years to come even more together.WA 92 (5/2011) The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura emerges from the glass with a burst of tar, smoke, licorice, earthiness and wild cherries. The sheer intensity and muscle of the fruit saturates the palate from start to finish. The 2006 is an especially round, seductive Poggio alle Mura. A few more years in bottle should help the firm tannins soften. The Poggio alle Mura was vinified in steel and aged predominantly (90%) in French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.aspWS 87 (12/1998): Absolutely gorgeous aromas of currant, berry and hints of mints that lighten in intensity on the palate. Medium-bodied, with medium tannins and a fruity finish. Drink now. 2,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.aspWS 89 (11/2001): This young red shows lots of currant and tea aromas. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a polished, medium, fruity aftertaste. Cabernet and Merlot. Best after 2003. 6,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.aspWS 83 (10/2000): Strange but flavorful, with lemon and herb character. Medium-bodied, with medium sweetness and a vanilla, lemon aftertaste. 1,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.aspWS 93 (12/1998): A blockbuster red wine from Italythe best Summus I've ever tasted. Shows an intense blackberry character offset by hints of wet earth. It's full in body, with full, mouth puckering tannins yet a sweet and fruity aftertaste. Needs some age to come together. Best after 2001.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.aspWS 88 (11/1999): Slightly one-dimensional, but I like the fruit. Intense aromas of berry, mint, dried herb and currant. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a lovely vanilla, berry and cherry aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best after 2001.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.aspWS 89 (12/2007): Dark ruby red. Aromas of blackberry jam, spearmint and currant. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a rich finish. Slightly one-dimensional. But youthful. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Drink now. 10,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.aspWS 86 (11/2001): A good Cab, with aromas of berries and fresh herbs, like tarragon and basil. Medium-bodied, with fine, silky tannins and a fruity, firm, tannic finish. Best after 2003. 2,000 cases madehttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloBanfi.aspWA 90 (10/2006): Always a great value, the 2001 Barbaresco is very floral and intense on the nose, with notes of anise, eucalyptus, and coffee beans. It shows plenty of clean, focused, sweet fruit on a medium-bodied frame. Although this estate’s wines have proven that they can age quite well, I typically prefer them on the younger side, while the fruit is still present. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016. WS 90 (11/2005): Aromas of leather, plum and hints of flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a juicy finish. Round. Best after 2006. 14,000 cases made. IWC 88 (12/2004): Good medium red. Highly aromatic nose of strawberry and rose petal. Sweet, concentrated, focused and deep; this has lovely tension in the mouth. Finishes with firm, ripe tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ProduttoridelBarbaresco.aspIWC 89+ (10/2004): Bright ruby-red. Fairly primary aromas of dark berries, plum, smoked meat and menthol. Sweet, primary and backward, with medicinal flavors of inky dark berries and geranium. A brooding young Brunello, finishing with firm tannins that turned a bit tough with aeration. Ripe but uncompromisingly dry.WS 89 (12/2004): Delicate and silky red with a medium body, fine tannins and a plummy, fruity aftertaste with just a hint of vanilla. Drink now. 14,160 cases made. WA 89 (4/2005): The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino is the best in years, dark garnet with a full and varied nose of red fruit, leather, and game, a sizeable palate, structured but round and with attractive sensations of liquorice and minerals on its sweet and polished close. Drink: 2005-2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadeiBarbi.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Bersano.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Bertani.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Bertani.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Bertani.aspWS 92 (7/2004): Focused and dense plum and blackberry fruit on the nose. Full-bodied, jammy and rich. Soft tannins. Fruit-forward. Best after 2008. 5,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CaBianca.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Bolla.aspWS 88 (2/2006): Plenty of cedar, blackberry and cigar box aromas and flavors here. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a licorice, berry and cherry aftertaste. A bit hard and tight. Slightly hollow midpalate. Give it some time. Best after 2006. 3,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GiacomoBorgognoFigli.aspWA 91 (10/2007): The 2001 Barolo Classico Riserva is sweet and open on the nose, with suggestions of very ripe black cherries, violets and tar. Medium in body, it nevertheless packs plenty of power, with outstanding length and elegant tannins on the fresh, inviting finish. It is a remarkably elegant and accessible wine for this estate even if it closed down somewhat in the glass. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2026.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GiacomoBorgognoFigli.aspWS 93 (9/1991): Rich, ripe, round and generous, with a marvelous interplay of oak and plum, currant and cherry aromas and flavors. A spicy finish brings it home smoothly, and the tannins are well integrated. Almost drinkable now, but has the structure to age gracefully. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 1994. 1,400 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CadelBosco.aspWA 95 (12/2010): The 2006 Barolo Garblet Sue’ is massively tannic and powerful. As always, it is a taut, sinewy Barolo, but in 2006 the Garblet Sue’ is even more backward than is typically the case. Bright red fruit, smoke, tar, incense and iron are just some of the nuances that come together in this focused, potent Barolo. With air the frame fills out to some extent, but patience is the key. Brovia’s Garblet Sue’ is made from the Bricco Fiasco vineyard, just up the hill from the winery. Anticipated maturity: 2021-2036. IWC 91 (12/2009): Good bright, deep red. Wild, musky red fruits and menthol on the nose, complicated by licorice, minerals and nutty oak. Sweet and silky on entry, then tight but smooth in the middle. There's a light touch here but no hardness, and lovely intensity and finishing perfume. The tannins coat the front teeth. Very youthful wine-a bit tighter than the Rocche but less clenched than the Villero.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Brovia.aspWA 95 (12/2010): The 2006 Barolo Garblet Sue’ is massively tannic and powerful. As always, it is a taut, sinewy Barolo, but in 2006 the Garblet Sue’ is even more backward than is typically the case. Bright red fruit, smoke, tar, incense and iron are just some of the nuances that come together in this focused, potent Barolo. With air the frame fills out to some extent, but patience is the key. Brovia’s Garblet Sue’ is made from the Bricco Fiasco vineyard, just up the hill from the winery. Anticipated maturity: 2021-2036. IWC 91 (12/2009): Good bright, deep red. Wild, musky red fruits and menthol on the nose, complicated by licorice, minerals and nutty oak. Sweet and silky on entry, then tight but smooth in the middle. There's a light touch here but no hardness, and lovely intensity and finishing perfume. The tannins coat the front teeth. Very youthful wine-a bit tighter than the Rocche but less clenched than the Villero.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Brovia.aspWA 95 (12/2010): The 2006 Barolo Garblet Sue’ is massively tannic and powerful. As always, it is a taut, sinewy Barolo, but in 2006 the Garblet Sue’ is even more backward than is typically the case. Bright red fruit, smoke, tar, incense and iron are just some of the nuances that come together in this focused, potent Barolo. With air the frame fills out to some extent, but patience is the key. Brovia’s Garblet Sue’ is made from the Bricco Fiasco vineyard, just up the hill from the winery. Anticipated maturity: 2021-2036. IWC 91 (12/2009): Good bright, deep red. Wild, musky red fruits and menthol on the nose, complicated by licorice, minerals and nutty oak. Sweet and silky on entry, then tight but smooth in the middle. There's a light touch here but no hardness, and lovely intensity and finishing perfume. The tannins coat the front teeth. Very youthful wine-a bit tighter than the Rocche but less clenched than the Villero.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Brovia.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Busso.aspWA 96 (10/2001): The prodigious 1997 Amarone Vigneto Alto TB is reminiscent of Henri Bonneau's 1990 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins. The lofty 16% alcohol is barely noticeable. Yields were a minuscule 20 hectoliters per hectare. Sadly, there are only 300 cases of this extraordinary Amarone. It boasts notes of smoke, truffle oil, blackberries, plums, and earthy, concentrated black currant jam. Layered, thick, full-bodied, and dry, with extraordinary purity as well as definition, it is an amazing achievement. While not for everybody, this is a singular, impeccably balanced wine. Anticipated maturity: now-2020. WS 79 (12/2002): Tastes a bit like a tawny Port, with caramel, plum and leather. Medium-bodied, with an off-dry finish. If you like very old-style Amarone, try this. But otherwise stay away. 450 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Bussola.aspWS 92 (12/2010): This floral wine displays blueberry and blackberry jam aromas that follow through to a full body, with polished, silky tannins and a long, fruity finish. Racy and refined.—'99 Brunello blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. 6,250 cases made. IWC 91 (10/2004): Dark red. Blackberry, iron, tobacco and smoky oak on the nose. Sweet, vinous and insinuating, with rather Graves-like flavors of currant, plum, woodsmoke, tobacco and dried flowers. Impeccably balanced, round Brunello with lovely energy in the mouth but no rough edges. Finishes with sweet tannins and excellent persistence.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Caparzo.aspWA 90 (12/2006): Caparzo has turned out a beautiful 2001 Brunello di Montalcino. Medium ruby in color, it is a delicate, understated wine with classic Sangiovese nuances of cherries, tobacco and underbrush on a medium-bodied frame. It shows excellent persistence and a very attractive perfumed quality on the palate along with firm tannins and a long, fresh finish. A year or two of cellaring will be beneficial, but with some aeration this is a delicious wine to enjoy today. Tasted again two days after opening, the tannins had softened significantly and it was quite lovely. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018.IWC 89 (8/2006: Good medium red. Slightly reduced aromas of cherry and underbrush, with a light herbal quality. Sweet, juicy and silky, with cherry, raspberry and herbal flavors that reminded me of Burgundy. A subtle, rather delicate midweight with a pliant texture. The herbal note repeats on the finish, which features firm, dusty, slightly drying tannins.WS 87 (4/2006): Some good berry and plum character with just a hint of oak. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Lacks concentration. Best after 2006. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 7,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Caparzo.aspWA 91 (12/2006): The estate’s top bottling, the 2001 Brunello di Montalcino La Casa, is a strong effort. More concentrated than the normal bottling, it offers notable finesse in its suggestions of flowers, spices, red fruits and well-integrated oak. Deceptively understated, it gives the impression of still having much to say, and a few years of cellaring are recommended.. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.IWC 90+ (8/2006): Good medium red. Reticent but vinous nose suggests red fruits, flowers and pepper. A step up in intensity from the normale, with subtly complex flavors of small red berries, flowers and pepper. Delicate but still a bit folded in on itself. Finishes with firm, dusty tannins and sneaky length. This needs at least a few years of cellaring. WS 89 (4/2006): Aromas of blackberry, cherry and cedar follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a simple finish. Very good but not exceptional. Best after 2007. 1,700 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Caparzo.aspWA 91 (12/2006): The estate’s top bottling, the 2001 Brunello di Montalcino La Casa, is a strong effort. More concentrated than the normal bottling, it offers notable finesse in its suggestions of flowers, spices, red fruits and well-integrated oak. Deceptively understated, it gives the impression of still having much to say, and a few years of cellaring are recommended.. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.IWC 90+ (8/2006): Good medium red. Reticent but vinous nose suggests red fruits, flowers and pepper. A step up in intensity from the normale, with subtly complex flavors of small red berries, flowers and pepper. Delicate but still a bit folded in on itself. Finishes with firm, dusty tannins and sneaky length. This needs at least a few years of cellaring. WS 89 (4/2006): Aromas of blackberry, cherry and cedar follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a simple finish. Very good but not exceptional. Best after 2007. 1,700 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Caparzo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Caparzo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Caparzo.aspWA 92 (8/2004): The 2001 Mantenghja is produced from old vines in the same vineyards used for Assaje, massive, head-pruned trunks with, in many cases, over 50 years of age. A deep and dark ruby with an intense and spicy raspberry and red currant nose, it is concentrated, deep, and very firm on the palate, with sizeable but sensual tannins, and a sweetness which tempers and rounds the tannic clout of the flavors. Drink: 2006-2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Capichera.aspWS 68 (12/2004): What happened here? Papery and piney. Tastes like Retsina. Apparently the winery had problems with corks and many bottles have oxidized quickly. A shame because I drank a lot of this in summer 2003 and it was delicious. Tasted four times with consistent notes. 3,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Capichera.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Casalone.aspWS 95 (5/2005): Loads of blackberry and toasty oak, with hints of coffee. Full-bodied, with big, silky tannins and a long, rich fruit, chocolate and vanilla aftertaste. Best wine ever from here. Best after 2006. 550 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CasisanoColombaio.aspWS 94 (4/2006): Aromas of currant, berry and light vanilla. Full-bodied and structured. Fine tannins but not giving much now. This is big and powerful. Needs lots of time. Best after 2010. 21,000 cases made.IWC 89+ (8/2006): Red-ruby. Brooding aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, mocha and sweet underbrush; in a rather modern style. Ripe and fine-grained in the mouth, with firm acids giving shape to the chunky dark fruit flavors. Not at all overly sweet. Finishes with very good breadth, substantial tongue-dusting tannins and late mineral and leather notes. Still a bit ungiving, but this needs time.WA 88 (12/2006): The Castelgiocondo property, which belongs to the Frescobaldi family, is situated in an area west of Montalcino where the dry microclimate is influenced by nearby Maremma. The Brunello is made in a decidedly international style. The estate’s medium-bodied 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a plump, juicy effort displaying attractive super-ripe dark fruit and toasted oak flavors with good concentration, length and balance. Though well-made, this Brunello shows very little soul or personality. It is a simple, accessible wine to enjoy now and over the next ten or so years. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Castelgiocondo(Frescobaldi).aspWS 94 (4/2006): Aromas of currant, berry and light vanilla. Full-bodied and structured. Fine tannins but not giving much now. This is big and powerful. Needs lots of time. Best after 2010. 21,000 cases made.IWC 89+ (8/2006): Red-ruby. Brooding aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, mocha and sweet underbrush; in a rather modern style. Ripe and fine-grained in the mouth, with firm acids giving shape to the chunky dark fruit flavors. Not at all overly sweet. Finishes with very good breadth, substantial tongue-dusting tannins and late mineral and leather notes. Still a bit ungiving, but this needs time.WA 88 (12/2006): The Castelgiocondo property, which belongs to the Frescobaldi family, is situated in an area west of Montalcino where the dry microclimate is influenced by nearby Maremma. The Brunello is made in a decidedly international style. The estate’s medium-bodied 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a plump, juicy effort displaying attractive super-ripe dark fruit and toasted oak flavors with good concentration, length and balance. Though well-made, this Brunello shows very little soul or personality. It is a simple, accessible wine to enjoy now and over the next ten or so years. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Castelgiocondo(Frescobaldi).aspWS 94 (4/2006): Aromas of currant, berry and light vanilla. Full-bodied and structured. Fine tannins but not giving much now. This is big and powerful. Needs lots of time. Best after 2010. 21,000 cases made.IWC 89+ (8/2006): Red-ruby. Brooding aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, mocha and sweet underbrush; in a rather modern style. Ripe and fine-grained in the mouth, with firm acids giving shape to the chunky dark fruit flavors. Not at all overly sweet. Finishes with very good breadth, substantial tongue-dusting tannins and late mineral and leather notes. Still a bit ungiving, but this needs time.WA 88 (12/2006): The Castelgiocondo property, which belongs to the Frescobaldi family, is situated in an area west of Montalcino where the dry microclimate is influenced by nearby Maremma. The Brunello is made in a decidedly international style. The estate’s medium-bodied 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a plump, juicy effort displaying attractive super-ripe dark fruit and toasted oak flavors with good concentration, length and balance. Though well-made, this Brunello shows very little soul or personality. It is a simple, accessible wine to enjoy now and over the next ten or so years. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Castelgiocondo(Frescobaldi).aspWS 94 (4/2006): Aromas of currant, berry and light vanilla. Full-bodied and structured. Fine tannins but not giving much now. This is big and powerful. Needs lots of time. Best after 2010. 21,000 cases made.IWC 89+ (8/2006): Red-ruby. Brooding aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, mocha and sweet underbrush; in a rather modern style. Ripe and fine-grained in the mouth, with firm acids giving shape to the chunky dark fruit flavors. Not at all overly sweet. Finishes with very good breadth, substantial tongue-dusting tannins and late mineral and leather notes. Still a bit ungiving, but this needs time.WA 88 (12/2006): The Castelgiocondo property, which belongs to the Frescobaldi family, is situated in an area west of Montalcino where the dry microclimate is influenced by nearby Maremma. The Brunello is made in a decidedly international style. The estate’s medium-bodied 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a plump, juicy effort displaying attractive super-ripe dark fruit and toasted oak flavors with good concentration, length and balance. Though well-made, this Brunello shows very little soul or personality. It is a simple, accessible wine to enjoy now and over the next ten or so years. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Castelgiocondo(Frescobaldi).aspWS 94 (4/2006): Aromas of currant, berry and light vanilla. Full-bodied and structured. Fine tannins but not giving much now. This is big and powerful. Needs lots of time. Best after 2010. 21,000 cases made.IWC 89+ (8/2006): Red-ruby. Brooding aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, mocha and sweet underbrush; in a rather modern style. Ripe and fine-grained in the mouth, with firm acids giving shape to the chunky dark fruit flavors. Not at all overly sweet. Finishes with very good breadth, substantial tongue-dusting tannins and late mineral and leather notes. Still a bit ungiving, but this needs time.WA 88 (12/2006): The Castelgiocondo property, which belongs to the Frescobaldi family, is situated in an area west of Montalcino where the dry microclimate is influenced by nearby Maremma. The Brunello is made in a decidedly international style. The estate’s medium-bodied 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a plump, juicy effort displaying attractive super-ripe dark fruit and toasted oak flavors with good concentration, length and balance. Though well-made, this Brunello shows very little soul or personality. It is a simple, accessible wine to enjoy now and over the next ten or so years. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Castelgiocondo(Frescobaldi).aspWS 94 (4/2006): Aromas of currant, berry and light vanilla. Full-bodied and structured. Fine tannins but not giving much now. This is big and powerful. Needs lots of time. Best after 2010. 21,000 cases made.IWC 89+ (8/2006): Red-ruby. Brooding aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, mocha and sweet underbrush; in a rather modern style. Ripe and fine-grained in the mouth, with firm acids giving shape to the chunky dark fruit flavors. Not at all overly sweet. Finishes with very good breadth, substantial tongue-dusting tannins and late mineral and leather notes. Still a bit ungiving, but this needs time.WA 88 (12/2006): The Castelgiocondo property, which belongs to the Frescobaldi family, is situated in an area west of Montalcino where the dry microclimate is influenced by nearby Maremma. The Brunello is made in a decidedly international style. The estate’s medium-bodied 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a plump, juicy effort displaying attractive super-ripe dark fruit and toasted oak flavors with good concentration, length and balance. Though well-made, this Brunello shows very little soul or personality. It is a simple, accessible wine to enjoy now and over the next ten or so years. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Castelgiocondo(Frescobaldi).aspWS 96 (6/2002): Superbly crafted. Pretty aromas of black cherry, cream and licorice. Full-bodied, yet incredibly tight and smooth, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long, velvety finish. Best after 2004. 12,000 cases made.WA 88 (12/2002): The 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo is an earthy, herbaceous effort with a dark plum/ruby color as well as a sweet bouquet of cherries, compost, underbrush, and Asian spices. Medium-bodied, dry, and angular, with complex aromatics, it is hard to say in what direction this wine will go, but I would opt for drinking it over the next 8-10 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Castelgiocondo(Frescobaldi).aspJS 95 (1/2011): Frescobaldi’s Brunello always delivers great quality in just about any vintage. Gorgeous nose of ripe berries and slice plums with an almost peach undertone. Full bodied, with a solid core of gorgeously clean and clear dark fruits. Dense and integrated tannins on the finish. So long and fascinating. Best after 2013. WS 93 (8/2011): This red starts out ripe and accessible, boasting plum, cherry and chocolate flavors, then turns firm and tight on the finish, where tobacco and mineral notes take over. I like the potential of this when it integrates more fully. Best from 2014 through 2024. 2,650 cases imported.IWC 91 (8/2011): Good deep red. Red berries, flowers, sexy oak spices and an exotic suggestion of blood orange. Sweet, lively and perfumed, with lovely energy and floral lift to the sappy flavors of red berries and exotic spices. Very sangiovese in its firm acidity and cut. Finishes brisk and a bit wiry, with a hint of graphite and dusty tannins. Will this put on weight with bottle aging?WA 89 (5/2011): The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is one of the most juicy, easygoing wines readers will come across in this vintage. A sweet, open bouquet leads to bright red fruits as this vinous Brunello flows from the glass. Crushed flowers, mint and raspberries add complexity on the delicate, nuanced finish. The wine’s up-front personality makes it an excellent choice for enjoyment over the next handful of years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Castelgiocondo(Frescobaldi).aspJS 95 (1/2011): Frescobaldi’s Brunello always delivers great quality in just about any vintage. Gorgeous nose of ripe berries and slice plums with an almost peach undertone. Full bodied, with a solid core of gorgeously clean and clear dark fruits. Dense and integrated tannins on the finish. So long and fascinating. Best after 2013. WS 93 (8/2011): This red starts out ripe and accessible, boasting plum, cherry and chocolate flavors, then turns firm and tight on the finish, where tobacco and mineral notes take over. I like the potential of this when it integrates more fully. Best from 2014 through 2024. 2,650 cases imported.IWC 91 (8/2011): Good deep red. Red berries, flowers, sexy oak spices and an exotic suggestion of blood orange. Sweet, lively and perfumed, with lovely energy and floral lift to the sappy flavors of red berries and exotic spices. Very sangiovese in its firm acidity and cut. Finishes brisk and a bit wiry, with a hint of graphite and dusty tannins. Will this put on weight with bottle aging?WA 89 (5/2011): The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is one of the most juicy, easygoing wines readers will come across in this vintage. A sweet, open bouquet leads to bright red fruits as this vinous Brunello flows from the glass. Crushed flowers, mint and raspberries add complexity on the delicate, nuanced finish. The wine’s up-front personality makes it an excellent choice for enjoyment over the next handful of years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Castelgiocondo(Frescobaldi).aspWS 92 (11/1999): This big and concentrated Merlot is more like a raisiny dry Port. Enticing aromas of mushroom, a hint of oak and ripe, almost dried fruit. Full-bodied, with tough, chewy tannins and a long, fruity finish. A bit rustic but outstanding. Best after 2003. 900 cases made.IWC 90 (8/2000): Deep, blackish ruby, though not as saturated as the best previous vintages. Sweet and oaky on the nose, with ripe plum, vanilla and brown sugar aromas. Full and smooth on the palate, with an elegant texture; strong, ripe fruit is attractively spicy. Offers plenty of weight and length but not quite the power or extra dimension of this wine at its best.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloDiAma.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Cecchi.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Cecchi.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaCerequio.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadelCerro.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadelCerro.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadelCerro.aspWS 92 (10/2001): A thoroughly seductive wine. Alluring aromas of crushed raspberries and hints of smoky oak. Full-bodied, with extremely well-integrated tannins and a long, caressing finish. Best after 2004. 830 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadelCerro.aspWS 90 (11/1999): A balanced and well-crafted Nobile with aging potential. Excitingly vivid aromas of blackberries, raspberries and mint. Full-bodied, with superintegrated tannins and a long, long finish. Best after 2000. 1,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadelCerro.aspIWC 91 (8/2000): The single-vineyard selection, entirely aged in barrel. Deep ruby-purple to the rim (Lorenzo Landi uses a percentage of colorino, a highly pigmented teinturier grape). Jammy raspberry and plum fruits and spices on the powerful nose. Rich, dense and succulent, with the inky flavors that are a tell-tale sign of substantial polyphenols. Finishes with a cascade of fruit and harmonious spicy oak on the finish.WA 90 (8/2000): The 1997 Vino Nobile de Montepulciano Vigneto Antica Chiusina boasts an opaque ruby/purple color as well as a big, smoky, sweet nose of black cherries, blueberries, and cedar. Ripe and full-bodied, with an opulent texture, and luscious, fat, concentrated flavors, it is a blend of 90% Prugnolo and 10% Colorino aged 18 months in French oak casks. It will drink well for a decade or more.WS 89 (9/2000): Slightly one-dimensional but impressive. A dark-colored red that oozes crushed raspberry and blackberry. Full-bodied and very chewy, with lots of velvety tannins and a medium finish. Best after 2000. 1,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadelCerro.aspWS 95 (12/2007): Fabulous aromas of plum, flowers and light meat. Full-bodied, with round, lightly chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Concentrated and exotic. Still needs time. Best after 2009. 1,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PioCesare.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PioCesare.aspWA 95 (10/2011): The 2007 Barolo Ornato is striking. It shows marvelous delineation in it aromatics, tremendous breadth on the palate and fabulous balance. As always, the Ornato is a plush Barolo, with tons of Serralunga character and muscle. Rose petals, crushed flowers and spices add complexity to the dark fruit, while the French oak is very well-integrated. This is one of the most polished wines I have ever tasted from Pio Cesare. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027. IWC 94 (10/2011): Quite closed on the nose, with the oak element in the foreground. Then hugely rich and opulent in the mouth, with an utterly smooth texture that goes beyond the other 2007s here. The concentration of plummy red fruit is accentuated by the wine's energy. Explosively long finish saturates the entire mouth with rich tannins. WS 93 (12/2011): This modern-style red features aromas and flavors of sweet vanilla, coconut, blackberry and tar. The oak is a major component for now and needs time to yield to the underlying forces of the Nebbiolo and the terroir. Best from 2013 through 2030. 250 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PioCesare.aspIWC 87 (8/2001): Medium ruby. Tar and herbs on the nose, along with plum and maraschino cherry, caramel and coffee. Offers plenty of volume and alcohol on the palate; flavors of plum jam and licorice. Intense but a bit rough and dry on the finish. With this vintage, one senses accumulation of grape sugars more than full ripening of the tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CeusodiMelia.aspIWC 87 (8/2001): Medium ruby. Tar and herbs on the nose, along with plum and maraschino cherry, caramel and coffee. Offers plenty of volume and alcohol on the palate; flavors of plum jam and licorice. Intense but a bit rough and dry on the finish. With this vintage, one senses accumulation of grape sugars more than full ripening of the tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CeusodiMelia.aspWA 89 (8/2004): The 2000 Custera, a dark garnet in color, is endowed with a complex nose of black cherries, raspberries, iris, and tar, and is full and intense on the palate, solid and substantial on the finish and in need of a bit of patience, although the tannins are full and round. Drink: 2005-2012.WS 87 (3/2004): Aromas of dried herbs, currants and orange peel. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a medium finish. Solid wine. Nero d'Avola, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best after 2005. 2,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CeusodiMelia.aspWS 89 (11/1999): A burly, full-bodied Barolo, with a good grip of ripe fruit, solid tannins and spicy complexity. Clean and powerful, it delivers a core of mineral, plum and lead pencil complexity that should blossom with cellaring. Drink now through 2003. 1,200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ElvioCogno.aspWS 93 (7/2004): Incredible aromas of ultraripe plums that verge on prunes but turn to flowers and fresh fruit. Full-bodied, with sweet round tannins and a refined finish. A beauty. Best after 2008. 1,600 cases made.WA 87 (8/2005): The 2000 Barolo Ravera, with a nose of tar and truffles, is a medium-weight wine, slightly tannic at the moment, and with a dryish finish which indicates that some bottle time would be useful. Drink: 2006-2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ElvioCogno.aspWS 88 (12/2000): Elegant and focused red with plum skin, berry and mineral aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with polished tannins and a silky finish. Plenty of ripe fruit. Best after 2001. 350 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ElvioCogno.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ColleSanDomenico.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Collelungo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Colosi.aspWA 95 (12/2007): There is no need to taste the 2004 Barolo Romirasco, the nose alone is enough to understand that this is magnificent wine. Aromas of tar, roses, menthol, scorched earth and smoke lead to a core of dark red fruit than unfolds onto the palate with uncommon grace and elegance. As it sits in the glass the wine gradually puts on weight, filling out its considerably structured frame with notable class. The last Romirasco was made in 1993. This bottling has typically only been made in vintages where quality is not sufficient for the family to make their top of the line Riserva Granbussia, as was the case in 2004, when the Cicala vineyard was damaged by hail. Conterno told me is so happy with this wine he will probably bottle a small quantity going forward to see how it develops. It will be fascinating to taste future Romirascos next to the Granbussias of the same vintage to evaluate how a single-vineyard wine from what many consider to be one of Bussia’s greatest vineyards compares to the Granbussia blend. Conterno expects to price the Romirasco at the same level or slightly more than the Colonnello. If that turns out to be the case, this will be a superb relative value as well. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2024.JR 19 (8/2008): Sweetly perfumed dark, violet fruit, with sweet oak spice and generous on the palate. Rich with sweet cherry and spice and dried fruit and just starting to show a leathery note. Concentrated and firm but tannins already remarkably velvety. IWC 94+ (12/1007): Bright ruby-tinged red, a bit deeper than the Colonnello. Wilder, brooding, youthfully medicinal aromas of dark fruits, basil, licorice and spices. Tight on entry, then focused and firm in the middle, with less obvious sweetness to its berry flavors than the Colonnello. This boasts a very firm tannic spine and will need extending bottle aging. Incidentally, there was no Cicala or Gran Bussia in 04, due to hail.WS 93 (6/2008): Plum, ripe berries and hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and lots of ripe fruit, with spices and hints of raisin. The Conternos decided to make this single-vineyard wine because the crop of the Cicala vineyard was destroyed by hail in 2004. So you won't see Cicala or Granbussia Riserva in 2004. Just this and Colonnello. Best after 2011. 800 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AldoConterno.aspWS 95 (7/2009): Strawberry pie and cream aromas lead to a full-bodied palate. Very thick and powerful, with big, velvety tannins and masses of fruit. A blockbuster style. Best after 2013. 750 cases made.WA 93 (4/2009): The estate’s 2005 Barolo Cicala is a transparent, mid-weight wine redolent of dark fruit, spices, minerals and licorice, all of which come together in the glass with superb elegance. Here the tannins are decidedly firmer and bigger than in the Colonello, even though the vineyards are just a few hundred meters apart! This powerful yet harmonious wine is simply radiant in its beauty. All that it needs is a little patience. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025. IWC 89-92 (12/2007): Full red-ruby. Sexy aromas of strawberry, rose petal, marzipan, truffle and licorice, along with balsamic and woodsy nuances. Suave and fine-grained, with good stuffing and verve. Sweet fruit flavors linger nicely on the finish, which features a light dusting of tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AldoConterno.aspJS 96 (11/2010): This is stunning, with licorice, flowers and dark fruits all over. Full and super silky and sexy. I am in love with this wine already. It will age for decades, but it is so in harmony and beautiful now. Gorgeous. WA 94 (2/2011): The 2007 Barolo Cicala is every bit as compelling as the Colonello, although it is completely different in its personality. Here the poor soils yield a massively tannic Barolo infused with minerals, violets, menthol, tar and new leather. While the Colonello is a more overt, fruit-driven Barolo, the Cicala plays off its structural components to a far greater degree. The wine’s inner perfume and minerality dazzle from start to finish. This is another magnificent Barolo from Aldo Conterno. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AldoConterno.aspWA 93 (4/1993): Of Aldo Conterno's 1989 Barolos, the Vigna Cicala is the one to drink first. Although the 1989 Barolo-Vigna Colonello is deeply colored, tannic, and backward, it displays tremendous potential for future evolution. The wine has an herb and tobacco character, huge body and extract, and considerable glycerin, tannin, and alcohol in the finish. It will not be at its best until the late nineties, but it should evolve gracefully through the first two decades of the next century.WS 89 (10/1993): Crisp and focused, with layers of mineral, earth and tar streaking through the firm black cherry and slightly tart flavors. A steely, firm wine that needs a long time to come around. Best from 1997 through 2008. 434 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AldoConterno.aspWS 96 (12/2006): Intense aromas of ripe fruit, sandalwood and perfume. Full-bodied, with lovely ripe fruit flavors and velvety tannins. Long, sweet fruit finish. Soft, layered and gorgeous. Exciting in a reserved way. Best after 2008. 770 cases made.WA 93 (10/2006): The 2000 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is unquestionably a great effort. It presents a gorgeous, spiced nose followed by layers of sweet red fruit that open onto the palate with notable concentration and length, all while maintaining a restrained sense of balance for the vintage, with soft tannins that make it a highly attractive wine even at this young age. It should be at its finest between ages 8 and 20.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AldoConterno.aspWS 96 (12/2006): Intense aromas of ripe fruit, sandalwood and perfume. Full-bodied, with lovely ripe fruit flavors and velvety tannins. Long, sweet fruit finish. Soft, layered and gorgeous. Exciting in a reserved way. Best after 2008. 770 cases made.WA 93 (10/2006): The 2000 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is unquestionably a great effort. It presents a gorgeous, spiced nose followed by layers of sweet red fruit that open onto the palate with notable concentration and length, all while maintaining a restrained sense of balance for the vintage, with soft tannins that make it a highly attractive wine even at this young age. It should be at its finest between ages 8 and 20.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AldoConterno.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CosimoMariaMasini.aspIWC 86+ (10/2003): Medium red. High-toned aromas of exotic red fruits and spices. Juicy on entry, then rather tart and a bit youthfully rigid in the middle palate. This very young red blend boasts good cherry and red berry intensity but lacks pliancy today.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Cottanera.aspWS 78 (12/2004): A rustic red, with jammy fruit and a slight herbal edge. 1,200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Cottanera.aspWA 91 (12/2007): Like the 2003, Einaudi’s 2004 Barolo is another superb effort at this level. It offers gorgeous aromatics and well articulated fruit on a medium-bodied frame of notable elegance. This bottling is made from the less well-exposed parcels of the Via Nuova vineyard and was the only Barolo that was in bottle at the time of my November visit. The wine spent 16 months in barrique (40-50% new) followed by 15 months in 25 hectoliter casks. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019. WS 91 (6/2008): Blackberry and milk chocolate aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a balance of plum and red fruits in the aftertaste. Best after 2012. 1,195 cases made. IWC 88-90 (12/2007): Very good full red. Musky red fruits, coffee, mocha, and nutty, smoky oak on the nose. Broad and very ripe but quite dry and closed. Not showing its fruit today but this became more lush in the middle with aeration. Finishes with broad, substantial, tongue-dusting tannins. This spent its first 18 months in barriques, 50% new, and then was moved into 25-hectoliter Slovenian ovals for nearly another year.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LuigiEinaudi.aspIWC 92+ (2/2009): Good full red. Red cherry, rose petal, brown spices and sweet oak on the sexy nose. More backward and medicinal than the 2005 or 2006 bottlings-and more classic Barolo in its dense flavors of camphor, menthol, brown spices and dried flowers. Finishes with surprisingly lush, broad, fine-grained tannins. WA 91-94 (12/2007): The 2004 Barolo Costa Grimaldi is a promising wine. This sweet, generous wine is endowed with an attractive plumpness to its fruit, with well-integrated oak and soft tannins that caress the palate through to the long finish. It offers superb balance, poise and harmony. Costa Grimaldi is made from the best parcels in Via Nuova vineyard in Barolo. The wine had been moved into steel tank from oak a few weeks before my visit. 2009-2022. WS 91 (6/2008): Aromas of blueberry, with hints of rose, follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with very fine tannins and a pretty core of ripe fruit. Has a long, silky finish. Best after 2010. 480 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LuigiEinaudi.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CompagniadiErmes.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Falesco.aspWA 89 (2/2008): The 2004 Marciliano (70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc) is made in a similarly powerful, structured style as the Montiano. Unfortunately it doesn't have that wine's core of fruit and I don't see it ever becoming an especially generous wine. The Cabernet Franc character is also surprisingly absent in this wine. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Falesco.aspWA 95 (8/1999): Proprietor Riccardo Cotarella's 1997 Montiano vino da tavola (100% Merlot, bottled unfined and unfiltered after spending 12 months in new French oak) is fabulous. It displays multiple layers that build in the mouth, exploding at the back of the palate. From its opaque purple color, the huge sweet notes of chocolate, smoke, black fruits, and toast satiate the olfactory senses, yet please the mind's intellectual yearnings. Pure and powerful, yet brilliantly knit together with no hard edges and no sense of high alcohol or heaviness, this sensational wine is one of the finest Merlots made in Italy. Production was 1,000 cases. Anticipated maturity: now-2014.IWC 91 (10/1999): One hundred percent merlot and one of central Italy top wines since 1992. Blackish ruby color. Roasted, toasted aromas are jammy without any loss of freshness. Superlatively sweet in flavor, with a light merlot herbaceousness; precise and delineated, with a texture of noteworthy richness. I still believe the 1993 to be the best vintage of this wine, closely followed by the 1995, but this is very good indeed.WS 91 (4/2000): A sexy and very polished Italian red. Dark, with mint, cherry, tobacco and vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, fruity, minty aftertaste. Pure Merlot. Drink now through 2005. 2,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Falesco.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Falesco.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RemoFarina.aspWS 90 (9/1992): A classy, finely crafted wine, offering lovely raspberry, berry and leaf aromas and flavors and a long, silky finish. Drink now. From Farina Stefano. 25,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/StefanoFarina.aspWS 91 (8/2008): Loaded with steely fresh currant, clay and fresh herbs on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, with fine, lightly firm tannins and a long finish. A tiny bit hollow midpalate, but there's beautiful fruit and this is nicely crafted. Should fill in with some bottle age. Best after 2009. 250 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Felluga.aspWA 92 (6/2008): The estate’s 2004 Chianti Classico Riserva shows the pedigree of this superb Tuscan vintage in its expansive, layered personality. The wine develops beautifully in the glass as tar, smoke, earthiness, underbrush, menthol, toasted oak and dark cherries emerge from its medium-bodied frame. This terrific Chianti should continue to drink well for another decade or so. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.WS 90 (10/2007): Attractive aromas of plum, vanilla and cream, with just a hint of fruit tea. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a silky, deliciously fruity finish. Reserved and balanced. Best from 2008 through 2011. 3,300 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadiFelsina.aspWA 92 (6/2008): The estate’s 2004 Chianti Classico Riserva shows the pedigree of this superb Tuscan vintage in its expansive, layered personality. The wine develops beautifully in the glass as tar, smoke, earthiness, underbrush, menthol, toasted oak and dark cherries emerge from its medium-bodied frame. This terrific Chianti should continue to drink well for another decade or so. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.WS 90 (10/2007): Attractive aromas of plum, vanilla and cream, with just a hint of fruit tea. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a silky, deliciously fruity finish. Reserved and balanced. Best from 2008 through 2011. 3,300 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadiFelsina.aspWA 95 (8/2009): The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a vibrant, focused wine that flows with the essence of dark fruit, minerals and flowers. The wine possesses gorgeous length and proportion, all of which is framed by powerful yet well-integrated tannins. Simply put, this is a superb Chianti that also happens to be one of the best relative values in fine, age worthy wine. The Rancia is made from vines planted on poor soils at 420 meters above sea level. In 2006, the Rancia spent 16 months in French oak, of which 60% was new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026. WS 88 (10/2009): Sweet berry and perfume on the nose. Full-bodied, with silky, refined tannins. The attractive finish is subtle and fruity. Drink now. 3,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadiFelsina.aspWA 94 (6/2008): The 2004 Fontalloro (100% Sangiovese) comes across as fresher and brighter than the Rancia. Light on its feet, this graceful, delicate wine opens with sweet, perfumed aromatics that meld into raspberries, flowers, spices and a touch of sweet oak that lingers on the finish. It offers remarkable clarity and precision in a pure, focused style, with superb balance and finessed tannins. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2019.IWC 94 (8/2007): (100% sangiovese) Good full ruby. Richer and even more minerally on the nose than the '04 Rancia, offering plenty of orange zest, lily and pleasantly tart red cherry aromas. Lush, very ripe red fruit flavors and a salty edge give this immediate appeal, but make it a bit less refined than the Rancia in '04. The tannins, though, are smoother and slide effortlessly along the very long finish. WS 91 (10/2007): A little raisiny on the nose, with hints of flowers and blackberry. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a juicy finish. A little austere, but structured and very racy. Needs time. Sangiovese. Best after 2010. 2,900 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriadiFelsina.aspWS 94 (12/2001): Rich and glorious red. Built like a brick house. Black in color, with intense aromas of black licorice, berry, toasted oak and black pepper. Full-bodied and concentrated, with fabulous fruit and big, round tannins. Long, long finish. Aglianico. Best after 2004. 1,525 cases made. IWC 92 (10/2003): Saturated medium ruby. Sexy, superripe aromas of black cherry, iron, tobacco, earth and smoky oak. Sweet and leathery on entry, then dry and powerful in the middle, with wild, somewhat high-toned flavors of iron and tobacco. Finishes with big, youthfully tough tannins and excellent length. This really needs two or three years of additional aging.JR 17 (3/2003): This exceptionally able producer's flashy Merlot Patrimo 2000 is the guide's Wine of the Year but the all-Aglianico Serpico, produced from strictly local, pre-phylloxera plant material, is the more original wine. It has admirable density and has masses of firm, aristocratic character yet has just the right amount of structure and acidity to make it stand head and shoulders above the norm for this far south. Sweet and alcoholic it ain't. Riccardo Cotarella is a consultant here.WA 91 (8/2010): Feudi’s 2000 Serpico is quite expressive. Wild dark cherries, dried flowers, herbs, game, ash and bacon fat are some of the notes that flow from this rich, powerful Serpico. The French oak adds a measure of volume I am not sure the wine needs, but this is nevertheless a beautiful, almost fully mature Serpico that is a great choice for drinking today and over the next seven to eight years, give or take. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FeudidiSanGregorio.aspWA 98 (8/2004): The 2001 Serpico, impenetrable and inky, staggeringly rich in both aroma and flavor, offers ultra-ripe but perfectly fresh berry fruit, cloves, cinnamon, and chocolate, and mouth-coating, deep-pile tactile sensations which combine iron power and a enveloping, voluptuous texture, infinitely deep and long. I would be amazed if this wine did not last thirty years.WS 94 (2/2004): Bold and structured red. Dark color; black licorice, raspberry and mineral character and hints of dried flowers; full-bodied, with spicy fruit and undertones of black pepper. Chewy finish. This is fantastic. Best after 2007. 5,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FeudidiSanGregorio.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SanFilippo(Fanti).asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Fontodi.aspWS 97 (10/2004): Monumental, with masses of blackberry, coffee, berry and cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with layers of ripe tannins. Goes on and on. Builds on the palate. I have never tasted a greater wine from here. Better than 1997. Best after 2007. 4,000 cases made.WA 92 (4/2006): The 2001 Flaccianello della Pieve, a wine which was one of the pioneering examples of high level Sangiovese in Chianti Classico is, for me, the best in a long and distinguished series of vintages. A brilliant ruby-garnet, its rich aromas of raspberries, smoke, and vanilla are followed by ripe, supple, and elegant flavors, a satiny, classy, lengthy style, and a full finish and aftertaste. Drink: 2006-2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Fontodi.aspWS 87 (5/2001): A subtle red, with delicate berry, cherry and vanilla character. Medium-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a light finish. Best after 2002. 2,915 cases made.IWC 87 (2/2000): Moderately saturated red-ruby color. Somewhat floral aromas of raspberry, blackberry and baking spices. Penetrating, pure and lively, but leaner and less complex than the '97 bottling. Finishes firmly tannic but not dry.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Foradori.aspWA 86 (8/2004): The 2002 Teroldego might be compared to a Dolcetto for those who are unfamiliar with the grape, and its displays many of the same characteristics in its crunchy cherry and berry fruit, earthy sensations, and light liquorice and tar on the finish. WS 82 (12/2004): Light and simple with berry and sour cherry character and a fresh finish. Drink now. 11,660 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Foradori.aspWS 91 (6/2004): Fantastic nose, with ripe, earthy fruit and loads of smoke and grilled meat. Full-bodied, with rich fruit and violets on the palate, soft, velvety tannins and a long, long fruit and mineral finish. Very polished, with a subtle use of new French oak barrels. Best after 2004. 1,590 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DalForno.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Fuligni.aspWS 95 (5/2004): Very fresh aromas of pressed flowers with hints of plums and raspberries. Full-bodied, with super well-knit tannins and a long, long finish of ripe fruit and beautiful character. I love this. This is better than 1997. Get it fast. Best from 2005 through 2012.IWC 92+ (10/2004): Saturated medium ruby. Captivating, fresh aromas of black raspberry, cherry, milk chocolate, mocha and noble oak. Suave, densely packed and highly aromatic in the mouth; still quite primary and young but already supple. Berry and chocolate flavors are complicated by subtle hints of truffle, earth and leather. Characterful, beautifully balanced Brunello with lovely life in the mouth. The ripe tannins are thoroughly covered by fruit.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Fuligni.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Fuligni.aspWS 88 (9/1997): Rich and powerful, with masses of plum, blackberry and earth flavor. Full-bodied and tannic. Perhaps too tannic? Needs time; try after 2000. 1,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloGabbiano.aspWS 81 (4/1994): Firm and chunky, a bit tannic, but the plum and spice flavors sneak through on the finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloGabbiano.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GianniGagliardo.aspWS 94 (10/2001): A big, juicy super Tuscan. Dark ruby, with complex aromas of chocolate, berries and spices. Full-bodied and chewy, with thick, round tannins and a long, long, flavorful finish. Very fresh and well-structured. A new single-vineyard wine from this small producer in Chianti Classico. Best after 2004. 250 cases made._x000D__x000D__x000D_WA 92 (10/2001): The sensational, opaque ruby/purple-colored 1999 Pecchia (100% Sangiovese) displays how unusually ripe and concentrated the 1999 vintage was in Tuscany. It boasts an opaque purple color as well as a glorious bouquet of black fruits, lead pencil, vanillin, smoke, and flowers. Dense and full-bodied, with abundant structure, outstanding purity, harmony, and overall depth, this is a powerful (14.5% alcohol) effort with extraordinary finesse. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020. Gagliole's consulting oenologist is the brilliant Luca d'Attoma, the man responsible for some of the most exciting wines emerging from Tuscany._x000D__x000D__x000D_http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Gagliole.aspWS 91 (11/2001): Loads of cherry, raspberry and mineral aromas. Full-bodied, with soft, well-knit tannins and a long, long finish. A modern and delicious Barbaresco. Best after 2003. 5,000 cases made.WA 91 (10/2001): The 1998 Barbaresco is a beautiful effort displaying fleshy, oaky, deep black cherry, raspberry, tar, and truffle scents with subtle new oak in the background. Dense, voluptuously-textured, and full-bodied, with gorgeous overall symmetry, and beautifully integrated tannin, acidity, alcohol, and wood, it will drink well for 15 or more years.IWC 91 (12/2002): Good deep medium red. Deeply pitched aromas of plum, mocha, licorice and dried flowers. Dense and chewy with extract; compelling, sweet flavors of currant and licorice. Tannins are sweeter than those of the '99 Barbaresco. Finishes with a suggestion of nutty oak.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspJS 94 (9/2011): Intense aromas of plums and dark fruits. Pure fruit here. Full body, with velvety tannins and hints of new wood. This is structured and chewy but shows loads of fruit underneath. This shows wonderful potential. Try in 2013.WA 93: The 2008 Barbaresco emerges from the glass with sweet red cherries, spices, flowers and licorice. This is an attractive Barbaresco with excellent depth and a firm, tannic spine that is very nicely integrated with the fruit. The 2008 isn't a blockbuster, but it should drink well with minimum cellaring. This is a classic, linear Barbaresco endowed with terrific energy and focus. Right now the 2008 seems to be holding its cards close to the vest. I would not be surprised to see it show even better in a few years' time. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2028.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWS 97 (12/1988): A majestic wine, beautifully harmonious, seamless and integrated, with magn ificent fruit, matchless complexity and stunning depth of flavor. Hints of violet, toast and nutmeg enrich the plummy raspberry fruit. Long and tight on the finish.WA 92 (4/2007): The Sori Tildin presents a stark contrast to other wines in the flight in its super-ripe, concentrated style. The aromatics are somewhat muted. This seems to offer outstanding potential, although the fruit is dominated by an unyielding wall of new oak. Every now and then spice, tar and licorice nuances emerge, but my overall impression is of a wine imprisoned by an excessive amount of oak.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWA 92 (6/1993): Gaja's long-time dream of owning vineyards in Barolo has finally been realized. No one who loves his wines will be disappointed with his first two Barolo releases. Moreover, by Gaja's standards, even the price is palatable. The 1988 Barolo-Sperss exhibits a deep color, tremendous extraction of fruit, and soft acids and tannins. It is a backward, unevolved, potentially exceptional wine. Tightly packed, full-bodied, and muscular, its wonderful tar, rose, and black-cherry-scented nose is just beginning to emerge. Drink it between 1995-2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWS 94 (11/1999): Power and charm combine in this exotic, black-colored, beautifully perfumed, balanced Barolo. Sure, it's a barrique-boosted Nebbiolo, but look at the exquisite result: sweet tannins, full body, exciting violet, blackberry, mint, smoke and tar notes, and a rock-solid but harmonious finish. Best from 2003 through 2010. 2,800 cases made.IWC 91-93 (12/1998): Deep ruby red color, very impressive for the vintage. Cassis and blueberry on the nose. Much less expressive than the Barbarescos, and currently wrapped up in its strong acidity and rather tough tannins. This will be bottled next spring.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWS 94 (11/1999): Power and charm combine in this exotic, black-colored, beautifully perfumed, balanced Barolo. Sure, it's a barrique-boosted Nebbiolo, but look at the exquisite result: sweet tannins, full body, exciting violet, blackberry, mint, smoke and tar notes, and a rock-solid but harmonious finish. Best from 2003 through 2010. 2,800 cases made.IWC 91-93 (12/1998): Deep ruby red color, very impressive for the vintage. Cassis and blueberry on the nose. Much less expressive than the Barbarescos, and currently wrapped up in its strong acidity and rather tough tannins. This will be bottled next spring.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWA 97 (2/2010): The first thing I noticed about the 2006 Langhe Sperss is the finish, which literally lasts an eternity. It, too, is more overtly structured, powerful and less fruit-forward than the 2007, but its focus and drive are commendable. The wine seems to hover on the palate with an ethereal expression of dark fruit, smoke, licorice, tar and menthol, all of which are backed up with substantial heft and sheer muscle. This is a marvelous effort from Gaja and will appeal most to readers with a preference for sturdy, age-worthy wines. Anticipated maturity: 2021-2041. _x000D__x000D_IWC 95+ (12/2009): Deep red with ruby highlights. The nose shows distinctly blacker fruits than the Conteisa, along with medicinal licorice and marzipan notes. Extremely tight and primary in the mouth, suggesting terrific intensity of flavor and brooding power, then explodes with fruit on the long, firmly structured aftertaste. This wine, from compact marne and calcaire soil, has grip of steel and would appear to be built for a glorious evolution in bottle.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspMB ***[*]: Three notes within 12 months, two at Gidleigh Parks wine dinners and, in between, at my Italian tasting in Nassau. Summing up: impressively deep, velvety, fairly intense; very good, low-keyed Cabernet Sauvignon nose; 'whew', marvellous flesh and fruit, perfect weight, extract, consistency. WS 94 (3/1989): Dense and concentrated, starting out very firm and tannic but opening up magically on the finish with a burst of plum, berry, leather and toast flavors that echo forever. May be best around 1995 to 2000. Best Cabernet yet from Gaja, but whoa, the price.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspIWC 90-92 (12/2002): Saturated ruby. Bright aromas of blackcurrant, licorice and violet. Very rich, lush and chocolatey; seamless and mouthfilling. This shows the fleshiness of the vintage.WA 88 (8/2005): The 2000 Darmagi is notably less successful than the very fine 1999, a bit herbaceous on the nose, forceful but a bit dry and tight in texture. Drink: 2005-2016. Wines like this, made by Piedmont’s most famous producer, can only arouse some serious doubts about the future of Cabernet in the region.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspIWC 90-92 (12/2002): Saturated ruby. Bright aromas of blackcurrant, licorice and violet. Very rich, lush and chocolatey; seamless and mouthfilling. This shows the fleshiness of the vintage.WA 88 (8/2005): The 2000 Darmagi is notably less successful than the very fine 1999, a bit herbaceous on the nose, forceful but a bit dry and tight in texture. Drink: 2005-2016. Wines like this, made by Piedmont’s most famous producer, can only arouse some serious doubts about the future of Cabernet in the region.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWS 97 (7/2004): Very dark color, but right. Incredible aromas of crushed strawberries, raspberries and flowers. Full-bodied, with beautifully silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. A true beauty. This is real Nebbiolo. Conteisa comes from the Cerequio vineyard near La Morra, in the heart of Barolo-producing territory. Best after 2009. 1,350 cases made.IWC 91+ (12/2004): Good deep red. Redcurrant, plum, tobacco and smoky oak on the nose. Lush, broad, ripe and quite dry; backward today and not currently showing the complexity or depth of the Sperss. Brooding flavors of licorice and menthol suggest that this wine also needs a minimum of six or seven years of additional aging. The firm tannins reach the incisors.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspJS 94 (9/2011): Blackberries and flowers on the nose follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a round texture. All in finesse and length. Best after 2013.WA 94: The 2008 Costa Russi is absolutely gorgeous. Sweet dark cherries, tar, licorice and new leather are some of the aromas and flavors that take shape in the glass. The 2008 is a firm Costa Russi, with less of the seductiveness of most years, but equally fine balance. Ideally it needs a few more years in bottle, but it is striking. The finish shows terrific intensity. The typical juiciness of the site is framed by the firm tannins of the year. Everything that makes Costa Russi such an engaging wine is here, but in a slightly smaller-scaled package than in the very finest years. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWA 95: Gaja's 2008 Sori San Lorenzo is impeccable from start to finish. The 2008 is a round, seamless San Lorenzo with seemingly no hard edges and terrific overall balance. The signature aromas and flavors are there, as is the wine's typical gravitas, yet the 2008 has an extra level of sweetness, its size notwithstanding. The wine possesses striking inner perfume and fabulous overall balance. The sheer excitement of the very finest years isn't quite there, but this is a fine bottle just the same. An explosive, juicy finish rounds things out in style. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033.JS 94 (9/2011): What a nose of truffles, orange peel and berries. Full body, with velvety tannins and a long chewy finish. This is big and structured. Needs at least four to five years of bottle age.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWA 96: The 2008 Sori Tildin is impressive. I confess I wasn't quite prepared for the assault of fruit and tannins here. Sori Tildin is so often a graceful, elegant wine, but that is not the case in 2008. That's not to say elegance is missing, but this is a big, big wine with tons of intensity and richness, all woven together beautifully. It's tough to find a comparison with a previous vintage, as this is a singular Tildin. The flavors are familiar if a touch on the dark side, but the structure is closer than that of Sori San Lorenzo. Flowers, tar, leather and licorice wrap around the palate. This is a fabulous showing and a great wine in the making. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033.JS 93 (9/2011): Blackberry jam with a note of cedar and milk chocolate. Full bodied, with velvety tannins and sliced plum and peach flavors. Turns chewy. Best in 2012.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWA 99 (6/2001): A virtually perfect effort is the 1997 Sperss (30,000 bottles), which represents the essence of truffles, earth, and black cherries in its striking aromatics and multidimensional, opulent, full-bodied palate. The acidity seems low because of the huge glycerin levels and prodigious concentration of fruit, but I suspect it is normal in the scheme of oenological measurement. This profound wine requires 3-4 years of cellaring, and should age well for 30-35 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AngeloGaja.aspWA 93 (6/2011): I suppose after so many important vintages it is only natural that Mother Nature takes a break. Terra di Lavoro is usually a huge wine in its youth, but not so in 2009. This is one of the most open, approachable young Terra di Lavoros I have ever tasted. The wine shows good intensity in its dark fruit, with layers of ash, smoke, crushed flowers and minerals that develop in the glass. The 2009 is a pretty, accessible Terra di Lavoro that will make a great introduction for readers who are new to the wine and don't want to wait for some of the more important vintages to come around. Terra di Lavoro is 80% Aglianico and 20% Piedirosso. The 2009 spent 14 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. Readers who want to see how some of the older vintages are developing may want to take a look at notes from my vertical tasting last year, published in Issue 190. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattoriaGalardi.aspIWC 93 (12/2007): (white label; Giacosa sold off his other 2003 Barbarescos) Medium red. Very ripe aromas and flavors of strawberry liqueur and smoke. Surprisingly sappy and fresh, with a sexy sweetness leavened by lively acidity. There's a liqueur-like quality to this 2003 along with a creamy richness of texture. Features a rising, fresh finish rare for the vintage and fine, granular, building tannins. This is 15% alcohol, from fruit picked on September 23.WA 92 (10/2006): The just-bottled 2003 Barbaresco Asili is the only Barbaresco the ultra-perfectionist Bruno Giacosa has decided to release in this difficult vintage and it shows why Giacosa, along with Angelo Gaja, is in a class of his own when it comes to Barbaresco. Medium-red in color, it offers an expressive nose along with delicate nuances of super-ripe red fruits, macerated cherries and alcohol. Made in an atypically lush style, yet balanced by a classic sense of structure and proportion, this medium to full-bodied Barbaresco is one of the highlights of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018.WS 89 (12/2006): Strawberry, with hints of earth and lemon rind. Medium- to full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a fresh finish. A little short. The only Barbaresco from Giacosa in 2003. Best after 2008. 1,100 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspIWC 92+ (12/2002): Amber-edged medium red. Very sweet but vibrant nose combines cherry, redcurrant, marzipan, brown spices and a whiff of game. Wonderfully sweet and sappy in the mouth, with perfectly integrated acidity giving the wine compelling vinosity. Lifted by a strong floral perfume. Finishes with firm, fine tannins and terrific length. Another '98 with a near-perfect balance of fruit and acid. WS 90 (11/2002): Refined red. Plenty of berries and roses on the nose. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a pretty berry and leather character. Rather chewy finish. Best after 2005.WA 93 (12/2001): Giacosa's 1998 Barbaresco Asili needs 4-5 years of cellaring. It exhibits a dark ruby color along with a big, sweet nose of dried herbs, cedar, tobacco, tar, and red fruits. Opulent on the attack, with moderately high tannin as well as good underlying acidity, this is a fragrant effort for Giacosa. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 95 (10/2008): Giacosa’s 2005 Barbaresco Asili is noticeably rounder, sweeter and denser than the Santo Stefano. It shows remarkable balance and harmony in an incredibly pure, graceful style. The tannins are so finessed and elegant it is hard to actually perceive them on the palate. Here too, the wine shows awesome inner balance and poise. Sweet raspberries, flowers, roses and spices are just some of the nuances that emerge from this incredibly delicious, promising Barbaresco. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025. IWC 93 (12/2009): Medium red. Sexy nose combines redcurrant, raspberry, dried rose and tobacco. Shows an almost candied sweetness in the mouth, but with a burst of harmonious acidity behind it. Finishes with fairly powerful, granular tannins and lovely floral persistence. Elegant and scented Barbaresco: I like this style.WS 93 (12/2008): This is delicate at first, but then turns to a solid, tannic and structured red, with loads of plum and light toasty oak. It's all on the finish. Give this time to show what it has. Best after 2013. 1,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 94 (10/2009): The 2007 Barbaresco Asili is a striking, elegant wine. Sweet roses, minerals, flowers, menthol and minerals emerge from this firm yet intensely perfumed Barbaresco. The wine reveals gorgeous weight and textural richness in a firm style that requires patience. Beginning with the 2007 vintage, the vineyards delimitations in Barbaresco have been re-drawn. As a result, Giacosa’s parcel in Rabaja is now considered part of Asili, which means there will be no more Barbaresco Rabaja from Bruno Giacosa after 2005. In 2007, the white label Asili is roughly 80% juice from the old ‘Rabaja’ parcel and 20% Asili from the vines Giacosa has always used for his Asili. Curiously, the 2007 Asili is a very soft wine, considering it is made mostly from vines that informed such majestic Rabajas as the 2001 and 2004. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032.IWC 93+ (12/2009): Medium bright red. Rather brooding aromas of medicinal red cherry. Layered, fleshy, deep and sweet but youthfully backward, even a bit reduced, with an almost liqueur-like quality to its flavors of red fruits and candied rose. A lush and silky wine that finishes chewy and long, with powerful ripe tannins. For all its size and power, this shows the elegance of a Barbaresco from sandy soil. JS 93 (3/2011): A subtle and refined red, with blackberry and dark chocolate character on the nose and palate. Full and very velvety, with a long juicy finish. Builds on the palate. Pull the cork in 2015.WS 90 (4/2011): This elegant red is highlighted by flavors of ripe cherry, verging on cherry jam, along with flowers and mineral. Though solidly structured, this is well-integrated and fresh on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 392 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspJS 95 (9/2011): Aromas are full of plums and lemons that follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a fruity, bright finish. A pretty combination of ripe fruit and crisp acidity. Need two years to come together. Triumph for the vintage. Try in 2013.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspJS 95 (9/2011): Aromas are full of plums and lemons that follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a fruity, bright finish. A pretty combination of ripe fruit and crisp acidity. Need two years to come together. Triumph for the vintage. Try in 2013.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 98 (10/2007): The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is even more compelling than the Rabaja. It floats on the palate with an ethereal core of sweet fruit that calls to mind a profound Musigny, but with the unmistakable structure of Nebbiolo. The perfumed purity of the fruit carries all the way through to the deeply satisfying, resonating finish. Made in a soft, seductive style, this remarkable wine is decidedly more approachable and easy to appreciate today than the Rabaja. Giacosa fans will have a great time discussing the merits of the Rabaja and the Asili in 2004, but to me they are virtually equally moving; Asili for its feminine gracefulness and Rabaja for its size and power. The Asili should prove more accessible at an earlier age. Bruno Giacosa says his 2004 Asili Riserva will turn out to be just like his 2000 Asili Riserva, the wine he still thinks is the best he’s ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.IWC 96+ (12/2007): Good medium red. Very ripe nose melds fresh red fruits, exotic Indian spices (coriander?), marzipan and deep nutty oak. Sweet, layered and deep, with highly concentrated flavors and powerful underlying structure. A wine of uncanny sweetness and breadth: this really coats the entire mouth. Finishes with substantial but suave and ripe tannins and outstanding persistence. This should make a great bottle. It's easy to see why this is Giacosa's only riserva Barbaresco from the '04 vintage. For his part, he describes this one as powerful, while the 2000, which has been a personal favorite of Giacosa's since the start, is more elegant. WS 96 (9/2008): Aromas of strawberry and candle wax develop to cherry and light incense. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and lots of fruit. Focused and very well done, but really tight at the moment. Very structured. Needs time. This is the red label, to be released in spring 2009. Best after 2014. 1,170 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 97 (10/2007): The 2004 Barbaresco Rabaja is off the charts. It boasts phenomenal richness and complexity in its dark, brooding aromatics and powerful structure, with suggestions of roses, tar, menthol, coffee beans and baking spices that emerge from the glass in an endless display of elegance married to sheer force. Although the Rabaja will be released as a white label non-Riserva, it is very close to Riserva-level quality. From barrel it revealed just a little less length than the Asili, It will be interesting to see how the Asili and Rabaja develop in bottle. I would not be surprised to see the Rabaja merit a higher score in another year or two. This magnificent wine will especially appeal to readers who enjoy a structured style of Barbaresco. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.IWC 94 (12/2007): Good medium red. Reticent, more reduced nose hints at game and minerals. Then fatter, sweeter and creamier in the mouth than the Santo Stefano; a step up in texture and richness. The limestone element brings energy and minerality, which extends the wine's rather fine-grained finish.WS 94 (9/2008): Very pretty aromas of strawberry and rose follow through to a full body that builds on the palate, with mushroom, berries and hints of cedar. Long and chewy, yet layered and beautiful. Very tight and reserved. Wonderfully crafted. Best after 2013. 600 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspJS 96 (3/2011): An amazing amount of pure fruit to this, with blueberries, blackberries, and flowers. The fruit is really incredible. Full bodied, with silky tannins and a long fruity finish. I really appreciate the pure fruit in this, and with wonderful tannins, this is the best Santo Stefano ever from Giacosa. Pull the cork after 2015. WA 95 (10/2009): The 2007 Barbaresco Santo Stefano is a gorgeous wine that combines element of ripeness, structure and the intense spiciness that makes the best wines from the Santo Stefano vineyard so compelling. Floral, high-toned notes appear on the silky finish, rounding out this highly promising wine. Gorgeous textural elegance and balance are the hallmarks of the 2007 Santo Stefano. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032. IWC 95 (12/2009): Good full red. Aromas of currant, camphor, mocha and cedar lifted by an exotic floral perfume. Silky-sweet, precise and intense, with superb calcaire lift to the red fruit and spice flavors. Wonderfully juicy and imploded wine, finishing with serious but very fine-grained tannins and terrific length. WS 91 (4/2011): Rich, yet showing a juicy core of strawberry and raspberry, this is also marked by a firm structure. The tannins still need to be resolved, but are matched by sweet fruit in the end. Best from 2013 through 2022. 738 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 90 (12/2007): The 2004 Barolo Vigna Croera reveals pretty aromatics and notes of smoke, tar, roses, herbs and the small red fruits that are characteristic of the wines of La Morra. Made in a medium-bodied, delicate style it possesses a graceful, feminine personality and finessed tannins. Even though the wine continued to gain weight in the glass I noted that it was less expressive than when I tasted it from barrel in April 2007. The Croera is made from a high altitude plot in the Serradenari district of La Morra. This site has never been particularly well regarded for Nebbiolo. Long-time oenologist Dante Scaglione told me he expects the vines to only yield top-flight Barolo in truly great vintages. There will be no 2005 or 2006. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.IWC 90 (12/2007): Good deep red. Expressive nose melds raspberry, truffle and underbrush; less precise than the 2004 Asili. Then sweet, creamy and seamless in the mouth, with an almost exotic character to the cherry and raspberry fruit. Offers impressive power for a Barolo from young vines, but also lovely mid-palate sweetness and creaminess of texture. Finishes with chewy but ripe and sweet tannins and good length. A distinctly supple style of Barolo, especially from this producer.WS90 (6/2008): Aromas of plum, coffee and dried flowers follow through to a medium body, with silky tannins and a soft, refined finish. A delicate young Barolo. This is a new single-vineyard wine from Giacosa. Best after 2011. 600 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWS 95 (12/2000): Serious Barolo, with sleek yet powerful structure. Aromas of berry, plum and minerals. Full-bodied, with a tannin structure that builds on your palate. Long finish. Best after 2005. 510 cases made. IWC 94+ (12/2000): Medium red. Musky, complex aromas of black raspberry, licorice and lead pencil. Large-scaled but penetrating; tangy raspberry flavors are given great precision by the wine firm spine of acidity. Almost painfully young today. Finishes with explosive, very persistent flavors and firm but thoroughly buffered tannins. A bit dominated by its powerful structure today, but this wine really blossomed with aeration.WA 94-96 (8/1999): The saturated ruby/purple-colored 1996 Barolo Falletto exhibits an extraordinary nose of smoke, earth, white truffles, black fruits, licorice, and floral scents. Extremely massive, with layers of concentration, high tannin, a muscular personality, and a 40+ second finish, this classic, young Barolo will require patience. Why can't I turn my body clock back twenty years? Anticipated maturity: 2012-2035.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 96 (12/2007): Giacosa’s 2004 Barolo Falletto is so compelling it will be hard not to drink it in its youth. This gorgeous Barolo reveals a deeply structured frame layered with sweet dark fruit, mint, spice and pine. At once delicate and powerful, it is a beautifully finessed wine that is sure to provide much pleasure. A recent bottle of the 1982 is a testament to the virtues of this great site as interpreted by Bruno Giacosa. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.IWC 94 (12/2007): Saturated medium red. Musky aromas of sappy cherry liqueur and minerals. Juicy, mineral-driven and gripping, with excellent clarity and thrust to its intense, slightly candied flavors. A very sexy, wonderfully rich and broad Barolo with substantial ripe tannins. The pHs of the Barolos and Barbarescos here are higher today than they were previously, admits Giacosa, but that's a function of warmer years and riper fruit rather than any change in philosophy.WS 92 (6/2008): A delicate wine, with intense aromas and some strawberry, citrus fruit and cherry character. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, beautiful finish. Very pretty. All in balance and refinement. Best after 2010. 1,200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 94+ (2/2011): The 2007 Barolo Falletto is an overachieving wine, even at this high level. The bouquet has a level of delineation, sweetness, inner perfume and nuance generally only found in Giacosa’s Red Label Riservas. The Falletto impresses for the intensity of its dark fruit and superb overall balance. The extroverted personality of the vintage is quite evident, especially as the wine sits in the glass. Menthol, flowers and licorice add the final notes of complexity on the finish. This is an especially racy Barolo from Bruno Giacosa, but the trademark elegance is there. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032.IWC 93-95 (12/2009): Good full red. Captivating fruit aromas of cherry and raspberry are given class and lift by firm minerality. Compellingly sweet, rich and fat, showcasing the silky texture of the year. But this wine also has deep medicinal reserves and plenty of definition for all its sweetness. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins. JS 94 (11/2010): Dried strawberries, with hints of flowers. Full bodied, with clean fruit and polished tannins. Very fruity. Need a couple of years to soften. Reminds me of the 1997.WS 90 (4/2011): This elegant red is highlighted by flavors of ripe cherry, verging on cherry jam, along with flowers and mineral. Though solidly structured, this is well-integrated and fresh on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 392 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 94+ (2/2011): The 2007 Barolo Falletto is an overachieving wine, even at this high level. The bouquet has a level of delineation, sweetness, inner perfume and nuance generally only found in Giacosa’s Red Label Riservas. The Falletto impresses for the intensity of its dark fruit and superb overall balance. The extroverted personality of the vintage is quite evident, especially as the wine sits in the glass. Menthol, flowers and licorice add the final notes of complexity on the finish. This is an especially racy Barolo from Bruno Giacosa, but the trademark elegance is there. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032.IWC 93-95 (12/2009): Good full red. Captivating fruit aromas of cherry and raspberry are given class and lift by firm minerality. Compellingly sweet, rich and fat, showcasing the silky texture of the year. But this wine also has deep medicinal reserves and plenty of definition for all its sweetness. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins. JS 94 (11/2010): Dried strawberries, with hints of flowers. Full bodied, with clean fruit and polished tannins. Very fruity. Need a couple of years to soften. Reminds me of the 1997.WS 90 (4/2011): This elegant red is highlighted by flavors of ripe cherry, verging on cherry jam, along with flowers and mineral. Though solidly structured, this is well-integrated and fresh on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 392 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 94+ (2/2011): The 2007 Barolo Falletto is an overachieving wine, even at this high level. The bouquet has a level of delineation, sweetness, inner perfume and nuance generally only found in Giacosa’s Red Label Riservas. The Falletto impresses for the intensity of its dark fruit and superb overall balance. The extroverted personality of the vintage is quite evident, especially as the wine sits in the glass. Menthol, flowers and licorice add the final notes of complexity on the finish. This is an especially racy Barolo from Bruno Giacosa, but the trademark elegance is there. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032.IWC 93-95 (12/2009): Good full red. Captivating fruit aromas of cherry and raspberry are given class and lift by firm minerality. Compellingly sweet, rich and fat, showcasing the silky texture of the year. But this wine also has deep medicinal reserves and plenty of definition for all its sweetness. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins. JS 94 (11/2010): Dried strawberries, with hints of flowers. Full bodied, with clean fruit and polished tannins. Very fruity. Need a couple of years to soften. Reminds me of the 1997.WS 90 (4/2011): This elegant red is highlighted by flavors of ripe cherry, verging on cherry jam, along with flowers and mineral. Though solidly structured, this is well-integrated and fresh on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 392 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 94+ (2/2011): The 2007 Barolo Falletto is an overachieving wine, even at this high level. The bouquet has a level of delineation, sweetness, inner perfume and nuance generally only found in Giacosa’s Red Label Riservas. The Falletto impresses for the intensity of its dark fruit and superb overall balance. The extroverted personality of the vintage is quite evident, especially as the wine sits in the glass. Menthol, flowers and licorice add the final notes of complexity on the finish. This is an especially racy Barolo from Bruno Giacosa, but the trademark elegance is there. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032.IWC 93-95 (12/2009): Good full red. Captivating fruit aromas of cherry and raspberry are given class and lift by firm minerality. Compellingly sweet, rich and fat, showcasing the silky texture of the year. But this wine also has deep medicinal reserves and plenty of definition for all its sweetness. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins. JS 94 (11/2010): Dried strawberries, with hints of flowers. Full bodied, with clean fruit and polished tannins. Very fruity. Need a couple of years to soften. Reminds me of the 1997.WS 90 (4/2011): This elegant red is highlighted by flavors of ripe cherry, verging on cherry jam, along with flowers and mineral. Though solidly structured, this is well-integrated and fresh on the finish. Drink now through 2020. 392 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 96 (4/2007): The Falletto is another great wine for current drinking. It shows an alcoholic nose and plenty of lush, sweet fruit with notes of dark macerated cherries, spices and menthol that gradually reveal themselves as the wine sits in the glass. Although the Falletto is a wine of greater overall structure, it is softer and more advanced in its flavors than the Santo Stefano, and ideally it too should be consumed over the next few years. 96/drink now-http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 94 (10/2007): The 2003 Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto is a fascinating wine. It is classic Giacosa, with a lovely core of sweet roses, raspberries, licorice and menthol that is currently hiding under an imposing wall of tannins. It is also a wine of contrasts, at times open and accessible, at others brooding and shut down. As it sits in the glass the fruit gradually emerges to fill out the wine’s structure. It had only improved when I re-tasted it several days after first opening the bottle. That said, it will require further cellaring to soften the tannins, as the wine has shut down considerably since bottling. Made from the heart of the Falletto vineyard, it clearly benefits from the age of the vines in these selected plots. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023.IWC 92+ (12/2007): Good medium red. Reticent, brooding nose suggests menthol and mocha. In a distinctly closed and tougher style, with fairly vibrant currant, mocha and menthol flavors currently cut off by firm tannins. This makes the 2003 Asili appear lush and open by comparison. But this rather classically styled Barolo is still a baby.WS 92 (10/2007): A little jammy on the nose, with lots of strawberry. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, chewy finish. Slightly one-dimensional now, but should develop wonderfully over time. Best after 2010. 930 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 94 (10/2007): The 2003 Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto is a fascinating wine. It is classic Giacosa, with a lovely core of sweet roses, raspberries, licorice and menthol that is currently hiding under an imposing wall of tannins. It is also a wine of contrasts, at times open and accessible, at others brooding and shut down. As it sits in the glass the fruit gradually emerges to fill out the wine’s structure. It had only improved when I re-tasted it several days after first opening the bottle. That said, it will require further cellaring to soften the tannins, as the wine has shut down considerably since bottling. Made from the heart of the Falletto vineyard, it clearly benefits from the age of the vines in these selected plots. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023.IWC 92+ (12/2007): Good medium red. Reticent, brooding nose suggests menthol and mocha. In a distinctly closed and tougher style, with fairly vibrant currant, mocha and menthol flavors currently cut off by firm tannins. This makes the 2003 Asili appear lush and open by comparison. But this rather classically styled Barolo is still a baby.WS 92 (10/2007): A little jammy on the nose, with lots of strawberry. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, chewy finish. Slightly one-dimensional now, but should develop wonderfully over time. Best after 2010. 930 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.aspWA 97 (10/2006): Darker and more backward than the Falletto in both its aromas and flavors, Giacosa’s staggering 2001 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto offers an explosive nose of spices, menthol, minerals, smoke and scorched earth followed by waves of sweet fruit that coat the palate in a potent mix of finesse and sheer power, with fine tannins, and a lingering balsamic note on the finish. This complex, multi-dimensional wine will require considerable patience and will age gracefully for several decades. Made from the oldest vines at Falletto, the 2001 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto is another towering achievement from Bruno Giacosa. An Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa bottling. To be released in 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2031.WS 97 (10/2005): This is a beautiful, seductive wine with power yet great finesse. It?s full-bodied, with a massive silky mouthfeel and lovely raspberry and strawberry character. It?s very, very long. All in harmony. Giacosa is a master. Not the 100-point 2000, but stupendous just the same. Best after 2009. 1,200 cases made.IWC 93+ (12/2002): Impressive red-ruby color. Reticent, slightly reduced nose opens quickly to show tangy spices, minerally soil tones, woodsmoke and a note of underbrush. Then juicy and vibrant in the middle palate, with a dense minerally character and the harmonious ripe acidity of the finest '98s; a velvety wine with great verve. Boasts a strong, ripe flavor of red fruit syrup and an incipient truffley perfume. The sweet fruit outlasts the substantial tannins on the long, lively finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoGiacosa.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VillaGirardi.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VillaGirardi.aspWA 94 (2/2011): The 2005 Bianco Breg Anfora has developed beautifully since I first reviewed it last year. Silky tannins frame an expressive core of apricots, orange peel, flowers and sweet spices as the Breg opens up in the glass. The 2005 is a mid-weight Breg that doesn’t quite have the power of other recent vintages, but that may actually work in its favor when enjoyed at the table. The long, harmonious finish makes it impossible to resist a second taste. This is one of the most elegant wines I have tasted from Gravner in a long time, perhaps ever. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2020. WS 90 (12/2009): Smells like beeswax, lavender honey and caramel. Dark gold in color, with a full-body and an almost tannic character, but chewy and interesting. Made in amphora. Weird and wonderful. Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Riesling Italico. Drink now. 1,200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Gravner.aspWA 94 (2/2011): The 2005 Ribolla Gialla Anfora is what Barolo might taste like if Nebbiolo were a white grape. A gorgeous, powerful core of fruit sits on a frame of gripping, yet beautifully integrated tannins. The Ribolla possesses more weight and richness than the Breg, if slightly less aromatic complexity. It is an ideal wine to pair with rich winter stews. I am amazed at how well this wine has come together over the last year. It is another gem from Gravner. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2020. WS 90 (12/2009): Gold-colored, with loads of ripe fruit and honey undertones. Full-bodied, with dried apricot and peach, meringue and dried coconut. Turns a little herbal. Fascinating. Made in amphora. Drink now. 1,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Gravner.aspWS 94 (10/2007): Dark purple in color, with amazing aromas of blackberry, currant, mineral and flowers. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins that are seamless and refined. Goes on and on. Coats every millimeter of the palate. So fine and complex. This is from a new estate. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2012. 400 cases made. WA 90 (6/2007): The estate’s 2004 Greppicaia, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc spent 15 months in small French oak. A fully saturated ruby, it offers masses of super-ripe dark fruit, smoke, licorice, tar and toasted oak flavors along with a big, powerful personality in a bold, if not particularly elegant, style. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Greppi.aspWS 93 (10/2008): Dark ruby in color, with beautiful aromas of currant, mint and crushed berries. Complex and subtle. Full-bodied, with ultrapolished tannins and gorgeous fruit. This goes on and on. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2012. 1,500 cases made. WA 90 (6/2008): The top of the line 2005 Greppicaia is Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. In keeping with the cooler growing season it remains a fresh, vibrant wine, with attractive notes of dark fruit, violets, minerals, chocolate and spices that flow from its structured frame. This sexy red needs some bottle age but it is very promising. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Greppi.aspWS 96 (7/2004): Amazing aromas of crushed strawberries and raspberries. Pure fruit. Full-bodied, with fabulously silky tannins and a long, long finish. Seductive and refined. A great bottle. Grimaldi has really come into his own. Best after 2009. 400 cases made. IWC 89 (12/2004): Good full medium red. Nuanced nose combines mocha, underbrush and smoky, nutty oak. Sweet, rich and nutty, with more verve and spice character than the estate's Sotto Castello di Novello bottling. Still, this seems a bit evolved for its age. Finishes with dusty, late-arriving tannins and good length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GiacomoGrimaldi.aspWA 89 (10/1998): Made from Antinori's Belvedere estate along the Tuscan coast, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot was aged 14 months in oak casks. The wine boasts a knock-out nose of pain grille, black currants, licorice, and sweet, jammy cherry fruit. It is concentrated and medium-bodied, with a thick, juicy, succulent personality, and copious glycerin and sweet tannin in the long finish. Although accessible, it promises to evolve for 7-8 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GuadoalTasso(Antinori).aspWA 94 (10/2001): Spectacular, the 1999 Guado Al Tasso possesses sweet tannin and accessibility. Its explosive aromatics consist of smoke, licorice, espresso, chocolate, vanillin, and celestial black currants. With sensational concentration, flamboyant flavors, an opulent texture, full body, and brilliant concentration as well as delineation, it comes across as intense, balanced, pure, and rich. Anticipated maturity: now-2016.IWC 93 (8/2003): Very dark ruby with a blackish core. Deep aromas of blackberry, cocoa and cinnamon fill the nose. Dense and exceedingly plush, displaying luscious dark berry flavors, with graphite appearing on the long finish. In spite of its formidable structure the wine maintains an admirable sense of balance. WS 89 (9/2002): Aromas of red licorice, with cut flowers and cumin and a hint of tarragon. Full-bodied, with tight and firm tannins, yet fresh and solid. Give this time; should open up. Slightly rustic. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best after 2004. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 9,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GuadoalTasso(Antinori).aspWA 94 (10/2001): Spectacular, the 1999 Guado Al Tasso possesses sweet tannin and accessibility. Its explosive aromatics consist of smoke, licorice, espresso, chocolate, vanillin, and celestial black currants. With sensational concentration, flamboyant flavors, an opulent texture, full body, and brilliant concentration as well as delineation, it comes across as intense, balanced, pure, and rich. Anticipated maturity: now-2016.IWC 93 (8/2003): Very dark ruby with a blackish core. Deep aromas of blackberry, cocoa and cinnamon fill the nose. Dense and exceedingly plush, displaying luscious dark berry flavors, with graphite appearing on the long finish. In spite of its formidable structure the wine maintains an admirable sense of balance. WS 89 (9/2002): Aromas of red licorice, with cut flowers and cumin and a hint of tarragon. Full-bodied, with tight and firm tannins, yet fresh and solid. Give this time; should open up. Slightly rustic. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best after 2004. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 9,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GuadoalTasso(Antinori).aspWS 93 (10/2003): Very polished yet wild. Ripe and decadent, with spice, meat and fruit. Full-bodied, with thick, velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. A full-throttle red. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best after 2007. 9,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GuadoalTasso(Antinori).aspWS 92 (9/2002): Incredibly well-crafted red. Complex aromas of raspberries, vanilla and coffee. Medium-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long, silky finish. A beauty. Best after 2004. 4,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/IsoleeOlena.aspWA 96 (10/2001): After tasting the 1997 Campoleone (one of the greatest Italian wines made over recent years), a friend of mine joked that it was a shame these people didn't fashion cars as well as they make wine. This famed 50% Merlot/50% Sangiovese blend comes from a parcel of just under 20 acres. The compelling 1999 Campoleone (20,000 bottles produced) was aged in 100% French oak and bottled without fining or filtration by oenologist Riccardo Cotarella. A dense opaque purple color is accompanied by scents of new saddle leather, blackberry and cassis fruit, licorice, roasted meats, and graphite. Full-bodied and sweet, with a fabulous texture, ripe tannin, adequate acidity, and brilliant definition, this is a tour de force in winemaking. It should drink well for 10-15 years.WS 88 (3/2002): A well-constructed wine. Very earthy aromas open to ripe berry and black cherry aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with round and soft tannins and a polished, caressing aftertaste. Merlot and Sangiovese. Best after 2003. 1,700 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaFioritaLamborghini.aspWA 95 (12/2002): One of the most spectacular wines made in Italy, this unfined/unfiltered, Merlot/Sangiovese blend (about 3,400 cases produced) boasts an extraordinary perfume of saddle leather, smoke, cassis, prunes, and plums. Rich, full-bodied, and voluptuously-textured, with layers of concentrated fruit, a magnificent seamlessness, and a huge, explosive finish, it should drink well for 10-15 years. It is a wine of great stature as well as intensity.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaFioritaLamborghini.aspWA 89 (10/2001): The proprietary red wine offering, the 1997 Terricci, is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It is a compressed, complex, plum/purple-colored effort with plenty of chewy currant/cherry fruit, saddle leather, animal fur, earth, and graphite. Although approximately 70% new French barriques were utilized, the oak characteristic is subdued in the wine's aromas and flavors. The finish is moderately tannic. Cellar this 1997 for another 1-2 years, and enjoy it over the following 12-14 years.IWC 86 (2/2002): Medium to dark garnet. Appealing raspberry and spicy oak on the nose. Concentrated flavors of red fruits, mint and tea. The texture is full, though there is some astringency.WS 83 (12/1998): Tastes more like Sauvignon than Chardonnay with its cut grass, celery and honeydew melon character. Medium-bodied, with well-integrated acidity and a fruity, mineral aftertaste. Drink now. 100 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Lanciola.aspWS 90 (6/2000): A beautiful Bordeaux blend, with currant bush, mint and mineral aromas plus a touch of new oak. Full-bodied, with polished tannins and a long, long finish. Best after 2002.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSanLeonardo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CantinaLombardo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GiuseppeLonardi.aspWS 87 (10/2000): Lacks concentration. Decent aromas of driedcherry, leaves, toasted oak and stewed berriesfollow through to a medium- to full-bodied palatewith fine tannins. A bit lean and astringent onthe finish. A very good Luce, but slightlydisappointing for the vintage. Drink now through 2003. 9,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Luce.aspWS 87 (2/2000): A pretty, mature, traditional red. Interesting aromas of blackberry and tobacco, with hints of bark. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins and a lovely, velvety finish. Drink now through 2004.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Lungarotti.aspWS 95 (10/2005): Gorgeous aromas of ripe fruit, spices and light cedar. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. This is balanced and wonderfully made, with great concentration. Great value too. Best after 2007. 850 cases made.IWC 88 (12/2004): Full red. Expressive aromas of raspberry, rose petal, brown spices, nuts and cedary oak. Sweet, spicy and fresh, with lush fruit lifted by pungent cinnamon and mace. The firmly tannic finish hints at leather and meat, but this wine comes across as distinctly less rustic than the 2000 example.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GiovanniManzone.aspWS 88 (10/1997): Modern-style Barolo, pushing the envelope with what seems like barrique treatment from the taste of the violet, spice and cassis flavors. Elegant, fairly lean, and medium-bodied. Should be a beauty around 2002. 2,708 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RocchedeiManzoni.aspWS 88 (10/1997): Modern-style Barolo, pushing the envelope with what seems like barrique treatment from the taste of the violet, spice and cassis flavors. Elegant, fairly lean, and medium-bodied. Should be a beauty around 2002. 2,708 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RocchedeiManzoni.aspWA 95 (4/2007): What a way to start the evening. Mascarello’s Barolo offers a beautiful nose of spices and menthol that is just starting to reveal more evolved notes. It is dense on the palate, with suggestions of rich red fruit, menthol and cocoa balanced by noble tannins which provide just the right amount of balance, and closing with an extraordinary finish that conveys a sense of freshness. A terrific showing. 95 points/drink now-http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BartoloMascarello.aspWA 95 (2/2011): The 2005 Barolo is super-delicate and finessed. This is a decidedly restrained, feminine style of Barolo laced with roses, raspberries, jasmine and berries. It will be fascinating to see which direction the 2005 takes from here. At times the wine appears to be putting on additional weight, but it nevertheless retains an element of frailty that is actually quite attractive. I rate the 2005 just behind the 2004, 2006 and 2007, but it is a gorgeous wine, and easily one of the very finest wines of the vintage.WS 94 (12/2011): Intense eucalyptus, raspberry, strawberry and tar notes mark this vibrant red, which is perfumed, despite being lean and focused, with a long, mineral-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2012 through 2030.IWC 93 (12/2009): Dark red. Much less expressive on the nose than the 2006, hinting at game, tobacco and underbrush. Distinctly wilder in the mouth, showing less energy and primary fruit character than the 2006 but a compelling silky texture. There's a lovely sweetness to the tobacco, earth and underbrush flavors and rather suave if slightly drying tannins, but this wine is nonetheless tight and in need of patience.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BartoloMascarello.aspWA 96 (2/2011): Mascarello’s 2007 Barolo flows from the glass with masses of round, enveloping fruit. This is an unusually soft, juicy Barolo from Mascarello that is remarkable for its textural richness and warm radiant fruit. The 2007 doesn’t have the aromatic complexity of the 2005 or 2006, but it makes up for that with its totally seductive personality. Crushed flowers, berries and sweet baking spices linger on a generous finish that evokes memories of the 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BartoloMascarello.aspWA 89 (10/2008): The entry-level 2005 Amarone Classico della Valpolicella Costasera is made in a fairly straightforward, fresh style, with perfumed bright red fruit supported by silky tannins. This harmonious red offers excellent depth and lovely balance. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Masi.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Masi.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Melini.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Monsanto.aspWA 93 (8/2010): Readers looking for a recent Montevetrano that is ready or close to ready to drink should consider the 2005. Early tertiary notes of tobacco and smoke have begun to develop. The fruit is round, soft and harmonious all the way through to the long, polished finish. This is a relatively simple, accessible Montevetrano in this context, but it should drink well reasonably early. The balance and overall sense of harmony remain that of a first class red. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025. WS 93 (8/2008): Very ripe and raisiny, with tar and licorice character that turns to volcanic ash and dried flowers. Full and chewy, yet balanced and polished, with a solid core of fruit and a long, subtle, flavored finish. Best after 2009. 1,500 cases made. IWC 90+ (8/2008): Medium-deep red. Perfumed cassis aroma complicated by graphite, cedar and mineral notes, plus a not unpleasant hint of bell pepper. Suave and refined on entry, then more spicy and brisk with air, picking up a mineral tang and an enticing floral quality to its cassis and boysenberry flavors. In the style of the vintage, this is a sleeker, smaller-structured Montevetrano in which the youthfully aggressive tannins are almost painful at present and will require a decade of aging-at the least. Finishes clean and impressively long.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Montevetrano.aspWA 94 (8/2010): I have always admired the 2006 Montevetrano for its powerful, intense personality. Today the 2006 is austere and unyielding but it seems pretty clear this gorgeous wine simply needs time in bottle, as hints of beautiful inner perfume occasionally make an appearance in the glass. Imparato calls 2006 a very challenging vintage. Still, it would appear this is a magical Montevetrano. All that is required is patience. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Montevetrano.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CorderodiMontezemolo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/NinoNegri.aspWA 95 (12/2010): The 2007 Barbaresco Albesani Santo Stefano shows the weight and richness that is typical of this south-facing site in Neive. A rich fabric of dark fruit, fresh roses, new leather and menthol completely cover the palate. The Santo Stefano is impeccable in its generous, enveloping fruit. The intensity and sheer depth of the fruit manages to virtually bury the tannins, but they are there. As delicious as this is today, it will be even better in a few years- time. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiNeive.aspIWC 91 (8/2002): Very dark, nearly opaque garnet. Unusual and powerful aromas of truffle, saddle leather, cigar tobacco and game, with a distinct overtone of sage. Quite herbal in the mouth, with overripe dark cherry, bitter chocolate and roasted chestnuts very much present. Dense and lush, with vibrant acidity and mouthcoating tannins. This highly extracted wine has a distinctly overripe quality and its long finish is slightly hot. Atypical but fascinating Brunello. WS 86 (9/1999): Some really delicious bright berry and cherry flavors, but slightly earthy and rustic. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins. Caressing finish. Drink now. 3,012 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CasanovadiNeri.aspWS 92 (5/2003): Intense aromas of plums, grapes and flowers. Full-bodied, with big, juicy tannins and a long berry, licorice finish. Very ripe style. Best after 2004. 5,090 cases made. WA 87 (12/2002): The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is a better balanced, softer, sweeter wine than its 1997 counterpart. Nevertheless, it needs to be drunk over the next 5-6 years as it does not have the necessary depth to age longer. An attractive, evolved perfume of smoke, ashtray, cedar, tobacco, and red currants is followed by a medium-bodied Brunello with no hard edges (unlike its 1997 sibling).http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CasanovadiNeri.aspWS 92 (5/2003): Intense aromas of plums, grapes and flowers. Full-bodied, with big, juicy tannins and a long berry, licorice finish. Very ripe style. Best after 2004. 5,090 cases made. WA 87 (12/2002): The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is a better balanced, softer, sweeter wine than its 1997 counterpart. Nevertheless, it needs to be drunk over the next 5-6 years as it does not have the necessary depth to age longer. An attractive, evolved perfume of smoke, ashtray, cedar, tobacco, and red currants is followed by a medium-bodied Brunello with no hard edges (unlike its 1997 sibling).http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CasanovadiNeri.aspWS 95 (10/2002): Deep, dark color. Classy aromas of blackberries, minerals and spices. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. So refined. A fabulous debut wine from one of Brunello greatest producers. Best after 2005. 665 cases made. WA 90 (12/2002): The 2000 Pietradonice, a Merlot/Sangiovese blend, possesses a dense ruby/purple color in addition to sweet aromas of espresso, pain grille, mocha, black cherry, and currants. Pure, ripe, medium to full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, it will be at its best between 2004-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CasanovadiNeri.aspWS 95 (10/2002): Deep, dark color. Classy aromas of blackberries, minerals and spices. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. So refined. A fabulous debut wine from one of Brunello greatest producers. Best after 2005. 665 cases made. WA 90 (12/2002): The 2000 Pietradonice, a Merlot/Sangiovese blend, possesses a dense ruby/purple color in addition to sweet aromas of espresso, pain grille, mocha, black cherry, and currants. Pure, ripe, medium to full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, it will be at its best between 2004-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CasanovadiNeri.aspWS 91 (10/2003): Fantastic aromas of crushed blackberry, raspberry and cherry follow through to a full-bodied palate, with a solid core of tannins and a long, long finish. Dense yet refined, with excellent richness and structure. This is stunning and only the second year from Brunello's great producer. 95 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 percent Sangiovese. Best after 2007. 985 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CasanovadiNeri.aspWS 91 (10/2003): Fantastic aromas of crushed blackberry, raspberry and cherry follow through to a full-bodied palate, with a solid core of tannins and a long, long finish. Dense yet refined, with excellent richness and structure. This is stunning and only the second year from Brunello's great producer. 95 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 percent Sangiovese. Best after 2007. 985 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CasanovadiNeri.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiNipozzano(Frescobaldi).aspWS 85 (2/1995): A solid, fruity, forthright red with ample plum and berry flavors and firm tannins. It's fresh, lively and moderately tannic. Drink now. WA 84 (10/1994): Tasted but not recommended.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiNipozzano(Frescobaldi).aspWS 90 (10/2008): Offers plummy fruit, with hints of flowers, citrus and light chocolate. Medium-bodied, with a balanced and tasty palate, fine tannins and a clean finish. Structured. Best after 2009. 83,000 cases made.WA 89 (8/2008): The 2005 Chianti Rufina Riserva is a soft, accessible, fruit-driven Chianti. It offers good length although the intensity drops off a little on the mid-palate. Ideally there might be a little more Sangiovese character. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiNipozzano(Frescobaldi).aspWS 87 (10/1996): A lovely, elegant wine with plenty of ripe fruit and vanilla aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with velvety tannins and fresh finish. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now. 3,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiNipozzano(Frescobaldi).aspWS 90 (10/2004): Beautiful blackberries and crushed raspberries on the nose. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium finish. A bit austere, but lovely aromas and flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best after 2007. 3,900 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiNipozzano(Frescobaldi).aspWS 90 (10/2004): Beautiful blackberries and crushed raspberries on the nose. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium finish. A bit austere, but lovely aromas and flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best after 2007. 3,900 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiNipozzano(Frescobaldi).aspIWC 92 (8/2000): Full, dark ruby. Very ripe, sweet plum and red berry aromas, along with harmonious oak notes of smoke and vanilla. Quite silky on the palate but not at the expense of its concentration and structure. Very well balanced, stylish and long, and already drinking very well.WS 92 (10/2004): Dense ruby color; meaty and chocolaty ,with berry aromas. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a long, caressing finish, it shows loads of character. It?s just starting to come around now. Not as impressive as I expected but excellent.--Masseto non-blind vertical. Drink now. 2,915 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspIWC 92 (8/2000): Full, dark ruby. Very ripe, sweet plum and red berry aromas, along with harmonious oak notes of smoke and vanilla. Quite silky on the palate but not at the expense of its concentration and structure. Very well balanced, stylish and long, and already drinking very well.WS 92 (10/2004): Dense ruby color; meaty and chocolaty ,with berry aromas. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a long, caressing finish, it shows loads of character. It?s just starting to come around now. Not as impressive as I expected but excellent.--Masseto non-blind vertical. Drink now. 2,915 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspWS 95 (10/2004): Beautiful violet, berry and raspberry character. Very fruity and pretty. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. This is seductive and modern. It shows excellent potential for aging.--Masseto non-blind vertical. Best after 2008. 2,815 cases made. WA 94 (12/2002): The dense ruby/purple-colored 1999 Masseto offers a fabulous bouquet of sweet oak, black raspberries, blackberries, currants, new wood, and licorice. Firmly-structured and medium to full-bodied yet remarkably elegant, this impressive beauty needs 3-4 years of cellaring, and should age for 15+ years. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2019IWC 92 (8/2003): (100% merlot) Intense blackish ruby. Big, brooding nose of superripe plum, sage and other Mediterranean herbs. Extraordinarily plush, with raspberry jam filling the mouth. Big, dusty tannins underscore the intense and very long finish, redolent of roasted espresso beans and vanilla.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspWS 92 (11/1993): The wine of the vintage, and the first great Ornellaia. Still dark in color, full-bodied and oozing with fruit on the nose and palate. Tons of berry and herb character, full, velvety tannins and a long finish. Drinkable now but better after 1997. 1,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspWS 91 (12/1998): A wine that emphasizes finesse rather than power. Plenty of dried herb and berry character, with a hint of mint. Medium- to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Greatest Ornellaia in years. Best after 2000.WA 92 (10/1998): Is the 1995 Ornellaia better than previous vintages? It is too soon to know, but this is unquestionably another stunning wine in what has been a strong succession of top wines since 1988. The color is a saturated, thick-looking, ruby/purple. The nose offers up aromas of roasted coffee, jammy black cherry liqueur, and cassis intermixed with spice. On the palate, the wine is rich and full-bodied, with well-integrated wood, tannin, and acidity. Pure, youthful, and accessible, this impressively endowed wine should drink well for 10-15+ years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspWS 94 (11/1999): Ornellaia is superb this year. One of the best in years, with currant and blackberry and hints of mint. Full-bodied, with excellent tannin structure and a lovely, sweet berry aftertaste. Best after 2000. 13,750 cases made. IWC 88 (10/2004): Deep, bright red. Pretty, floral aromas of dark berries, cocoa powder, cedar and truffle. Juicy and suave on entry, then moderately rich in the middle, with sound acidity and a slightly earthy, roasted character. The roasted character shades toward raisin on the finish. The fruit here was harvested after a rainy spell in '96. (Interestingly, the 1996 Masseto shows finer tannins than the '95, and today is clearly the better wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspWS 94 (11/1999): Ornellaia is superb this year. One of the best in years, with currant and blackberry and hints of mint. Full-bodied, with excellent tannin structure and a lovely, sweet berry aftertaste. Best after 2000. 13,750 cases made. IWC 88 (10/2004): Deep, bright red. Pretty, floral aromas of dark berries, cocoa powder, cedar and truffle. Juicy and suave on entry, then moderately rich in the middle, with sound acidity and a slightly earthy, roasted character. The roasted character shades toward raisin on the finish. The fruit here was harvested after a rainy spell in '96. (Interestingly, the 1996 Masseto shows finer tannins than the '95, and today is clearly the better wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspWS 94 (11/1999): Ornellaia is superb this year. One of the best in years, with currant and blackberry and hints of mint. Full-bodied, with excellent tannin structure and a lovely, sweet berry aftertaste. Best after 2000. 13,750 cases made. IWC 88 (10/2004): Deep, bright red. Pretty, floral aromas of dark berries, cocoa powder, cedar and truffle. Juicy and suave on entry, then moderately rich in the middle, with sound acidity and a slightly earthy, roasted character. The roasted character shades toward raisin on the finish. The fruit here was harvested after a rainy spell in '96. (Interestingly, the 1996 Masseto shows finer tannins than the '95, and today is clearly the better wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspCabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best after 2003. 1,600 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspWS 95 (12/2007): Dark ruby red. Shows intense blackberry, currant, fresh herb and mineral character on the nose. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, caressing finish. Still young and powerful.--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Best after 2009. 11,415 cases made. WA 95 (1/2010): The 1997 Ornellaia (magnum) is a big, fat wine endowed with tons of fruit. Mocha, coffee beans and ripe, dark fruit emerge from the glass on a rich, opulent frame. The structural elements are easy to overlook, as the tannins are so juicy and ripe, and the fruit is incredibly intense. Simply put, everything is in the right place. Not surprisingly, 1997 is the year Ornellaia introduced their second wine, Le Serre Nuove, and the extra selection that was carried out to produce this wine has paid off big time. The 1997 is also the first Ornellaia in which Merlot is a full 30% of the blend, while Cabernet Sauvignon is 65% and Cabernet Franc is 5%. It is also the first year in which the percentage of new oak is 50%. In many ways, the 1997 is a wine that signals a move towards the more extroverted style that is common here these days. The 1997 Ornellaia, like many wines from Tuscany that year, is marked by a unique growing season that saw an April frost lower yields dramatically, followed by a hot, dry summer which concentrated the remaining fruit to a levels not seen previously. It remains a magnificent example of this Tuscan classic. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2017. IWC 91 (10/2004): Bright, youthful red-ruby. Very ripe, complex aromas of black fruits, violet, exotic spices, licorice and humus. Then hugely full and sweet in the mouth, but with a faint greenness. Finishes with big, slightly rustic tannins-less fine-grained than usual for this estate. A classic wine from a hot year in which the ripening came in a rush.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspWS 95 (12/2007): Dark ruby red. Shows intense blackberry, currant, fresh herb and mineral character on the nose. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, caressing finish. Still young and powerful.--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Best after 2009. 11,415 cases made. WA 95 (1/2010): The 1997 Ornellaia (magnum) is a big, fat wine endowed with tons of fruit. Mocha, coffee beans and ripe, dark fruit emerge from the glass on a rich, opulent frame. The structural elements are easy to overlook, as the tannins are so juicy and ripe, and the fruit is incredibly intense. Simply put, everything is in the right place. Not surprisingly, 1997 is the year Ornellaia introduced their second wine, Le Serre Nuove, and the extra selection that was carried out to produce this wine has paid off big time. The 1997 is also the first Ornellaia in which Merlot is a full 30% of the blend, while Cabernet Sauvignon is 65% and Cabernet Franc is 5%. It is also the first year in which the percentage of new oak is 50%. In many ways, the 1997 is a wine that signals a move towards the more extroverted style that is common here these days. The 1997 Ornellaia, like many wines from Tuscany that year, is marked by a unique growing season that saw an April frost lower yields dramatically, followed by a hot, dry summer which concentrated the remaining fruit to a levels not seen previously. It remains a magnificent example of this Tuscan classic. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2017. IWC 91 (10/2004): Bright, youthful red-ruby. Very ripe, complex aromas of black fruits, violet, exotic spices, licorice and humus. Then hugely full and sweet in the mouth, but with a faint greenness. Finishes with big, slightly rustic tannins-less fine-grained than usual for this estate. A classic wine from a hot year in which the ripening came in a rush.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspIWC 94+ (10/2004): Saturated ruby-red. Flamboyant, upfront aromas of black- and redcurrant, raspberry, strawberry, chocolate, mocha and violet pastille. Big, rich, sweet and deep, with superripe, distinctly Mediterranean flavors of blueberry, strawberry and chocolate, kept fresh by sound acidity. Conveys an impression of powerful extract. Finishes with superb, noble tannins and mounting flavors of red fruits, licorice and chocolate. This extremely young wine's solid structure is currently hidden by its sheer chewy sweetness of fruit. This was the first vintage made by Duroux, and it struck me as especially strong in extract if a bit youthfully disorganized. But note that I tasted it about nine months before it was scheduled to be released.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutadellOrnellaia.aspJS 97 (1/2011): I can't believe how the nose changes from white truffle to berry and black cherry and then goes blueberries and citrus fruits. Full and soft and velvety. It is layered and massive with so much going on. Now sweet tobacco and berries. A wine that is in evolution every moment. Try it in 2014.WA 96 (5/2011): The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino saturates the palate with deep layers of dark red fruit, violets, new leather and spices. The aromas and flavors grow beautifully with air, showing remarkable intensity all the way through to the expansive, textured finish. This is a brilliant effort from Giancarlo Pacenti. The Brunello saw 18-20 days on the skins, followed by malolactic fermentation and aging in French oak barrels, of which roughly 80% were new. The vineyard sources are approximately 4.5 hectares in Sant’Angelo and Piancornello (in the south of Montalcino) and 5 hectares in Pelagrilli (in the north). Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SiroPacenti.aspWA 88 (4/2010): The 2008 Rosso di Montalcino opens with promising, expressive aromatics that lead to an initial burst of fruit. The wine then loses some of its intensity on the mid-palate, revealing hard, rough tannins that are uncharacteristic. Ideally the wine is best enjoyed upon release. In its finest vintages, Pacenti’s Rosso can last ten years or more. A recent bottle of the 2001 was gorgeous. Vintage 2008, however, did not give Pacenti anywhere near as much quality with which to work. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SiroPacenti.aspWS 80 (12/2006): Floral and earthy aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, but short and dry. Drink now. 8,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Pala.aspWA 91 (2/1997): My scores may turn out to be somewhat conservative for this yummy, succulent, gorgeously proportioned Barolo. The 1993 Barolo Bussia Rocche is the biggest, richest, densest, and fullest-bodied of this producer's 1993 Barolos. It is unevolved, but not as backward as the Bussia Munie. The wine reveals smoky, tar, black-cherry, tobacco, truffle-like aromas, full body, outstanding concentration, and a sweet but unevolved personality and finish. This wine will offer top flight drinking between 1998-2012.WS 85 (10/1997): Clean and elegant, with some earth, mineral and red berry flavor. Medium-bodied, it turns a bit lean and dry on the finish, but age might soften it. Try around 2000. 417 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ArmandoParusso.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Peppoli(Antinori).aspWA 85 (4/1994): The 1990 Barbaresco Sori Fratin reveals an attractive, herbaceous, cherry-scented nose, medium-bodied, spicy, soft flavors, and admirable concentration. It exhibits more tannin than the 1989 Barbaresco Riserva and an enticing, smoky, tar-like element to its flavors. It is best consumed over the next 5-7 years. In the comparative tastings of 1990 and 1989 Barbarescos I conducted in Piedmont, the wines of Armando Piazzo came across as (1) more herbal and (2) designed for short term drinking.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ArmandoPiazzo.aspIWC 95 (2/2000): Medium-deep red. High-pitched aromas of roasted cherry, mocha, gunmetal, Cuban cigar tobacco, animal fur and oak spice; showed an explosive raspberry scent with aeration. Pure, thick and utterly suave, with very concentrated, delineated flavors of extraordinary sweetness and depth. The lush tannins are currently buried in fruit, but this highly aromatic, multidimensional Brunello has solid underlying structure. A knockout.WA 90 (8/2000): The 1995 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso is a full-bodied, backward, seriously-endowed, muscular offering requiring an additional 3-5 years of bottle age. It is not for those who are unable to defer their gratification. The wine exhibits Asian spice, black cherry, and grilled meat aromas and flavors intermixed with dried Provencal herb and underbrush notes. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2016.WS 84 (7/2000): Papery, with plum, leaf and herb aromas. Medium-bodied, with medium tannins and a short finish. Drink now. 1,900 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CiacciPiccolominidAragona.aspWA 93 (4/2005): The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso, one of the best to date, announces its importance with warm and potent aromas of plums and red currants, chocolate and tar. The rich and concentrated flavors, deep, supple, and very long, have the dimension, class, and definition that put the Sangiovese of Montalcino in a category of its own. Drink: 2005-2020.WS 91 (6/2004): Very tight and firm, with hints of fresh flowers, berries and fresh meat. Full-bodied, chewy and silky, with hints of mineral and fruit. Long finish. This is a wine that needs bottle age. Strangely, I like the 1998 better and, of course, the 1997. Best after 2006. 4,100 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CiacciPiccolominidAragona.aspWS 86 (12/2007): There's some fruit, but this is rather herbal, with a green pepper character. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Simple and straightforward. A little disappointing. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2008. 3,335 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Planeta.aspWS 88 (5/2000): A very attractive and very real wine, with loads of strawberry character and hints of vanilla oak and spice. Medium- to full-bodied, with firm tannins and a medium finish. Well made. Nero d'Avola. Drink now through 2004. 1,750 cases made.WA 86 (8/1999): The dark ruby/purple-colored 1997 Santa Cecilia vino da tavola (a blend of Syrah and Nero d'Avola) displays aromas of roasted nuts, black cherries, cassis, and licorice, medium body, sweet tannin, and excellent ripeness. While not complex, it is well-made and mouth-filling. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Planeta.aspWA 89 (8/2000): The impressive, dark ruby/purple-colored 1998 Santa Cecilia is produced from 85% Nero d'Avola and 15% Syrah, and is aged for 12 months in French oak prior to bottling. It offers abundant quantities of peppery, blackberry fruit intermixed with cassis. Supple, with low acidity, fine density, and a chewy constitution, it can be drunk over the next 5-7 years.WS 87 (10/2001): Focused, well-made red. Bright aromas of plums and crushed raspberries follow through to a medium-bodied palate with delicate tannins and a berry, vanilla aftertaste. Best after 2002. 3,300 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Planeta.aspWA 89 (10/2001): The indigenous Nero d'Avola grape makes a brilliant appearance in the 1999 Santa Cecilia. It reveals a deep ruby/purple color along with a dense, chocolatey, black fruit-scented nose with tell-tale toasty new oak. It possesses plenty of suppleness and richness as well as a layered mouth-feel presented in a quasi-international style. Drink it over the next 6-7 years. IWC 88 (8/2001): Garnet-edged ruby. Nose combines plum, iron, stones and light oak notes. Raspberry and plum flavors are quite vigorous thanks to firm, harmonious acidity. A very good midweight red, finishing minerally and fresh. This bottling used to include some syrah, but with the '99 vintage the decision was made to accentuate the specifically Sicilian character of the variety.WS 85 (11/2001): A fruity red, with roses and berries on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Nero d'Avola. Drink now. 6,600 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Planeta.aspWA 89 (12/2002): Elegant as well as typically Italian is the 2000 Santa Cecilia (100% Nero d'Avola aged in French oak). It offers a deep dark ruby/purple color as well as an interesting bouquet of licorice, minerals, and flowers. This elegant, finesse-styled red possesses impressive purity and balance. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.WS 88 (4/2003): Big and jammy, with lots of character, from plums to smoke. Full-bodied, with lots of flavor and tannins and a long, jammy finish. Best after 2004. 7,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Planeta.aspWA 88 (8/2004): The 2001 Santa Cecilia, 100% Nero d’Avola, shows the classic black cherry and licorice notes of the variety in a medium-weight format, smooth in texture but with a somewhat pungent acidity on the tail. Drink: 2004-2010.WS 88 (5/2004): This is always very good. Plenty of plum, berry and cherry character, with a hint of toasted oak. Medium-bodied, with good ripe fruit and a long, exotic berry aftertaste. Nero d'Avola. Drink now. 6,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Planeta.aspWS 86 (2/2005): Plenty of pretty plum aromas with hints of wet earth. Full-bodied, with good fruit, light tannins and a fruity finish. Slightly austere in the end but a good wine. Drink now. 8,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Planeta.aspWS 90 (5/2006): This shows aromas of bread dough, ripe fruit and dried pineapple. Full-bodied, oily texture, with vanilla and butterscotch character. Drink now. 15,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Planeta.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PoggioAlleMura.aspWS 93 (12/2007): Dark ruby red. Lots of blackberry and fresh cherry, with hints of chocolate and meat. Full-bodied, with tangy fruit, fresh tannins and a long finish. Balanced and rich. All there. Still very youthful. Sangiovese and Malvasia.--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Best from 2008 through 2018. 2,500 cases made. IWC 91 (2/2002): (an 85/15 blend of sangiovese and malvasia nera) Medium garnet with ruby reflections. Penetrating aromas of plum, black cherry and violets. Very full, with flavors of cherry confiture, dark chocolate and roasted coffee beans. A powerful wine, displaying chewy tannins and verve. The sensational dark fruit flavors linger into a long finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PoggioilCastellare.aspWA 96 (4/2010): The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli emerges from the glass with masses of scorched earth, leather, tar, licorice, menthol and dark fruit. The Riserva shows a touch more inner sweetness, richness and depth in its fruit than the regular bottling, plus a bit more French oak as well. For now, the Riserva is quite reticent and requires air, but with time its awesome richness and power come through in spades. This dark, brooding and authoritative Riserva from Il Poggione is simply gorgeous. Readers who don’t want to pay the premium for the Riserva in 2004 need not worry; I tasted the 2004 regular bottling (twice!) while preparing this article and it is every bit as promising as my review last year suggested. In 2004 the Paganelli vineyard was harvested on the 13th of October, quite late for this estate. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.IWC 95 (7/2010): Good deep red. Sexy nose offers raspberry, spices, dried rose, cassis and minerals; reminded me of a top Pauillac. Then suave, complex and energetic in the mouth, offering wonderful precision to the intense red fruit, tobacco and floral flavors. Finishes long and vibrant, combining impeccable balance, enticing sweetness and firm, smooth tannins. This monumental Brunello will age for a long time.WS 92 (6/2010): Offers ripe blueberry notes, with hints of violet, lilac and sandalwood. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, fresh finish. Not a big wine, but balanced and pretty. Best after 2011. 3,335 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/IlPoggione.aspWA 95 (5/2011): The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is a phenomenal effort in this average vintage. I am amazed by the estate's ability to make a wine with this level of textural richness, depth and sheer power in 2005. This is a dark, inward Brunello loaded with black fruit, smoke, tar, menthol and a host of other dark, sensual aromas and flavors. The wine’s length and intensity are truly a marvel to behold. Like the 2003, I expect demand for the 2005 Riserva to be relatively weak given all of the interest for the 2006s and more highly-regarded vintages of the Riserva, which means this wine will almost certainly be available at favorable pricing somewhere down the line. It is a stunner. The 2005 Riserva spent 25 days on the skins and 40 months in French oak casks. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/IlPoggione.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Poliziano.aspWS 88 (10/2000): Subtle aromas of rosebush, fruit and citrus follow through to a medium-bodied palate with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Delicious and fine. Like a top Loire red. Drink now through 2004. 12,000 cases made.IWC 88 (8/2000): Dark garnet. Pinot noir-like aromas of strawberry with a light greenness; fragrant and expressive. Medium-bodied on the palate, with a silky texture and noteworthy precision and finesse. Finishes with polished tannins and good length.WA 86 (8/2000): The 1997 Pomino (a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Pinot Noir) exhibits an evolved medium garnet color as well as scents of dried herbs, red currants, raspberries, and strawberries. Light and soft, with some finesse, but no significant depth or length, it should be consumed over the next 3-4 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiPomino(Frescobaldi].aspWA 91 (4/2004): The 2001 Morellino di Scansano Poggio Valente, the single-vineyard selection, a dark ruby/garnet, expresses much raspberry fruit, tar, chocolate, and minerals in its ample and penetrating nose and a broad, supple, and substantial palate, plushy and polished in texture, sweet and lingering on the close. It will drink well for another decade. WS 91 (10/2003): Full of character, with aromas of slightly raisiny fruit and mineral plus hints of violet and red licorice. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit, fine tannins and a long, fruity, minerally finish. Drink now. 3,165 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattorialePupille.aspWS 95 (12/2007): Dark ruby, with a purple center. Loads of ripe fruit on the nose, with raisin, blackberry and spices. Full-bodied, with lots of berry, rosemary and tarragon character. Long and chewy. Lots of fruit and mint character. Needs time.--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Best after 2009. 1,250 cases made. IWC 91 (8/2000): Deep, fresh ruby with a suggestion of garnet at the edge. Cassis, rosemary and sage on the precise nose, fused with vanilla and creme caramel from the oak and a hint of sweet charcoal. Spherical and elegant on the palate, with expressive blackcurrant and plum fruit and impeccable balance. Finishes with polished tannins. Not at all the blockbuster one might expect from a warm-climate cabernet of a superior vintage. WA 90 (5/2011): The 1997 Saffredi is another wine that doesn’t develop a ton in the glass. The ripe, opulent personality of the vintage is in evidence, but the wine is rather one-dimensional. Grilled herbs, worn-in leather and spices add a touch of nuance on the finish. Ultimately the 1997 is a pretty boring Saffredi, particularly when tasted within the context of more recent vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2017.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattorialePupille.aspWS 93 (10/2001): Extremely ripe, almost raisiny, with loads of raspberry and cherry character, yet there's a sophistication, a subtlety, to the wine. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a silky, well-defined finish. A pure and pretty wine. Best after 2003. 1,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattorialePupille.aspWS 94 (10/2003): Exotic and seductive. Interesting aromas of very ripe plum fruit and hints of rosemary turn to flowers and spices. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long orange peel and fruit aftertaste. The best since 1997. Best after 2008. 2,080 cases made. WA 93 (4/2004): Saffredi was the first important Cabernet from the southern part of the Tuscan coast, but more recent versions have changed in style with the addition of Merlot and Alicante to the blend, as in the 2001 Saffredi. The full ruby color, the intense and penetrating aromas of cassis, plum jam, and kirsch, sweetened and given more complexity by the notes of vanilla and sandalwood of the oak, the Mediterranean warmth and fullness of the flavors, focused, firm, and with a very important energy and length, are all the characteristics of superior grapes and winemaking. Drink: 2005-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FattorialePupille.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiQuerceto.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiQuerceto.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiQuerceto.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiQuerceto.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiQuerceto.aspWS 89 (11/1999): Serious winemaking. Aromas of minerals and black licorice, with hints of fruit. Medium-bodied, with well-integrated polished tannins and a long, silky finish. Best after 1999. 3,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiQuerceto.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiQuerceto.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GuiseppeQuintarelli.aspWA 96+ (10/2009): The 2000 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a thing of beauty. This mid-weight, delicate red offers up a gorgeous array of crushed flowers, red berries and sweet spices in an ethereal style. As it sits in the glass the wine acquires concentration and richness. The wine possesses the grace of a ballerina, phenomenal balance and impeccable pedigree. In this vintage the Amarone shows suggestions of slightly newer barrels, and that may be why this is the first non-Riserva Amarone I can recall in at least a few years that doesn’t show the excess volatile acidity that has marred some previous wines. To be sure, this is a super-traditional, cask-aged Amarone, and it may not appeal to all palates, but readers in search of fine old-school Amarone won’t find a better wine among this year’s new releases. In time this score may very well go up...quite a bit. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. JS 96 (4/2011): I am impressed with the richness of plum and lemon rind character on the nose and palate and full and rich silky tannins. Yet it is so refined and reserved with layers and layers of fruit. This is fascinating. Very reserved style for Quintarelli. WS 94 (7/2010): Offers beautiful aromas of ripe plum and berries, with citrus peel and floral notes. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and plenty of fruit that turns to black licorice and cherry. Subtle yet flavorful. Complex. Drink now. 750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GuiseppeQuintarelli.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastelloDeiRampolla.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RenatoRatti.aspWS 93 (7/2004): This smells like pure crushed berries and then freshly cut flowers. Super concentration of ultraripe fruit and silky tannins, yet refined and elegant at the same time. It fills your mouth. Well done for blended Barolo. Best after 2008. 800 cases made. IWC 86 (12/2004): Medium red. Aromatic nose of raspberry, sandalwood, smoke, cedar and menthol. On the lean side, and slightly minty. Not particularly tannic, but owing to the wine's modest flesh and sweetness the finish comes across as a bit dry. WA 86 (8/2005): There are five different Barolo selections from this house in La Morra, perhaps too many, and it is not clear that the 2000 Barolo, the regular bottling, serves any real purpose. The cherry fruit and floral nose are attractive, but the wine is rather simple and runs out of gas on the finish. There are wines of a lesser category – Langhe Nebbiolo – which match or beat this wine, something the producer might want to think about in future vintages with the difficulties of 2000.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FratelliRevello.aspIWC 92 (8/2010): Good full red. Lively red berry aromas are complemented by sexy floral and sweet spice qualities, along with gentle notes of minerals and white pepper. Suave, sweet and fine-grained on entry, with captivating suggestions of red cherry, dried flowers and fresh herbs. Broad and lush yet somehow airy in the middle, then quite long and pure on the back end, with a broad dusting of silky tannins and captivating spicy lift. Superb wine. WS 87 (10/2010): Perfume and berry aromas lead to a medium body, with fresh acidity and a clean finish. Drink now. 3,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Riecine.aspIWC 89 (8/2007): Deep ruby. Ripe but vibrant aromas of red cherry, raspberry and dark chocolate, nicely lifted by a mineral quality. Silky on entry, then rich and layered in the middle, with red cherry, spice and strong mineral flavors given definition by lively acidity. From a selection of old vines bought by the original owner, John Dunkley, from Badia a Coltibuono. This may well merit an outstanding rating with a couple years of bottle aging.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Riecine.aspWS 90 (12/2009): Aromas of plum and milk chocolate follow through to a medium body, with prune and milk chocolate flavors and a long finish. Tight and structured. Best after 2010. 490 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Riecine.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Riecine.aspIWC 92 (8/2010): (a blend of sangiovese and merlot) Bright full ruby. Deep aromas of red cherry, sweet pipe tobacco and earth, with exotic notes of tangerine and cumin emerging with air. Supple and sweet on entry, displaying pure, sweet flavors of ripe red cherry, blackcurrant and sandalwood. Then creamy and smooth on the back, with enough acidity to keep this big wine light on its feet. Finishes with building sweetness and excellent length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Riecine.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LuigiRighetti.aspWA 88 (10/2008): The 2004 Barolo is an attractive mid-weight offering with a perfumed core of dark fruit, licorice, tar and smoke. The tannins remain rather firm, but the wine reveals plenty of energy and vibrancy. Rinaldi’s Barolos are typically very long-lived yet this is a wine I would prefer relatively young, before the fruit fades. This Barolo is made from vineyards in Barolo and La Morra. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2019.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FrancescoRinaldiFigli.aspWA 88 (10/2008): The 2004 Barolo is an attractive mid-weight offering with a perfumed core of dark fruit, licorice, tar and smoke. The tannins remain rather firm, but the wine reveals plenty of energy and vibrancy. Rinaldi’s Barolos are typically very long-lived yet this is a wine I would prefer relatively young, before the fruit fades. This Barolo is made from vineyards in Barolo and La Morra. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2019.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FrancescoRinaldiFigli.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Ripanera.aspWS 97 (12/2007): There's lots of bright fruit, with raspberry, blackberry and a hint of flowers. Full-bodied, with very silky tannins and a long balance of fruit and vanilla character that turns to licorice and berries. Best after 2011. 1,500 cases made.WA 94 (10/2007): The 2004 Barbaresco Rabaja is powerful and brooding. It possesses notable concentration and power, with plenty of spiced fruit, a rich, weighty texture, and a warm, engaging personality. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2024.IWC 91 (12/2007): (the soil in this vineyard is a combination of sand and limestone) Moderately saturated medium red. Reticent but nuanced nose combines dried rose, tobacco, menthol and truffle, with a hint of positive rusticity. Quite suave and fine-grained, with harmonious acidity giving lift and elegance to the cherry and tobacco flavors. The wine's acids carry the fruit, and the tannins reach the teeth. This Barbaresco struck me as being built for a leisurely evolution in the bottle, but Rocca recommends drinking it within eight to ten years. "After that it's a crapshoot," he told me. "It becomes another thing."http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoRocca.aspWA 93 (8/1999): The large-scaled as well as compelling 1996 Barbaresco Vigneto Brich Ronchi reveals spectacular aromas of intense chocolate-covered cherry candy intermixed with smoky new wood. It is dense and full-bodied, with layers of concentration and glycerin. This superb, mouth-filling Barbaresco can be drunk now or cellared for 10-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AlbinoRocca.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RoccaBernarda.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Rossetti.aspWA 92 (10/2008): The 2004 Barolo Cerretta is the most complete and well-balanced of these wines. There is lovely density and richness to the wine’s texture, which showcases layers of dark fruit beautifully intertwined with elegant tannins. The wine possesses outstanding persistence on the palate and pretty balsamic nuances that linger on the finish. Today the wine comes across as focused and taut, but it should gain more generosity in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. WS 91 (12/2008): Floral, strawberry and sandalwood aromas, with a hint of new wood, along with aniseed. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a subtle finish. There's a solid core of everything. Best after 2010. 560 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GiovanniRosso.aspWA 92 (10/2008): The 2004 Barolo La Serra reveals a feminine expression of Nebbiolo in its raspberries, red cherries, spices and menthol, with firm, sinewy tannins that give the wine impressive focus and length. This mid-weight Barolo is a terrific effort from Davide Rosso. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2019.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GiovanniRosso.aspWS 91 (12/2010): Decadent on the nose, with licorice, plum and berries. Full-bodied, with soft, round tannins and a lovely, juicy finish. Opulent and beautiful, with lots of fruit.—'99 Brunello blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. 665 cases made. WA 87 (4/2005): Salicutti manages to get a good deal of press in Italy, but the wines, though certainly representative examples of the zone, have never blown me away. It’s pretty much the same story with the 1999 Brunello di Montalcino, a medium garnet which could use some additional freshness, a nose of cherries, tobacco, and smoke whose fruit is slightly acerbic, and a forceful palate which would benefit from more roundness and softer tannins. Drink: 2005-2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PodereSalicutti.aspWA 95 (6/2009): The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione possesses striking depth, transparency and weightlessness as it opens up in the glass. This deeply-scented, layered Brunello offers superb pedigree and class in its ripe red cherries, wild herbs, tobacco, spices and licorice, with a powerful blast of melted road tar that provides the final exclamation point. A firm, structured wine, the profound 2004 Piaggione desperately needs some bottle age, but readers will have a hard time finding a wine with this much sheer class and pedigree. The Piaggione spent two years in medium-size French oak barrels and was neither fined nor filtered prior to bottling. This is a wonderful effort. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. IWC 95+ (8/2009): Medium bright red with a palish rim. Lively aromas of redcurrant, rose petal and minerals. Graceful and silky, with a restrained sweetness and lovely energy and definition to its red fruit and floral flavors. Juicy and light on its feet, finishing with firm tannins and a perfumed note of blood orange.WS 91 (12/2009): Aromas of plums and dried mushrooms follow through to a full body, with soft and silky tannins, ripe plum character and a long finish. A little tight still. Best from 2010 through 2014. 665 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PodereSalicutti.aspWS 83 (11/1990): A tough, concentrated, powerfully built, chunky wine, with raspberry, anise and nutmeg aromas and flavors and more than a little heat and tannin on the finish. Keep it away from polite company until at least 1995 to '98. 1,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PoggioSalvi.aspWA 92 (10/2007): Sandrone’s 2003 Barolo Cannubi Boschis reveals smoke, tar, licorice and dark plums with superb balance and a vibrant, engaging personality. Made in a sweeter, richer style than Le Vigne, its notable depth and well-integrated tannins make it one of the vintage’s successes. I have a slight preference for Le Vigne over Cannubi Boschis today but both wines are among the finest in this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019._x000D__x000D__x000D_IWC 91+ (12/2007): Very deep ruby-red. Very pure but reticent aroma of dark cherry, roast coffee and licorice, with a suggestion of dried fruits. Broad, fat and superrich, but less showy today than Le Vigne. One senses the hot year here (this one has a pH of 3.68, compared to 3.55 for Le Vigne, according to Sandrone). But this huge, classically dry wine gained considerably in sweetness with aeration, finishing with major tannins that dust the teeth and gums._x000D__x000D__x000D_WS 91 (10/2007): Very tight and focused for the vintage, with subtle aromas and flavors of strawberry, mineral and cherry. Full-bodied, chewy and very fresh. Best after 2008. 740 cases made._x000D__x000D__x000D_http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspWS 96 (7/2009): Offers blueberry aromas, with sweet tobacco and mahogany. Full-bodied, rich and powerful, with plum pudding and milk chocolate flavors. This is very special. The Sandrones are genius with Cannubi. Best after 2013. 790 cases made. WA 95 (4/2009): Sandrone’s 2005 Barolo Cannubi Boschis offers up pretty notes of mint, flowers, spices and dark red berries, with sweet notes of French oak that linger on the finish. This is a decidedly slender Cannubi Boschis that lacks some of the sheer pedigree and explosiveness of the best vintages. The tannins need some time to soften, but this is a wine that has continued to grow in bottle. It could very well turn out to be one of the vintage’s surprises. In 2005 the harvest took place at the end of September and the wine was aged in 500-liter barrels (one-third new). Anticipated maturity: 2011-2020.IWC 95 (12/2009): Good deep, bright red. Compelling perfume to the aromas of raspberry, smoke and minerals. At once silky and firmly built, with terrific juiciness and grip from sound acids. Not as dense as some vintages but boasts lovely fruit intensity and verve. Finishes with a firm tannic spine and lingering aromatic character. This seems even fresher in bottle than it was in barrel two years ago.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspWA 97 (2/2010): The 2006 Barolo Cannubi Boschis is seductive, round and sweet in its ripe dark fruit. The wine continues to gain weight in the glass, showing a level of density that nearly manages to cover the tannins. Floral notes add lift on the finish. This is a powerful, linear Cannubi Boschis with tons of energy and muscle, but it will require quite a bit of patience. Sandrone harvests his three parcels in Cannubi Boschis separately. Vinification takes place in stainless steel. The wines undergo malolactic fermentation and are aged in 500-liter barrels (roughly 20% new) for a year. Once the final blend is assembled, the wine goes back into oak for another year prior to being bottled in the spring. Sandrone is one of the earliest producers to bottle, which he does to preserve as much freshness as possible. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.IWC 96 (12/2009): Good deep red. Knockout, wonderfully expressive nose combines dark raspberry, musky coffee, mocha and underbrush. Big, rich, powerful and classically dry, with a strong brown spice component currently dominating the mouth. But this is utterly spherical and seamless from day one. The extremely long finish dusts the palate with fine tannins. A rather elegant and silky wine that nonetheless displays the power of this vintage.WS 95 (2/2011): Packing sweet cherry, plum and licorice flavors, this red picks up a salty, savory component midpalate. Fresh, bright and harmonious, with a slight chewiness in texture and a lingering mineral aftertaste. Best from 2013 through 2030http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspWA 97 (2/2010): The 2006 Barolo Cannubi Boschis is seductive, round and sweet in its ripe dark fruit. The wine continues to gain weight in the glass, showing a level of density that nearly manages to cover the tannins. Floral notes add lift on the finish. This is a powerful, linear Cannubi Boschis with tons of energy and muscle, but it will require quite a bit of patience. Sandrone harvests his three parcels in Cannubi Boschis separately. Vinification takes place in stainless steel. The wines undergo malolactic fermentation and are aged in 500-liter barrels (roughly 20% new) for a year. Once the final blend is assembled, the wine goes back into oak for another year prior to being bottled in the spring. Sandrone is one of the earliest producers to bottle, which he does to preserve as much freshness as possible. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.IWC 96 (12/2009): Good deep red. Knockout, wonderfully expressive nose combines dark raspberry, musky coffee, mocha and underbrush. Big, rich, powerful and classically dry, with a strong brown spice component currently dominating the mouth. But this is utterly spherical and seamless from day one. The extremely long finish dusts the palate with fine tannins. A rather elegant and silky wine that nonetheless displays the power of this vintage.WS 95 (2/2011): Packing sweet cherry, plum and licorice flavors, this red picks up a salty, savory component midpalate. Fresh, bright and harmonious, with a slight chewiness in texture and a lingering mineral aftertaste. Best from 2013 through 2030http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspWA 96 (12/2007): The 2004 Barolo Le Vigne is a phenomenal effort. Sweet, long and pure, it reveals an expansive core of perfumed ripe red fruit, flowers and spices. Despite its notable concentration it is made in a restrained style, showing remarkable elegance as well as harmony, with superb length and finessed tannins on the close. Le Vigne is made from the Ceretta, Vignane, Merli and Conterni vineyards. I have tasted the wines from these plots separately on many occasions. Curiously, I have never been particularly impressed by any of the wines on their own, yet when they are blended the results can be extraordinary, as is the case with the sublime 2004 Le Vigne. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2019. IWC 94 (12/2007): Good full ruby-red. Explosive, vibrant aromas of blackberry, sandalwood and musky tobacco. A very suave, juicy wine with superb cut to its black plum, blackberry and licorice flavors. Hardly an outsized wine, but its sappy acidity and smooth, broad tannins give this elegant Barolo excellent structural support. 94 pointsWS 94 (6/2008): Aromas of dried rose, with plum and violet. Full-bodied, with fine yet big tannins and a long, caressing finish. Dense and structured. A serious young red. Strong. This is still just a baby. Best after 2012. 1,200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspWA 94 (4/2009): The 2005 Barolo Le Vigne opens with fresh, high-toned aromas that meld into a core of perfumed red fruits. There is notable vibrancy to the fruit, and although the 2005 is a relatively small-scaled vintage for this wine, the balance is exceptional. The Le Vigne has more than enough fruit to follow through all the way to the close, where notes of raspberry jam offer a final burst of intensity. Le Vigne is made from a number of parcels in Vignane (Barolo), Conterni and Ceretta (Monforte) and Merli (Novello). In 2005 the harvest took place in the first two weeks of October. The wines were vinified separately, then racked into 500-liter barrels. The final blend was assembled in the summer of 2006. Every year I taste through the various parcels separately and every year I am amazed by the way the final blend transcends the quality of the individual wines. Simply put, Le Vigne is a gem of a wine from Luciano Sandrone. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. IWC 92+ (12/2009): Very good deep red-ruby. Highly nuanced nose combines raspberry, dried flowers, camphor, tobacco and dried spices. Lush on entry, then medicinal and rather closed in the middle, with a serious tannic spine keeping the flavors under wraps today. This makes the serious 2006 seem silky and sweet by comparison, and yet even here the wine's flavors spread out to saturate the palate.WS 92 (7/2009): Sweet blackberry and cherry aromas, with hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of blackberry fruit and a long finish. Tight and chewy. Layered and pretty. Racy and fruity. Best after 2011. 1,450 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspWA 96 (2/2010): Sandrone’s 2006 Barolo Le Vigne possesses awesome balance as intricately woven layers of aromas and flavors come together in the glass. The 2006 is an especially powerful Le Vigne boasting a solid core of floral, red fruits supported by firm yet elegant tannins. This, too, shows the considerable drive and focus that is the hallmark of the vintage. The wine’s overall balance is impeccable. Le Vigne is made from parcels in Vignane (Barolo), Conterni and Ceretta (Monforte) and Merli (Novello). The wines are aged separately for a year in 500-liter barrels. The final blend is assembled, after which the wine spends an additional year in oak prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026.JS 93 (1/2011): Love the nose on this, which delivers lots of perfumes of dried dark fruits and minerals. Full and very well-integrated, with super silky tannins and a long finish. Better than 2005. Still needs some time, check back after 2014. IWC 92+ (12/2009): Very good deep red-ruby. Highly nuanced nose combines raspberry, dried flowers, camphor, tobacco and dried spices. Lush on entry, then medicinal and rather closed in the middle, with a serious tannic spine keeping the flavors under wraps today. This makes the serious 2006 seem silky and sweet by comparison, and yet even here the wine's flavors spread out to saturate the palate.WS 92 (2/2011): Black cherry, plum, tar and licorice flavors are sweet and offset the firm structure in this red, which has a fine, spicy aftertaste. There’s an almost lush texture, and though this is balanced, it needs time to come together. Best from 2014 through 2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspWA 96 (2/2010): Sandrone’s 2006 Barolo Le Vigne possesses awesome balance as intricately woven layers of aromas and flavors come together in the glass. The 2006 is an especially powerful Le Vigne boasting a solid core of floral, red fruits supported by firm yet elegant tannins. This, too, shows the considerable drive and focus that is the hallmark of the vintage. The wine’s overall balance is impeccable. Le Vigne is made from parcels in Vignane (Barolo), Conterni and Ceretta (Monforte) and Merli (Novello). The wines are aged separately for a year in 500-liter barrels. The final blend is assembled, after which the wine spends an additional year in oak prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026.JS 93 (1/2011): Love the nose on this, which delivers lots of perfumes of dried dark fruits and minerals. Full and very well-integrated, with super silky tannins and a long finish. Better than 2005. Still needs some time, check back after 2014. IWC 92+ (12/2009): Very good deep red-ruby. Highly nuanced nose combines raspberry, dried flowers, camphor, tobacco and dried spices. Lush on entry, then medicinal and rather closed in the middle, with a serious tannic spine keeping the flavors under wraps today. This makes the serious 2006 seem silky and sweet by comparison, and yet even here the wine's flavors spread out to saturate the palate.WS 92 (2/2011): Black cherry, plum, tar and licorice flavors are sweet and offset the firm structure in this red, which has a fine, spicy aftertaste. There’s an almost lush texture, and though this is balanced, it needs time to come together. Best from 2014 through 2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspIWC 91+ (12/2009): Medium red. Perfumed aromas of strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, minerals and flowers; a bit pinot-like. Then intensely flavored and perfumed in the mouth, with noteworthy purity to the tart red berry flavors. Finishes with firm, dusty tannins and excellent cut. This is already very sexy nebbiolo but I'd still give it a couple years in the cellar. Sandrone purchased this parcel in 1994 and replanted the vines in 2001 at a density of 9,000 per hectare.WA 90 (10/2009): Sandrone's 2007 Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore reveals sweet dried roses, cherries, flowers and spices on an expansive, mid-weight frame. Ripe, refined tannins frame the elegant and subtle finish. In 2007 the Valmaggiore shows impeccable balance and tons of class. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017. WS 88 (12/2009): Strawberry, raspberry and chocolate aromas follow through to a medium body, with ultrafine tannins and a fruity, clean and fresh finish. Drink now. 1,010 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspWA 89 (12/2010): The 2008 Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore is the product of a challenging harvest. A soft, mid-weight wine, the Valmaggiore flows with the essence of dried fruit, flowers, sweet herbs and spices. This is a relatively easygoing Valmaggiore that doesn’t quite reach the summit of the finest years. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucianoSandrone.aspWA 88 (4/2006): Enrico Santini has made quite a name for himself in Bolgheri in a short space of time, and the 2003 Poggio al Moro does much to explain the attention he has attracted. Though only the regular bottling, the ample aromas of plums and raspberries, tar and chocolate are matched by pure and focused flavors, long and lingering, and with a rising density on the close. Drink: 2006-2010.WS 86 (10/2005): Subtle aromas of blackberries with just a hint of earth and spice. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a funky, decadent aftertaste. Drink now. 1,200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/EnricoSantini.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSantome.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSantome.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSantome.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSantome.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSantome.aspWA 96 (10/2001): Readers should note that with the 1997 Brunello di Montalcino, the label has changed to emphasize the proprietor's name, Livio Sassetti, rather than the estate name, Pertimali. Always a top-notch Brunello, the 1997 is staggering in its aromatic fireworks and concentrated, long, intense flavors. Sumptuous aromas of dried Provencal herbs, roasted meats, soy, spice box, asphalt, truffles, and black fruits linger in the air. Flavors of new saddle leather are added to jammy black fruit characteristics. Opulently-textured, full-bodied, and gorgeously pure, this wine creates an olfactory overload. Its low acidity, high glycerin, and huge fruit reserves suggest drinking it now and over the next 12-18 years. Mamma mia!WS 92 (10/2002): Balanced and refined. Very floral, with ripe fruit and a fresh undertone. Full-bodied, with well-polished tannins. A beauty. Still needs time. Best after 2004. 1,200 cases made.IWC 92 (8/2002): Saturated, almost inky garnet. Forceful underbrush aromas of mushrooms, damp soil and road tar. Fresh flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate and anise are nicely framed by firm, mouthcoating tannins. A full-bodied and plump wine with a wonderful sense of minerality on the sustained finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LivioSassetti.aspWA 95 (2/2010): The 1989 Barolo Bric del Fiasc (3-liter) is still striking for its freshness. Some of that is a factor of the large format, but standard bottles have also developed very positively. Here we find a classic flavor profile of tobacco, herbs, spices, plums and licorice with the depth, muscle and concentration of the modern school. The 1989 is a touch more layered and aromatically intense than the 1990, with an additional measure of length and overall complexity. Tar, smoke and licorice linger on an eternal finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.WS 95 (10/1993): A luscious mouthful of wild berries, black cherry, toast and rose petal. Concentrated and exotic, a powerful wine with totally disarming aromas and flavors and remarkably supple texture. Layers and layers of personality make this a stellar candidate for cellaring. Best after 1997. 800 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PaoloScavino.aspWA 91 (8/1999): The 1995 Barolo Bric de Fiasc is backward, with scents of smoke, tar, soy, jammy black cherry and blackberry fruit, and pain grille. Full-bodied, concentrated, expansive, soft, and seductive, with 13.5% alcohol and moderate tannin in the finish, it should be drunk over the next 10-12 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PaoloScavino.aspWA 91-94 (08/1999): The 1996 Barolo Bric del Fiasc displays a saturated plum color, a smoky, black cherry-scented nose, explosive, fleshy flavors with plenty of glycerin, an evolved and seductive character, extraordinary intensity, and impeccable balance. Exotic Asian spice and fruit cake aromas add to its complexity. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2018http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PaoloScavino.aspWA 96 (12/2007): The estate's 2004 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is another awesome wine. Initially linear on entry, it explodes on the palate with a compelling array of dark fruit, smoke, tar, licorice, new leather, plums and baking spices. Although Bric del Fiasc is typically a wine that relies on power, the 2004 is notably refined and elegant, with sweet silky tannins that support the fruit from start to finish. Simply put, this is a remarkable wine from Enrico Scavino. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. WS 95 (6/2008): Dark in color, with gorgeous aromas of blackberry, black licorice and blueberry. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long finish. A bit tight, but pretty and balanced. Very long and cerebral. Best after 2012. 780 cases made.IWC 94+ (12/2007): Good deep red. Superripe aromas and flavors of plum liqueur, redcurrant, mocha and chocolate. Sweet, pliant and downright plush; a hugely concentrated, dense wine that saturates every nook and cranny of the palate. Wonderfully shapely, structured wine that finishes with superb grip and length and a captivating juicy quality. A great vintage for this bottling.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PaoloScavino.aspWS 97 (10/2005): Big and opulent on the nose, with blackberry, earth and spice and just a hint of cedary cigar box. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and velvety tannins. It goes on and on. Muscular. Best after 2009. 250 cases made. WA 96 (10/2006): The 2001 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata is the perfect way to cap off this strong series. The 2001 presents a multitude of aromas and flavors including roses, minerals, smoke, tar and sweet red fruit in a stunning display of sensual elegance. Today it comes across as open-knit and incredibly expressive. It is hard to say if it will shut down at some point or continue to offer the broad window of drinkability that is the hallmark of many wines from this vineyard. Regardless, it is a great privilege to get a glimpse of this monumental wine at such an early stage. If I hadn’t already tasted the superb 2004 from barrel I would be tempted to call the 2001 the greatest wine I have ever tasted from Enrico Scavino! Anticipated maturity: 2009-2021.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PaoloScavino.aspWS 99 (2/2006): The nose is pure, freshly crushed berries and cherries with lilacs. Full-bodied and very, very concentrated, with big, ripe, powerful tannins, but it's all in harmony and length. Layers of fabulous fruit. It's just a baby. Wait and watch it grow up into something amazing. Best after 2012. 250 cases made.WA 93 (10/2006): In keeping with the style of the vintage the 2000 Rocche dell’Annunziata is not terribly expressive on the nose, although it offers plenty of fruit in a ripe to over-ripe style, with outstanding length and balance. As appealing as it is to drink today, a few years of cellaring will be beneficial. Like the other 2000s in this tasting, this wine was less expressive than it has been in the past. 93/Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018.IWC 92 (12/2004): Full, deep red. Aromas of plum syrup, strawberry, mocha and mint; more decadent than the 2001 but still fresh. Thick and sweet on entry, then a bit less chewy and dense in the middle than the 2001, without that wine's mineral lift or black fruit character. Strong, plump wine if a bit unrefined. Finishes with more noticeable tannins than the 2001.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PaoloScavino.aspWA 97 (2/2010): The 2004 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata has developed beautifully since I last tasted it a few years ago. That said, I am amazed how bright and primary the fruit still is. Sweet, perfumed aromatics lead to a core of silky fruit as this elegant, pedigreed Barolo emerges from the glass. The tannins are exceptionally refined all the way through to the finish, while the French oak is virtually imperceptible. What remains is a gorgeous, fruit-driven Barolo that captures the essence of the Scavino style at its best. The wine should enjoy a long drinking window to age 25 and quite likely longer. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029. IWC 96 (12/2009): Good full medium red. Extremely primary but already highly nuanced nose conveys bright red cherry, raspberry, tobacco, minerals and menthol. Offers compelling silky sweetness and outstanding mineral depth, with great elegance thanks to its uncanny energy and fine-grained texture. This really dances on the palate. The very long, rising finish features subtle toothcoating tannins and leaves the mouth feeling fresh. Very impressive Barolo that really captures the essence of this vintage.WS 95 (6/2008): Plum, sandalwood and violet on the nose. Full-bodied, with a solid core of velvety tannins and lots of subtle fruit. Tight now, but shows classic potential. Very, very long and dreamy. Best after 2011. 260 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PaoloScavino.aspIWC 95+ (10/2011): Good deep red. Explosive nose offers scents of black cherry, currant, plum, herbal tea, menthol, tobacco, mocha and peach pit, with strong floral and spice elements. Big, lush and light on its feet, boasting terrific purity and vinosity. This contains all the major Barolo food groups. Finishes quite backward, with broad, firm tannins and outstanding echoing length. Elisa Scavino describes 2005 as "charming but with an edge to it."WA 95 (4/2009): Scavino’s 2005 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata is another gem from one of the best-performing vineyards in this vintage. Sweet red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol all come together with stunning definition and purity in this refined, aristocratic Barolo. An eternal finish rounds out this superb Barolo, which is one of my early favorites in 2005. The wine won’t be released until 2011 so there is still some time for it to come together, but it is already pretty special. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PaoloScavino.aspWA 94 (10/2001): The 1998's saturated dense plum/garnet color is accompanied by a stunningly ostentatious, brilliantly aromatic nose of smoky tobacco, cedar wood, plums, cherry liqueur, coffee, and dried herbs. A rich, full-bodied, and opulent wine, it possesses fabulous spice and fruit, as well as a fresh, high-toned character. Powerful, full, and beautifully delineated, it can be consumed over the next 10-15 years.IWC90 (12/2002): Moderately saturated medium red. Warm, smoky aromas of red cherry, raspberry, nuts, tobacco, smoke and earth. Supple and sweet in the mouth, with concentrated flavors of red fruits, dried flowers, marzipan and licorice. Not hugely concentrated or fleshy but offers a lovely balance of fruit and acidity. Finishes with smooth tannins and an element of youthful austerity.WS 88 (11/2002): Aromas of dried Indian spices, and dried dark fruits. Full-bodied, with very ripe fruit, chewy tannins and a medium finish. Slightly muted on the palate. Best after 2006. 1,700 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AldoandRicardoSeghesio.aspWS 90 (2/1995): Very concentrated, with pepper, berry and meat aromas and flavors, full body, full tannins and crisp acidity. Long finish._x000D_http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Selvapiana.aspWS 92 (9/1992): Amazingly concentrated for a simple Chianti, this is overflowing with wild raspberry and smoke characteristics and shows a wonderful, smooth texture. Gorgeous. Drinkable now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Selvapiana.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SettePonti.aspWA 95 (4/2004): The 2001 Oreno is simply a great wine. An inky ruby with purple highlights, intensely expansive and sweet on a fruit-rich nose which is loaded with smoky tar and graphite notes, it is packed and powerful on the palate with a density and concentration which are cunningly concealed by the plush and caressing texture, the superb balance and exceptional length of the finish and aftertaste. Drink: 2005-2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SettePonti.aspWA 95 (4/2004): The 2001 Oreno is simply a great wine. An inky ruby with purple highlights, intensely expansive and sweet on a fruit-rich nose which is loaded with smoky tar and graphite notes, it is packed and powerful on the palate with a density and concentration which are cunningly concealed by the plush and caressing texture, the superb balance and exceptional length of the finish and aftertaste. Drink: 2005-2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SettePonti.aspWS 96 (10/2008): Shows loads of black licorice, blackberry and toasty oak. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Has wonderful concentration and balance. Structured. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. Best after 2013. 3,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SettePonti.aspWA 96 (10/2010): The 2008 Oreno is stunningly beautiful. An open, expressive bouquet laced with mint, red berries, roses and spices emerges with superb clarity and balance. The tension between the minerality of the vintage and the rich expression of fruit that is one of the house’s hallmarks play off each other beautifully here. The finish is utterly exquisite in its beguiling beauty. The 2008 isn’t the most powerful Oreno ever made, but it is quite possibly the most elegant, impeccably refined wine I have ever tasted here. Simply put, it is fabulous juice! In 2008 the percentage of Sangiovese is way down and Oreno is predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, a decision that has paid off handsomely. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.WS 96 (10/2010): Structured and racy, showing blueberry and chocolate aromas and flavors, with loads of currant. Full and tannic, yet polished and caressing, with an impressive and persistent finish. A marked change from some past vintages, with only Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot in the blend. Best after 2014.JS 96 (10/2011): This is a rich and beautiful red, with lots of currants, spices and flowers. Full-bodied, with super velvety tannins and bright acidity. There's a beautiful depth of fruit to this. Wonderful. This is very structured and impressive. Needs at least four to five years to come around.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SettePonti.aspWA 96 (10/2010): The 2008 Oreno is stunningly beautiful. An open, expressive bouquet laced with mint, red berries, roses and spices emerges with superb clarity and balance. The tension between the minerality of the vintage and the rich expression of fruit that is one of the house’s hallmarks play off each other beautifully here. The finish is utterly exquisite in its beguiling beauty. The 2008 isn’t the most powerful Oreno ever made, but it is quite possibly the most elegant, impeccably refined wine I have ever tasted here. Simply put, it is fabulous juice! In 2008 the percentage of Sangiovese is way down and Oreno is predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, a decision that has paid off handsomely. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.WS 96 (10/2010): Structured and racy, showing blueberry and chocolate aromas and flavors, with loads of currant. Full and tannic, yet polished and caressing, with an impressive and persistent finish. A marked change from some past vintages, with only Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot in the blend. Best after 2014.JS 96 (10/2011): This is a rich and beautiful red, with lots of currants, spices and flowers. Full-bodied, with super velvety tannins and bright acidity. There's a beautiful depth of fruit to this. Wonderful. This is very structured and impressive. Needs at least four to five years to come around.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SettePonti.aspWA 91 (12/2006): The estate’s top bottling the 2001 Brunello di Montalcino 123 is made in a similarly large-scaled, super-ripe style. It presents generous amounts of sweet fruit, chocolate and toasted oak sensations with outstanding concentration and length on the palate. Though not especially typical of Sangiovese it offers lovely overall balance as well as harmony with a lingering note of sweetness on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Solaria.aspWS 92 (11/1999): Delicate and pure, with gorgeous balance. Light in color, with medium (almost light) body, it has an attractive sweet-tasting quality and appealing silkiness joined by lovely red berry, smoke and mineral notes. Not showy but pleasurable, here's an authentic Piedmont red that grows and grows on the ethereal finish. Drink now through 2007. 10,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GiovanniSordo.aspWS 93 (9/2008): There's very ripe strawberry on the nose, almost overripe. Full-bodied and very concentrated, with layers of chewy tannins and a long finish. Best after 2012. 380 cases made.WA 92 (10/2008): The 2005 Barbaresco Fausoni is remarkably dense and fruit-driven in this vintage. Raspberries, flowers, menthol and sweet spices flow from this medium-bodied Barbaresco. The wine offers outstanding length and well-integrated tannins. A few years of bottle age should help the wine settle down a bit. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. IWC 90 (12/2007): (all of these Barbarescos are aged in barriques, but the percentage of new oak, once 100%, is now 40%) Deep red. Musky, reduced aroma of roasted cherry. On the dry side but with sneaky intensity and a medicinal firmness to its floral and mineral flavors. Tightly wound and streamlined today but in a rather elegant style, finishing with good grip and thrust. Not a fleshy style of Barbaresco, but boasts good definition and life, thanks to its firm acidity.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Sottimano.aspWA 94 (8/2005): The 2000 Barolo Campe, the first which Rivetti has made, is very fresh and vigorous for a wine from this hot vintage, spicy and balsamic in aroma with much tar and chocolate as well, dense flavors, much length and intensity, and a sizeable but supple close. Already quite approachable, it will last another decade and a half.IWC 92 (12/2004): Good deep medium red. Roasted, smoky nose hints at menthol. Fat, large-scaled and powerful; comes across as sweeter than the 2001 but less refined, despite possessing solid underlying minerality. Showing more shoulders today than the 2001. Finishes with lovely ripe tannins and excellent breadth.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaSpinetta.aspWA 93 (6/2011): The estate's flagship 2007 Villa Fidelia is a serious wine bursting with mocha, roasted coffee beans, French oak, leather, licorice, spices that add considerable complexity to the dark, inky fruit. This super-rich, concentrated red is showing beautifully today, but ideally it needs another few years in bottle. Villa Fidelia is Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 12 months in 100% new French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Sportoletti.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CaStella.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/deTarczal.aspWA 92 (8/2009): The 2007 Guidalberto is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, with most of the fruit coming from a property adjacent to the vineyards used for Sassicaia. About 20% of the wine consists of declassified barrels of Sassicaia. The 2007 Guidalberto is another sexy, ripe offering from Tenuta San Guido. The wine reveals gorgeous inner perfume and endless layers of fruit that coat the palate all the way through to the long finish. The 2007 is not likely to be as long-lived as the 2006, but I doubt that will be much of a problem as these bottles are likely to be long gone by the time ageability becomes an issue. Readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this irresistible, sensual, opulent wine. The 2007 is another blockbuster Guidalberto! Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.WS 92 (10/2009): Sweet blackberry character, with hints of blueberry and black licorice. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a fresh herb and berry aftertaste. Very tannic. Needs time. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best after 2011. 15,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSanGuido.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSanGuido.aspWS 93 (7/2000): Medium-dark ruby in the glass, with pretty aromas of spices, black currant, cherries and blackberries, this Tuscan red is full-bodied on the palate, with intense velvety tannins. Long, long finish. An outstanding Sassicaia. Best after 2002. IWC 88 (6/2000): More saturated ruby. Rather similar in aromas (blackcurrant and oak spices) but a bit weightier and fuller on the nose. More concentrated than the 1996, with attractive oak notes to complement the cassis. Still, this doesn't show the depth or complexity one might expect from an outstanding vintage. Finishes with a slight bitterness.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSanGuido.aspWS 95 (10/2001): Lovely, subtle yet complex aromas of currants, sage and green olives lead to a full-bodied red with a solid core of fruit and well-integrated tannins. Still very reserved on the finish, but those who are patient should be rewarded. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2005.WA 90 (10/2001): The 1998 Sassicaia exhibits a dense ruby color with purple highlights and a classic nose of cedar, spice box, licorice, and black currants. Medium-bodied, powerful, extracted, and rich as well as elegant and well-balanced, it requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and should evolve for 15-20.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSanGuido.aspWS 93 (10/2003): Shows its class. Loaded with fruit. Rich yet balanced, with lots of jammy and plummy character. Full-bodied, with round tannins and a silky finish. Exotic. Sass made excellent wine again in a less than easy year. Best after 2006.IWC 93 (8/2003): Intense dark ruby. Dark berry fruit and exotic spice scents fill the high-toned, penetrating nose. Offers a deep core of beautifully delineated blackberry and blackcurrant flavors layered with bell pepper, dark chocolate and minerals. Smooth tannins frame the very long finish, leaving one with the impression of persistence and balance.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSanGuido.aspWS 93 (10/2003): Shows its class. Loaded with fruit. Rich yet balanced, with lots of jammy and plummy character. Full-bodied, with round tannins and a silky finish. Exotic. Sass made excellent wine again in a less than easy year. Best after 2006.IWC 93 (8/2003): Intense dark ruby. Dark berry fruit and exotic spice scents fill the high-toned, penetrating nose. Offers a deep core of beautifully delineated blackberry and blackcurrant flavors layered with bell pepper, dark chocolate and minerals. Smooth tannins frame the very long finish, leaving one with the impression of persistence and balance.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TenutaSanGuido.aspWS 92 (10/2001): (WS #59 wine of 2001) A lovely, juicy wine, with very soft and polished tannins, ripe and smoky fruit and a long and beautiful finish. This is gorgeous. The best Terrabianca in years. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2003. 7,915 cases made. WA 91 (10/2001): One of Terrabianca's finest cuvees is Campaccio. The 1997 (a 6,000-case blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon aged one year in primarily French oak) is a complex, deep ruby-colored wine displaying scents of saddle leather, dried Provencal herbs, and subtle toasty oak. It is medium to full-bodied, with excellent depth, superb purity, and an open-knit, complex, structured personality. Delicious now, it promises to evolve for 7-8 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Terrabianca.aspWS 90 (10/2003): Very pretty blackberry, mahogany and cedar character. Full-bodied, with round tannins and a lovely, rich aftertaste. Always excellent. A sure bet for the money. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2005. 11,250 cases made.WA 86 (4/2004): Robert Guldener is working with a certain number of young, recently replanted vineyards, and the 2000 vintage seems to have been one of a certain amount of vine stress and less fullness in the wines. The 2000 Campaccio is a bit restrained on the nose and compact on the palate, and the acidity is higher than usual for this wine. Drink: 2005-2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Terrabianca.aspWS 90 (10/2004): This is very rich and shows lots of toasted oak and coffee character. Full-bodied, with loads of oak on the palate, but remains fruity, with a grilled meat and berry aftertaste. Extravagant style. Cabernet and Merlot. Best after 2005. 1,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Terrabianca.aspIWC 88 (10/2006): (40% sangiovese, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot) Deep ruby. Compressed aromas of blackberry, plum and smoky oak, with a whiff of roasted meat. Much more expressive in the mouth: suave on entry, then smooth and fine grained, with good mineral lift to the sweet dark fruit flavors.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodelTerriccio.aspWA 94 (8/2004): The 2001 Bocca di Lupo is a wine which demonstrates that the Aglianico grown in the northwestern part of Puglia, just a short distance from the Basilicata, can compete with the best of Italy’s south. Smoky and balsamic on the nose with intense and expansive notes of raspberries and blackberries, cloves, mint, and high-roast coffee, its packed, strappingly muscular, and dense flavors continue in a seamless flow over the palate, softening as they move but still totally mouth-filling and explosively powerful. The only regret is that these wines are released too early and will probably be drunk too early as well – this is a bottle which I would not touch until 2007, and it will still be going strong in 2020.WS 90 (2/2004): Lots of juicy berry and plum, with hints of spice and mineral. Full-bodied, with spicy fresh fruit on the palate, firm tannins and a clean, minerally finish. Nicely done. Give it a while. Best wine ever from here. Aglianico and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2005. 4,165 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Tormaresca.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AzAgrTrabucchi.aspWA 96 (10/2001): The brawny, serious, opaque purple-colored 1999 Giusti dei Notre is a barrique-aged, unfined, unfiltered blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by awesome aromas of weedy tobacco, espresso, smoke, chocolate, black currants, and blackberries. Dense, full-bodied, thick, viscous, rich, and pure, it requires another 2-3 years of cellaring, and should last for 15+. Sadly, production is a measly 800 cases.WS 93 (10/2001): Impressive aromas of smoke, berry, tar and tobacco. Full-bodied, with super, well-integrated tannins and lots of berry and smoky fruit. Goes on and on. Gorgeous wine. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2004. 1,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TuaRita.aspWA 97 (4/2004): For the first time I preferred the Cabernet/Merlot blend to the all- Merlot wine, and there can be few doubts that the 2001 Giusto di Notri is a stunning wine. A blackish ruby/purple with a fabulous nose of textbook Cabernet aromas, black currants and blackberries, graphite, river gravel, and sweet herbs, its potent, dense, and packed palate displays flavors of perfect poise, grace and power intertwined and intermingled, shape and grip at the highest level from the initial explosive notes to the resonant, sweet finish. Drink: 2005-2025.WS 89 (10/2003): Complex aromas of berry, currant and toasty oak. Full-bodied, with a good backbone of tannins and a chewy finish. Peppery aftertaste. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2006. 1,900 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TuaRita.aspWA 97 (4/2004): For the first time I preferred the Cabernet/Merlot blend to the all- Merlot wine, and there can be few doubts that the 2001 Giusto di Notri is a stunning wine. A blackish ruby/purple with a fabulous nose of textbook Cabernet aromas, black currants and blackberries, graphite, river gravel, and sweet herbs, its potent, dense, and packed palate displays flavors of perfect poise, grace and power intertwined and intermingled, shape and grip at the highest level from the initial explosive notes to the resonant, sweet finish. Drink: 2005-2025.WS 89 (10/2003): Complex aromas of berry, currant and toasty oak. Full-bodied, with a good backbone of tannins and a chewy finish. Peppery aftertaste. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2006. 1,900 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TuaRita.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TuaRita.aspIWC 94 (10/2010): (60% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 15% cabernet franc) Full, deep ruby. Superripe, high-toned blackberry and blueberry aromas are lifted by violet and complicated by ink and gunflint. Densely packed and very smooth, with powerful dark berry, tobacco and mineral flavors coating the palate. A huge wine yet almost magically light on its feet thanks to firm, harmonious acidity. This is even more complex than the '07: these two vintages of Giusto are unquestionably among the best to date. WS 93 (10/2010): A soft, fruity red, with currant and dark berry notes. Full-bodied and attractive already. The tannins are wonderfully polished and ripe, with a persistent finish. 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc. Best after 2011.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TuaRita.aspWS 100 (12/2007): Very dark ruby color. Rich and decadent, with masses of blackberry and fresh black truffle aromas. Turns to tar and licorice. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Super-rich and long. Powerful and layered. Superb. Perfect. Even better than when originally tasted.--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Drink now through 2017. 200 cases made. WA 94 (8/1999): The flagship wine of Tua Rita is their tiny (under 200 cases) production of 100% Merlot aged in French oak and bottled with no fining or filtration called Redigaffi. This wine has represented a classic example of Merlot's potential in this coastal section of Tuscany. The spectacular, black/purple-colored 1997 Redigaffi boasts huge, chocolatey, blackberry, smoky nose and flavors, a full-bodied personality oozing with extract and ripe, juicy fruit, sensational length (45+ seconds), and brilliant purity and symmetry. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2012.IWC 93 (8/2000): Very dark ruby. Expansive, vigorous nose combines lushly ripe plum and exotic notes of coconut, cardamom, and Oriental spices. Plush and dense, with ripe plum flavor nicely fused with vanillin oak. Layered and sensual in texture. Along with the '94, the best the house has yet made and one of the important wines of the coast.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TuaRita.aspIWC 95 (10/2010): (100% merlot) Bright, deep ruby. Exhilarating nose combines wild berries, smoky plum, sage and flowers. Wonderfully dense and sweet, with a captivating light touch to the flavors of ripe black and red fruits, coffee and sweet spices. The wine's oak-derived vanilla is a bit more present today than in most young vintages of Redigaffi, but the terrific core of ripe acidity really extends the finish and contributes lift. The tannins are extremely smooth and fine-grained. Much less herbal than the '07, this is a great vintage for Redigaffi. WS 94 (10/2010): A flamboyant wine that reminds me of California, with lots of ripe berries and toasty oak. Full and opulent, with raspberry sauce and coconut oak flavors. Needs time to come together. Pure Merlot. Best after 2013.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TuaRita.aspWS 98 (10/2006): Very complex yet subtle aromas of licorice, dark chocolate, violet and raspberry. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Harmonious and wonderful. Reminds me of the great 1997; even better. Merlot. Best after 2008. 650 cases made.IWC 94 (10/2006): Saturated deep ruby. Intense aromas of blueberry, licorice, and espresso, complicated by stone and smoky black pepper nuances. Stylish and suave on entry, then elegant and powerful in the middle palate, offering complex pepper, mineral and mocha flavors. Very ripe, highly concentrated, creamy wine yet quite firm, and tannic on the finish. Production was down by about a thousand bottles because Frascolla was unhappy with the quality of three barriques and blended them into the '04 Giusto di Notri. Having tasted this juice directly from the suspect barrels, I can assure you the Giusto di Notri has nothing to complain about!WA 93 (2/2007): The inky-colored 2004 Redigaffi, 100% Merlot aged for 16 months in new oak, offers expressive, nuanced aromatics along with sensations of richly-textured blue and black jammy fruit, minerals, mint, chocolate, spices and sweet toasted oak on big, powerful frame with notable underlying structure and a warm, resonating finish. Although it has enough structure and acidity to drink well for another decade or so, I enjoy Redigaffi most in its youth. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TuaRita.aspWA 94 (10/2001): The spectacular 1997 Brunello di Montalcino, which has been bottled, but will not be released until January, is a thrilling, seamless example of Brunello that I hope is indicative of how special this vintage will be. A deep opaque ruby/purple color is atypical for Brunello, but the nose of dried herbs, spice box, fruitcake, red and black fruits, minerals, and earth is stunningly complex. It is full-bodied, with supple tannin, a velvety texture, and a tremendously long finish. It can be drunk now or cellared for 14-15+ years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Uccelliera.aspWA 96 (10/2011): The 2008 Langhe Freisa Kye is insanely beautiful. Layers of primary dark fruit burst from a big, powerful frame as the wine opens up in the glass. A complex array of menthol, tar, and spices follows, adding further dimensions of nuance and character. Everything is so beautifully delineated here. The fruit remains primary and the tannins are firm, so readers will need to be patient, but boy, is this a gorgeous bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2028.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GDVajra.aspWS 94 (5/2004): Dark-colored, with intense aromas of ripe fruit, coffee and toasted oak. Full-bodied, with a depth of ripe fruit and delicious black licorice flavors and silky tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspWS 98 (4/2006): Black hued, with intense aromas of crushed berries and licorice with hints of oak. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Superb. One of the best Brunellos I have had in a long time. Best after 2010. 2,500 cases made.WA 92 (1/2009): The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino was one of the most talked about wines of Montalcino when it was first released a few years ago. The black color the wine had in its youth has begun to recede, yet this remains a rich, almost Amarone-like expression of Sangiovese that achieves an incredible level of density and sheer concentration. According to Abbruzzese the early spring hail reduced yields dramatically, which accounts for the wine’s super-ripe style. I am not sure if yields alone can produce a wine that is this extreme, my guess is that decisions taken in the cellar had an influence as well. Nevertheless, the simple fact remains that this wine is a freak. There is no other wine in the estate’s history – before or after - that even remotely resembles the style of the 2001. This is an outstanding wine, but one that needs to be considered on its own terms. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021IWC 91 (8/2006): Saturated medium ruby; atypically dark for sangiovese. Aromas of dark berries, bitter chocolate, gunflint and meat. Large-scaled, fat and sweet, offering a blast of blackberry flavor. This is almost too big for the mouth, but manages to avoid heaviness. Offers good vinosity, but still comes across as a bit youthfully musclebound today. Very impressive wine, but I never would have guessed it was Brunello.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspWS 95 (5/2008): Enticing aromas of meat-and-mushroom pie mingle with rich plum and spices. Full-bodied, with silky, caressing tannins and intense fruit and mineral flavors. Well-crafted, finishing long. The flagship Brunello in 2003. This is the wine of the vintage. Best after 2010. 2,800 cases made.WA 91 (4/2008): Valdicava’s 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is a big, brooding effort loaded with black cherries, smoke, tar and earthiness. This expressive, powerful wine needs at least another year or two to settle down. While not as extreme as the 2001, it stands apart for its intensity of color and the sheer volume of its extract. In 2003 the Brunello spent three and a half years in 45 and 50-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks. Abruzzese says the spring rains in the northern part of Montalcino left the wines with enough water reserves to mature without going into hydric stress. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.IWC 88 (8/2008): Bright, deep ruby to the rim; unusually dark for Brunello. Sexy, rather syrah-like aromas of black fruits and tar. Then fat, broad and a bit ponderous, in a rather international style but not at all overly sweet. I would never pick this blind as Brunello and I'd probably guess California syrah or Toro before I'd say Italy. Plenty large and powerful but where's the fresh fruit? Finishes with big but rather soft, dusty tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspWS 95 (4/2009) Displays complex aromas of blackberry and cherry, with a hint of licorice. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a delicious finish of wonderful yet subtle fruit. Well-integrated and beautiful. Everything is in the right place. Best after 2011. 5,000 cases madeWA 94 (6/2009): The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is simply beautiful. Now that the wine is in bottle it is even better than when I tasted it from barrel. Firm but silky tannins frame a core of ripe dark fruit as this powerful yet elegant Brunello opens up in the glass. Smoke, cured meats, earthiness and graphite develop in the glass, adding further complexity. Sweet roses and spices linger on the long, refined finish. This is a big, structured Brunello, and like all of Abbruzzese’s wines, it needs at least a few years of bottle age before it offers its finest drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.Valdicava has been somewhat of a controversial property over the last few years. The Brunellos are typically very concentrated and dense when young, which can make them hard to assess. Make no mistake about it though; these are very serious wines whose only difficulty lies in giving them a few more years in bottle than the vast majority of Brunellos. A vertical tasting last year going back to 1988 published on www.erobertparker.com showed that the Valdicava Brunellos age exquisitely.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspJS 97 (1/2011): Love the nose on this with blackberries, sweet tobacco, blueberries. Full body, with soft and silky tannins and a light jammy finish. Lots of dark fruits. Long finish. Loads going on in this one. Give it three to five years. Or more. WA 95+ (5/2011): The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino flows with gorgeous layers of dark red fruit. This is one of the more muscular, virile wines of the vintage. Slow to reveal its character, the Valdicava Brunello will require significant patience, but I have seen the wine blossom beautifully, even in the smallest of vintages. A blast of iron, smoke, tar, licorice and new leather inform the deep, intense finish. This is a hugely promising, brilliant Brunello from proprietor Vincenzo Abbruzzese, but it needs to be buried in the cellar for at least a few years. Readers who can’t wait should open the wine a few hours in advance, which will allow the fruit to emerge. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. WS 95 (7/2011): Though rich and round, the cherry, black currant and violet flavors in this Brunello are pure and focused. This is beautifully textured, displaying bright acidity and refined tannins that drive the long mineral aftertaste. Best from 2012 through 2025. 2,000 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspJS 97 (1/2011): Love the nose on this with blackberries, sweet tobacco, blueberries. Full body, with soft and silky tannins and a light jammy finish. Lots of dark fruits. Long finish. Loads going on in this one. Give it three to five years. Or more. WA 95+ (5/2011): The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino flows with gorgeous layers of dark red fruit. This is one of the more muscular, virile wines of the vintage. Slow to reveal its character, the Valdicava Brunello will require significant patience, but I have seen the wine blossom beautifully, even in the smallest of vintages. A blast of iron, smoke, tar, licorice and new leather inform the deep, intense finish. This is a hugely promising, brilliant Brunello from proprietor Vincenzo Abbruzzese, but it needs to be buried in the cellar for at least a few years. Readers who can’t wait should open the wine a few hours in advance, which will allow the fruit to emerge. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. WS 95 (7/2011): Though rich and round, the cherry, black currant and violet flavors in this Brunello are pure and focused. This is beautifully textured, displaying bright acidity and refined tannins that drive the long mineral aftertaste. Best from 2012 through 2025. 2,000 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspJS 97 (1/2011): Love the nose on this with blackberries, sweet tobacco, blueberries. Full body, with soft and silky tannins and a light jammy finish. Lots of dark fruits. Long finish. Loads going on in this one. Give it three to five years. Or more. WA 95+ (5/2011): The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino flows with gorgeous layers of dark red fruit. This is one of the more muscular, virile wines of the vintage. Slow to reveal its character, the Valdicava Brunello will require significant patience, but I have seen the wine blossom beautifully, even in the smallest of vintages. A blast of iron, smoke, tar, licorice and new leather inform the deep, intense finish. This is a hugely promising, brilliant Brunello from proprietor Vincenzo Abbruzzese, but it needs to be buried in the cellar for at least a few years. Readers who can’t wait should open the wine a few hours in advance, which will allow the fruit to emerge. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. WS 95 (7/2011): Though rich and round, the cherry, black currant and violet flavors in this Brunello are pure and focused. This is beautifully textured, displaying bright acidity and refined tannins that drive the long mineral aftertaste. Best from 2012 through 2025. 2,000 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspWS 98 (12/2007): This is a wine that has all to come. Loads of blackberry and dried fruits on the nose, with full body, supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Layered and beautiful, with loads of fruit. Yet it is refined and caressing. So much flavor. This will only get better. Drink now through 2015. 1,500 cases made.IWC 91+ (10/2003): Full, deep red. Low-toned aromas of raspberry, mocha, game and menthol, with emerging notes of dried rose and spice cake. Pliant, sweet and dense, with surprisingly cool, primary berry flavors and a solid underlying backbone. A juicy, bright Brunello riserva that saturates the palate. Finishes with dusty, tongue-coating tannins and building currant and leather flavors. WA 92 (12/2002): The spectacular 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano (600 cases) is a riveting example with great intensity as well as fabulous concentrated fruit, and offering notes of roasted herbs, pepper, new saddle leather, black cherries, minerals, incense, and spice. Although tightly knit, the finish lasts for over 40 seconds. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspWA 96+ (4/2010): The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano continues to develop very positively. This huge, concentrated Madonna del Piano dazzles for the richness of its fruit and the delineation of its aromas. The clean, vibrant finish suggests many years of cellaring potential. The Valdicava Brunellos are often misunderstood when young because they possess so much richness, but with time in bottle the wines turn more delicate and complete. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.WS 96 (6/2010): Intense aromas of blackberry, blueberry and mineral, with just the right amount of licorice and mineral. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a beautiful finish. Best after 2012. 2,415 cases made.JS 95 (1/2011): This is drinking a little tight at the moment. Still, the bright and decadent fruit give way to nice chewy tannins. Very complex, full bodied, and balanced. This needs some time to come back around. Drink this after 2012. IWC 88 (7/2010): Very dark ruby-red with a light rim. Overripe aromas of red cherry, plum and underbrush give the nose a blowsy quality. Then sweet and creamy in the mouth, with pretty balsamic nuances to the ripe red and black fruit flavors. This rather fat wine finishes with decent complexity and smooth tannins, but I found myself wishing for a little more finesse.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspWA 95 (5/2011): Don't let the firm tannins fool you, the 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is a stratospheric wine. It is one of the most powerful, intense and brooding wines of the vintage yet everything is miraculously in place. Dark cherries, licorice, new leather and flowers gradually emerge from a wall of unyielding tannins. With time in the glass the wine's inner perfume gradually emerges. Smoke, tar, scorched earth and a host of dark, brooding flavors mark the long, powerful finish. Readers will need to be patient here, but the 2005 Madonna del Piano will deliver the goods. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2035.JS 95 (1/2011): This is incredible for the vintage with its density and freshness. Tons of complexity but still in need of some time to come out of its shell. Still, this has an incredible depth of fruit.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspWS 100 (4/2007): Mind-blowing aromas of crushed berries, meat, blackberry and violet. Full-bodied, with layers of incredibly velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is so complex and long, and the mouthfeel is spellbinding. Develops wonderfully in the glass, becoming more and more rich with air. One of the greatest Brunellos I have ever tasted. Best after 2012. 2,000 cases made.WA 96 (01/2009): The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is another remarkable wine. It is a ripe, ample Brunello with tons of fruit. Compared to the broad-shouldered 1999, the 2001 possesses a touch greater detail and more finesse in its tannins. This is a beautifully delineated, chiseled wine of the highest level. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023.IWC 88 (6/2007): Inky ruby in appearance, but nowhere near as dark as the freakishly black '01 normale. Sweet and sexy aromas of very ripe red cherry, prune jam and mocha display enough depth to promise further development. Rich and tasty on entry, with enjoyable if somewhat overripe red cherry and mocha flavors that carry through on the moderately long finish. Not a particularly deep wine, but soft tannins and smooth texture make it an enjoyable glass of Brunello.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspWA 96+ (4/2010): The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano continues to develop very positively. This huge, concentrated Madonna del Piano dazzles for the richness of its fruit and the delineation of its aromas. The clean, vibrant finish suggests many years of cellaring potential. The Valdicava Brunellos are often misunderstood when young because they possess so much richness, but with time in bottle the wines turn more delicate and complete. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.WS 96 (6/2010): Intense aromas of blackberry, blueberry and mineral, with just the right amount of licorice and mineral. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a beautiful finish. Best after 2012. 2,415 cases made.JS 95 (1/2011): This is drinking a little tight at the moment. Still, the bright and decadent fruit give way to nice chewy tannins. Very complex, full bodied, and balanced. This needs some time to come back around. Drink this after 2012. IWC 88 (7/2010): Very dark ruby-red with a light rim. Overripe aromas of red cherry, plum and underbrush give the nose a blowsy quality. Then sweet and creamy in the mouth, with pretty balsamic nuances to the ripe red and black fruit flavors. This rather fat wine finishes with decent complexity and smooth tannins, but I found myself wishing for a little more finesse.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdicava.aspWA 92 (6/2003): The 2001 Trincerone, a Merlot and Canaiolo blend, demonstrates just how well the former grape is now performing in Tuscany. A solid, deep ruby in color with an explosive nose of super ripe red and black berry fruit, minerals, smoke, and high roast coffee, its fleshy, meaty palate provides powerful blackberry and plum flavors, and outstanding depth and amplitude. Superior sweetness and length in addition to shape and definition to burn further characterize this wine. Drink: 2004-2015.WS 90 (10/2003): A rich and round red, with meaty, autumnal character. Full-bodied and caressing. Canaiolo and Merlot. Best after 2005. 550 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Valdipiatta.aspWS 88 (10/2002): Plenty of ripe fruit, with a toasted, coffee undertone. Medium-bodied, with raisin and spice flavors and chewy tannins. Much better than the 1997. Drink now through 2007. 4,165 cases made. WA 87 (10/2001): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak, the dense, earthy, cedary, leathery, spicy, and black currant-scented 1998 Selvamaggio exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color, surprisingly sweet tannin, medium body, and a Medoc-like austerity. It is rich on the attack, but dries out in the moderately tannic finish. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2015. Villa La Selva's wines are fashioned under the guidance of the well-known consulting oenologist Stephano Chioccioli.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VillalaSelva.aspWS 94 (10/2004): Classy, elegant red with plum, berry and soft mineral character. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long minerally finish. Best after 2005. 2,055 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Viticcio.aspWA 97 (12/2007): Voerzio’s 2004 Barolo Brunate captures the telltale balsamic notes of this justly famous site with gorgeous suggestions of mint, tobacco and licorice wrapped around an expressive, authoritative core of plush dark plums, prunes and black cherries. This dark, brooding Barolo finishes with big, building tannins that will require patience. A bottle of the 1997 I tasted alongside it had developed a flavor profile eerily similar to that of a 1991 Jaboulet A?n? Hermitage La Chapelle I tasted a few days prior. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. WS 95 (6/2008): Dark ruby in color. Aromas of blackberry, licorice and aniseed. Full-bodied, chewy and very rich, with a tannic yet polished texture. Not giving much now, but there's excellent structure and balance. Muscular. Best after 2012. 310 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RobertoVoerzio.aspWS 96 (10/2005): Intense aromas of blackberries, minerals and cedar, with hints of cigar box. Full-bodied, with a dense tannin structure and rich palate of fruit and minerals. Tight and condensed. This needs lots of bottle age. Tannic. This is built like a brick house. Very powerful for La Serra. Best after 2008. 400 cases made. ... WA 92 (10/2006): The 2001 Barolo La Serra opens with a deep, potent nose of sweet dark cherries and cocoa. The most structured of the Voerzio Barolos, it is also the most weighty and concentrated, featuring massive amounts of dark, backward fruit, great length and the more substantial tannins that are typical of the vineyard. La Serra is usually one of the last wines to reach maturity. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. ... IWC 92 (12/2004): Good fresh, deep red. Superripe, deep aromas of plum, mocha and smoky oak. Very rich, ripe and chewy, with a rare creaminess of texture and terrific depth. Utterly velvety mouth feel. Finishes with huge but lush tannins. A very good showing.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RobertoVoerzio.aspWS 97 (6/2008): Offers aromas of blackberry, licorice and tar. Intense and full-bodied, with a wonderful concentration of fruit, supersilky tannins and a complex finish of pure fruit and Indian spices. Superb for the vintage. Best after 2012. 405 cases made. WA 94 (12/2007): The 2004 Barolo La Serra reveals a generous personality in its dark red fruit with notable depth and richness that carries through to the persistent, sweet finish. With air, floral notes develop to round out this particularly multi-dimensional, full-bodied and beautiful La Serra. 2004 is a great vintage for this wine, which can sometimes be austere. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022. IWC 92 (12/2007): (bottled in August of 2007) Good saturated full red. Lovely perfumed nose offers redcurrant and rose petal. Dense, sweet and nicely delineated, offering lovely energy without any impression of weight. This has a floral character I don't find in the estate's 2003s. Finishes long and impressively pure, with firm but fine tannins and vibrant fruits and flowers. Structured to evolve slowly in bottle.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RobertoVoerzio.aspWS 86 (2/1995): A solid, very good riserva offering berry, licorace and tar character, medium body and a fresh finish. Drinkable now. 7,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiVolpaia.aspWS 90 (6/1997): Already displaying some of the exotic, spicy, nutty characteristics typical of maturing Amarone, yet there's freshness, great balance and depth. Very complex and inviting. Drinkable now, but hold if you like more mature flavors. 45,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Zenato.aspWS 88 (12/2001): Offers more on the nose than the palate, but very good indeed. Extremely aromatic with violet, berry and tar aromas. Full-bodied, with a good, solid core of fruit and a medium finish. Drink now. 4,200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Zenato.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Zenato.asp