2015 Italy

This wonderfully perfumed Rosso has a bright cherry colour typical of Sangiovese. Brambles, red fruits and wild spices fill the nose, while the supple palate brims with crunchy red and plump black fruit, mineral salinity and a seasoning of Tuscan charm. Time in Slavonian oak and concrete vats has given it gleaming, well-polished tannins. Made for us by San Giorgio in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, this comes from some of the finest, fossil-filled vineyards in the whole of Montalcino. Drink now to 2025.
Davy Zyw - Wine Buyer

Laiolo Reginin is a producer of principally Barbera d’Asti wines located in the Asti village of Vinchio in Piedmont; at circa 350 metres above sea-level in the heart of the Barbera wine zone. Instead of servicing the local market, as their neighbours prefer to do, Paolo and Anna set their sights on greater things, supplying Lauda Air for several years. They tend seven hectares of vines, and are the only bottler in the village.

The 2015 is bursting with purple fruit, blueberry and blackcurrant on the nose, with a hint of white pepper. Fleshy on the palate, with a pure and juicy blackcurrant fruit core, a hint of liquorice, refreshing acidity and silky tannins. This wine would be great with a tomato-based pasta dish such as spaghetti all’amatriciana (a Roman favourite!).

This indigenous small-berried variety produces wines with aromas of blackberries, blueberries and parma violets. The attack is toned and fine, with a purity of fruit that leans towards red berries and plums. Liquorice and a salty minerality bring complexity. The tannins are fine but provide structure, and the acidity is fresh. Drink now to 2019. 

A fabulous nose of red cherry and plum fruit, tempered by spice and hints of new oak. Palate filling and full-bodied in the mouth, with notes of ripe red, Autumnal fruit, leather and spice, all kept in check by great acidity and the ripest of fine-grained tannins. As lovely as this is now, some time in the cellar will only render it more complex and mellow. A delightful wine. Drink 2021-2035+.
Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager (winter 2018)
 

Pretty nose, with aromas of strawberry, cassis and raspberry. Cool and crunchy fruit on the palate, focused and energetic, with lively acidity, silky tannins, and a captivating nervosity. Poised and pretty, with a saline finish. Drink 2018+
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer 

Rich, dark fruit on the nose, black cherry fruit from the Sangiovese dominating the blackcurrant fruit from the Cabernet at present, potent and powerful with hints of graphite in the background. Full-bodied and savoury on the palate, dark cherry fruit again, but more influence from the Cabernets creeping in. Mouth-watering acidity gives away its Chianti Classico roots, while soft, fine tannins complete the picture. Fabulous balance and a long, elegant finish rounds off this great Tignanello. Drinkable from 2020, but better still in 2025-2035.
Chris Pollington – Private Account Manager

From a cooler, hillside site to the southeast of the appellation with heavier clay and limestone soils. This expresses a cooler style of Nebbiolo, leaning towards a Pinot Noir flavour profile. It has a floral character with a gorgeous perfume of citrus notes and raspberries. Pure red berry sweetness with succulent, juicy acidity and racy tannins. Stunningly elegant, this is delicious and desirable now. Wonderful to drink or keep. Aged in 30% new oak. 
John Stimpfig - Decanter 25/09/18

The Sorí San Lorenzo vineyard is situated close to the Tanaro River, which undoubtedly helps moderate the temperature and initiates an earlier flowering period. Its sandy limestone soil provides perfect drainage and produces good tannin structure. This wine has depth, concentration and sweet primary fruit, with a touch of violet, meat, sweet cherry and wild raspberry. Lovely, polished tannins with some grip. It has benefitted from a slightly longer maceration, as well as eight months in barriques – seamlessly suffused into the wine – before spending the rest of the ageing period in large oak barrels.
John Stimpfig - Decanter 25/09/18

Pretty nose with aromas of raspberry and red cherry, a hint of sweet spice and rose petal. On the palate the tannins are fine grained, the fruit has lovely concentration, held up by lively acidity and subtle notes of clove and sandalwood from time in slavonian oak botti grandi (1yr), and a lingering finish. Drink from 2018+
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer

Lifted black Cherry, plum notes, Thyme and “teal like” leafiness in the background, on the nose. A seamless melange of aromas. This is a serious Serre Nuove. No less enjoyable but allow a few years before approaching. The medium bodied silky blackcurrant fruit on the mid palate, shows great vim & vigour, with the vibrant leaf bud element of the increased percentage of the Cabernet Franc visible. Great grip of well intergrated tannins. A finely constructed, savoury Serre Nuove. 2021- 2028.
Stuart Rae, Commercial Manager (Fine Wine)

Like the Vigna del Sorbo, the 2014 Flaccianello della Pieve spends a few additional months in botte grande than usual. The wine still breathes in large oak cask, but the environment is slightly more reductive (oxygen-free) compared to smaller barrique, thus allowing for a more complete and slower integration that is necessary in a cool vintage like this. The result is a beautifully complete wine that takes a few minutes to spread its wings. The bouquet starts off with a timid personality, but soon reaches a full regime of red fruit and spice that is so specific to this celebrated selection of Sangiovese from Panzano in Chianti. The September heat (following a gray, soggy summer) helped to eventually achieve fully ripened tannins. There is no greenness or astringency to disturb the soft and velvety mouthfeel. Thanks to severe fruit selection, production of the 2014 Flaccianello della Pieve is one-third less than average. Giovanni Manetti calls 2014 a vintage of opportunity. Although Panzano saw less average rainfall in 2014 compared to neighboring villages, Fontodi vineyards required double the work that year. This is an impressive achievement.
Monica Larner - 28/04/2017

The wine is ruby, with concentrated aromas of black cherry, sweet spice and a hint of liquorice. The palate offers juicy cherry and blueberry fruit, entwined with fine tannins, notes of liquorice, and layers of gentle-spice complexity from 18 to 24 months in oak. It finishes long, with excellent structure and poise. Drink now to 2022.
Davy Zyw, Wine Buyer

Perfumed and pretty, with aromas of little red berries and blackberry. Fresh and cool fruit on the palate, with a core of morello and black cherry, finely woven tannins, and lively acidity. Gentle and charming. Drink 2017+
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer