Acclaim

Very aromatic with wild strawberries, lychee, rose petals and dried citrus rind. Medium-bodied with vivid acidity and medium sweetness. Fresh and crunchy with a little hint of tannins and a flavorful finish with notes of spices. Fruity and vibrant. Drink now.

The 2013 Brut Rosé Gran Cuvée shows a lovely mix of vivid strawberries complemented by minty herbs and hints of raw almonds. It’s round, rich and pliant on the palate, with a burst of inner sweetness that’s nicely contrasted by zesty acidity and subtly tart wild berry fruits. This finishes incredibly juicy and fresh, leaving hints of licorice that seem to linger for up to a minute. Of note, the Eronero was submitted to me as a 2013, yet there is no vintage statement on the bottle. (Lot PD-1). Drinking window: 2023-2026

A mix of crushed strawberries, rose petals and mint lifts up as the 2018 Brut Rosé opens in the glass. This is silky and refined with crunchy red berry fruits and a sweet herbal flourish adding lift toward the close. Licorice and exotic spice nuances linger as the Brut Rosé finishes balanced and with admirable length. (Disgorged 2022). Drinking window: 2023 – 2027

Dusty and floral, the 2017 Brut Milledi is sweetly scented and finessed in the glass, with hints of candied apple and white flowers forming its bouquet. It splashes across the palate with a silken bead of elegant bubbles, combining juicy acidity with confectionary spice and a bit of almond custard. This leaves a pleasant, bitter twang while finishing remarkably fresh and perfumed. The Ferghettina style of balanced opulence is on full display in this vintage Franciacorta. (Lot 8M-1). Drinking window: 2023 – 2027

The 2018 Brut Saten is understated and a bit quirky in the glass, slowly evolving to show crushed green apple and wet stone nuances. It glides across the palate with ease, silky and refined. An elegant bead of bubbles and saline-tinged orchard fruits add a more tactile feel toward the close. This tapers off short yet leaves a balanced inner sweetness that lingers. (Lot S1-1). Drinking window: 2022-2026

Pretty peach, chamomile and rose petal notes make the NV Brut Rosé Gran Cuvée a total pleasure on the nose. There’s a wonderful balance of ripe orchard fruit and stimulating citrus concentration carried across a silken wave of fine bubbles. This finishes remarkably fresh yet potent and long, leaving sweet hints of red pear and mint to fade slowly. The Gran Cuvée is a sparkling Aglianico Rose that once again proves the merit and diversity of the variety. Drinking window: 2022 -2025

This wine is built like a mustang, its ripe cherry and berry flavors straining against taut, muscular tannins. Notes of licorice, black tea and orange peel emerge with time in the glass, even as the wine maintains its virile energy through the finish.

Nebbiolo from the Einaudi family’s 5.8-acre Cannubi plot yielded an impressively focused wine in 2018. There’s an inner brightness and clarity to the dark fruit tones that is further enlivened by notes of orange peel and dark spice that carry through on the long finish.

Best Buy. This is an impressive first release from Einaudi’s latest vineyard acquisition, and it captures the high-toned character typical of Barolos from Verduno’s most renowned MGA. The wine’s fresh cherry and red-berry flavors are framed by smooth tannins and laced by delicate white-peeper notes. It may lack a bit of stuffing in this vintage, but this is a promising start.

This 100% Pinot Noir Franciacorta Rosé is a prime example of the beauty of this region. Made only from free-run juice, this wine is elegant with aromas of roasted strawberries, wild cherries, and pie crust. The 50 months the wine spends on the lees prior to release builds a richness and depth, with flavors of raspberry, blackberry and a touch of salinity. Vibrant acidity on the finish gives way to a long and enjoyable finish. – Jeff Porter