2005 Italy

Approximately 8,000 bottles of Lisini’s Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is produced each year from a single 1.4 hectare vineyard. 2005 Ugolaia is a fine-boned, fragile wine with fragrant licorice aromas, suave tannins and a seared meatiness that typifies Lisini’s wines. Utterly compelling and very fine indeed.
David Berry Green, August 2011

Cannubi Boschis - the story goes that Luciano first set eyes on Cannubi Boschis (along the ridge from the original Cannubi) during his time as consultant winemaker for Barolo Marchesi di Barolo, who was at that time buying the fruit in. Luciano did the deal during the mid-'80s, securing the vineyard for himself, and for the future enjoyment by his customers! Whatever the vintage it always seems to charm with its delicious strawberry fruit aromas, detail and gentle softness; the high percentage of sand bringing warmth and sensuality to the final wine. Like a wave washing over you it coats the senses. And yes it will age for many years, till 2020; but boy does it taste good now.
David Berry Green, Fine Wine Buyer Sandrone's modern slant on Barolo has produced a wine with an expressive nose of mixed red berries and spice. The palate is generous with sweet red fruits, tobacco and a touch of rosewater. Overall a superbly made wine and it will continue to develop over the next 10 years.
Matthew Tipping, Fine Wine Specialist

The first thing to hit you on the palate is the abundance of sweet red fruit and on the nose hints of cocoa, cloves and mint.  The finish is long, smooth and lavishly rich. This is definitely a wine to be kept.
(Ben Upjohn - Fine Wine Department)Barolo Gramolere, is Fratellis’ Alessandria Monforte d'Alba vineyard, is a larger site at 4ha out of a total 20, alongside those of Sandrone and Pira. Its elevation is higher than that of Monvigliero at approx 425 metres above sea level, and it enjoys a particularly warm microclimate created by its altitude, tree sheltered location, a south-western aspect and by even steeper sandy clay soils. From 40 year old vines, this Barolo wine is stylistically very different to Alessandria's other vineyard, Monvigliero: broader, denser, more mulberry than raspberry on the nose, the palate has a definite succulence, boasting velveteen tannins; so all in all a richer brew. This cru was first bottled by the Alessandria family only in 2001, so an exciting new addition to the range.
(David Berry Green)

While vintage 2004 was darker and fulsome, Maria Teresa's 2005 lifts the soul with a spirited spicy red fruit perfume, a delicate, gentle, velvety cherry stone palate and a sublime quality that perhaps only the Cantina Mascarello Bartolo can muster. Getting ahead of the Oct 10th rain seemed key to performing well in 2005, after what was a relatively mild summer. This is perhaps an apt advertisement for the benefits of blending vineyards together, four into one; a philosophy the Cantina holds dear. An Englishman’s Barolo? It's certainly sings of finesse. Drinking till 2020, along with lamb (Maria Teresa's favourite meat).
(David Berry Green)