Acclaim

The nose of this Pecorino seems to fill a pan with herbs, butter, lemon and garlic, all simmering by the seaside, while the palate reduces those flavors into sweet-and-sour lemon, long toasted bread crumbs, and the green part of a slice of honeydew coming through at the end. Confident acid and a saline quality throughout result in a supremely satisfying harmony.

“This is the first release of Barolo from a prestigious DOCG cru on the Monvigliero hill at 1000 feet above sea level. With its limestone and chalk soils, the Monvigliero vineyard, recently acquired by the Einaudi family, makes for expressive Nebbiolo grapes giving this Barolo, which is matured in large oak barrels, floral scents, spicy red fruit flavors, and lots of personality.” – Baroness Sheri de Borchgrave 

The 2017 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva Villa Bucci pulls me close with a deep mix of dried apricots and pears complemented by hints of chamomile and wet rocks. This is a dense yet energetic effort with a burst of saline-minerals up front that give way to white pit fruits and savory spices. The 2017 finishes long and lightly structured, leaving a staining of primary concentration and a lemon pith tension. Bucci did a great job of dealing with the warm and dry vintage conditions, as the Riserva really shows a purity, but also density and structure that will promote a long and steady evolution. Drinking window: 2023 – 2029

The 2021 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore is an understated expression, impressing with its pretty mix of dusty dried florals and nuances of pear. It’s on the palate where it really comes to life, silky-smooth with vivid ripe apple and an enriching note of gingery spice. It leaves a citrus twang through the finale, along with a salty flourish of minerality; the 2021 finishes with mouthwatering freshness. Any readers seeking value, balance and purity from Verdicchio owe it to themselves to check this out. Drinking window: 2023 – 2027

A beguiling mix of crushed hazelnut, dried apricot, dusty flowers, marzipan and stone dust makes the 2018 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva Villa Bucci almost impossible to pull away from. Its medium-weight textures have an almost-glycerol feel, casting a dense wave of ripe orchard fruits and subtly sweet spices across the palate with ease. The 2018’s minerality comes through in the finale, tapering off slightly grippy yet not as structured as past vintages; a note of sour melon lingers. The Riserva of Bucci typically takes a bit of cellaring to really perform, yet the 2018 is already showing quite well today. That said, losing some bottles in the cellar for a few years certainly won’t hurt. This is a unique vintage for this wine, but one that really shouldn’t be missed. Drinking window: 2023 – 2028

#65 Top 100 Wines of 2022

“Made with 100% Pinot Nero and packaged in a unique, square-bottomed bottle, this lovely sparkling rosato offers alluring scents of red woodland berry, botanical herb and brioche. Dry and tangy, the elegant palate features juicy pomegranate, red cherry and baking spice alongside a hint of orange drop. Bright acidity and a refined perlage provide balance and elegance.“

#31 Top 100 of 2022

An intriguing note of orange peel joins black cherry, blackberry, wild rosemary and iron flavors in this sleek, firmly structured red. There’s drive and energy from the vibrant acidity, along with a solid base of refined tannins, making this a compelling wine with fine potential ahead. Shows terrific length. Sangiovese and Colorino. Best from 2023 through 2040. 750 cases made, 400 cases imported. —BS

“Lovely aromas of red cherries, white smoke, hibiscus and rose petals. Full-bodied with fine, tight tannins. Concentrated, though not overdone, and rather light-footed in its approach. It keeps going, becoming even prettier and more dynamic as it goes. Ash and charcoal at the finish. Runs a fine line between floral, mineral and savory character. Delicious. From 90-year-old pre-phylloxera nerello mascalese vines. Around 2,000 bottles produced. Drinking well now, but can age even longer if you are able to resist.” – James Suckling, Aug 2022

“The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino Vermiglio is a bombshell beauty, with a bright bouquet of dried strawberries, crushed rose petals, shaved cedar, cinnamon spice and sweet smoke. It’s deeply textural, almost fleshy in feel, yet kept in line by vibrant acidity, as masses of black cherry and raspberry fruit envelope the palate. This totally harmonious Rosso finishes with a classic tug of fine tannins, along with nuances of sour citrus, inner earth and lavender tones. It embodies, without a doubt, the term “Baby Brunello.” The Vermiglio is a barrel selection of Rosso that Costanti matures for two years, instead of one, in cask. Only 4,000 bottles were produced. ” -Eric Guido, Vinous, Oct. 2022

“Wild strawberries, dusty rose, lavender and hints of clove create a pretty and wonderfully inviting bouquet as the 2020 Rosso di Montalcino opens in the glass. This elegant expression of the vintage flows across the palate with ease, leaving a staining of red- and blue-toned fruit and inner florals. It tapers off delicate yet long, impressing with its soft touch and the saline-tinged minerals that add a pleasant tension toward the close. The 2020 is one of the most balanced Rosso’s that I’ve tasted from the vintage, showing both opulence but also poise. Andrea Costanti adds that he’s never seen as much dry extract and polyphenols as he did in 2020. ” -Eric Guido, Vinous, Oct. 2022