2016 Italy
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Scopetone, Tuscany,
Ready, but will keep,
This Rosso di Toscana from Scopetone is crafted from 100% Sangiovese, mostly coming from their Porrona vineyard in Montecucco, with about 20% of the fruit coming from Montalcino. Thanks to Loredana Tanganelli’s decision to pick early, it’s a wine of great aromatic vibrancy and subtle nuance. Think of cassis and orange marmalade, that hint to the Montecucco fruit, while the backbone and verticality owes everything to Montalcino. Drink now to 2021.
Stefania Masin, Buying Assistant (February 2019)
Stefania Masin, Buying Assistant (February 2019)
Drink now,
Family-run Monte del Frà translates as “Hill of Monks” and is located in the heart of the Bianco di Custoza DOC, just to the south of Lake Garda. It has over 205 hectares of vineyards, and is now run by Maria, Eligio and Claudio Bonomo. The Ca’ del Magro, their flagship white, is the jewel in the winery’s range, made from a single vineyard in the heart of Custoza.
The soil is poor and thin here, resulting in a wine of great concentration and terroir transparency. The grape varieties are vinified separately and rest on their lees for several months, gaining in both texture and complexity. In the glass, the wine is golden with an enveloping bouquet of grilled nuts and yellow peach characters. The white stone-fruit character is lifted by mineral notes. Drink now to 2025.
The soil is poor and thin here, resulting in a wine of great concentration and terroir transparency. The grape varieties are vinified separately and rest on their lees for several months, gaining in both texture and complexity. In the glass, the wine is golden with an enveloping bouquet of grilled nuts and yellow peach characters. The white stone-fruit character is lifted by mineral notes. Drink now to 2025.
Ready, but will keep,
Retromarcia means “to reverse” in Italian and refers to Monte Bernardi’s ethos of returning to the natural elegance of pure Sangiovese in the historic heart of Tuscany, Chianti Classico. The vinification and maturation in large old oak casks is reminiscent of a more traditional style, and the resulting wine is fresh, pure-fruited and very well balanced. Aromas of cherry, orange peel and mountain herbs lead to a palate of red plum, wild cherry and anise spice. A medium-bodied, organic wine, this can be enjoyed in its youth but can also be aged for greater complexity.
Matt Smith, Wine Buyer (spring 2019)
Matt Smith, Wine Buyer (spring 2019)
Scopetone, Tuscany,
Ready, but will keep,
Baby Brunello (coming from 17-year-old vines) shows its pedigree with its precision and intensity. Notes of bramble fruit, raspberry and kirsch lead on to a structured palate, but it’s deliciously crunchy thanks to its lively acidity. More approachable than Brunello, this is a lot of fun on the table.
Davy yw, Wine Buyer (winter 2018)
Davy yw, Wine Buyer (winter 2018)
Lis Neris,
Ready, but will keep,
Light vivid yellow. Pear, fresh citrus, menthol and a hint of spices on the nose. Juicy, bright and surprisingly dense, offering very good cut to the fruit-driven pineapple, tangerine and green apple flavors. Finishes long and vibrant. A knockout Ribolla Gialla, a variety owner Alvaro Pecorari never bothered with much in the past. This wine is made with grapes grown in Slovenia just across the border but the wine is made in Italy at the Lis Neris winery. The BBK in the wine’s name stands for the three towns (Barbana, Biljana, Kozana) where the vineyards are located. An outstanding Ribolla Gialla, and mercifully, not macerated into a would-be red wine oblivion.
Ian D'Agata (summer 2018)
Ian D'Agata (summer 2018)
Monte Bernardi,
Ready, but will keep,
Monte Bernardi declassified their 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva because of a quirky ruling by the Conzorzio, which deemed the wine too light in colour and structure to be a “typical” Riserva. Pay no attention to this, as the wine is better than ever and every bit a top Chianti Riserva. It’s elegant with refreshing acidity, while bright cherry fruit leads on to notes of wild herb and fresh forest floor. This wine is all the more enjoyable and fine for its delicate extraction. This is age-worthy and serious in structure, with classic fine-grained tannins. Serve with slow-cooked lamb. Drink now to 2030.
Matt Smith, Buyer (autumn 2019)
Matt Smith, Buyer (autumn 2019)
Lis Neris,
Ready, but will keep,
Lis Neris is widely regarded as one of the best producers of Pinot Grigio in Italy. Their Gris is no ordinary Pinot Grigio. The fruit comes from old, low-yielding vines grown on mineral-rich calcareous soils right next to the Slovenian border. Fermented then aged on lees for 11 months in large neutral oak barrel, the result is an incredible expression of this often maligned variety. It has wonderful concentration with exotic stone-fruit, white flowers and a serious, voluminous texture on the palate. The finish delivers supporting minerality and a whiff of smoky complexity. A brilliant match for both fish and more delicate white meat dishes. Drink now to 2025.
Matt Smith, Buyer (autumn 2019)
Matt Smith, Buyer (autumn 2019)
Francesco Versio,
Ready, but will improve,
Francesco made a total of just 3,500 bottles of his 2016 Barbaresco, using one 20-hectolitre botte and one French tonneau in his parents’ garage in Nieve. The 2016 vintage was stunning for Nebbiolo across the Langhe. The quality, ripeness and depth of fruit Francesco harvested was treated to an extended maceration of 35 days. Still produced primarily from his San Cristoforo vineyard, 2016 is the first vintage Francesco has also blended in fruit from another Nieve vineyard, Cotta. This sandy site contributes a plush, bramble fleshiness and spice, which beautifully balances the sinewy, coiled structure coming from the calcareous mineral-rich San Cristoforo vineyard. Drink 2024-2040.
Antinori,
For laying down,
To hit the market in June, the 2016 Tignanello is a rock-solid wine and a stunning beauty. The wine offers an impeccable level of precision and laser-focus delivery of fruits, spices, tilled earth, espresso beans and Mediterranean herbs. This vintage follows the classic blending formula of 80% Sangiovese with about 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. The vines are now 15 to 20 years old. Compared to the 2015 vintage that ultimately appeared more chewy and succulent, this expression from the iconic 2016 vintage is more vibrant, nervous and jazzed. It shows more savory spice, saltiness and minerality, with a beautifully integrated quality of tannins. Some 320,000 bottles were produced. This wine is at the top of the list of some of the best Tignanello ever made, including the vintages 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2015.
Monica Larner - 31/05/2019
Monica Larner - 31/05/2019
Monte del Fra,
Drink now,
Vague, blossomy cloud of a nose, pear drops. A gentle, soft wine that tastes of white flowers, and fruit-flavoured candy. Without strong character but easy to drink and it provides a useful canvas for a meal in which you want the food to play the leading role, and also surprisingly good with white asparagus.
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com. 19th May 2017.
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com. 19th May 2017.
Ready, but will keep,
This wine is showing exceptionally well in this classic vintage. The 2016 Guidalberto (Cabernet Sauvignon and a smaller percentage of Merlot) opens to a full and generous bouquet and a beautifully rich and velvety appearance. This edition of Tenuta San Guido's mid-level wine offers a bigger aromatic profile, more texture and more volume as well. Dark cherry and blackberry segue to spice, tar, leather and sweet fruit at the end. The mouthfeel is elegantly shaped, silky and nuanced. This may well be the best vintage of Guidalberto I have yet to tasteand you can get this wine at a great price too.
Monica Larner - 28/02/2018
Monica Larner - 28/02/2018
For laying down,
This has amazing power, elegance and finesse on the nose – with a black-fruit perfume that is so gentle and subtle, so Sassicaia! It’s tremendously elegant on the palate too, but with latent power – building in the mouth, with layers of rich, dark fruit. It’s a real iron fist in a velvet glove. With beautifully balanced acidity and ripe, rounded tannins, it’s a superbly elegant glass of wine with a long and very fine finish. This will age endlessly. Drink 2024-2050+.
Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager (February 2019)
Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager (February 2019)
Mastroberardino,
Ready, but will keep,
Redimore is 100% Aglianco from one of Mastroberardino’s vineyards just outside the famous Campanian town of Taurasi. The wine spends 12 months in French oak barriques to round out the intense structure Aglianico can have. This is a savoury wine, intense in colour and with notes of dark cherry, wild herbs, rose and spice on the nose. The palate is rich and earthy – with blackcurrant fruit, balsam and anise. The fine grippy tannins are countered by refreshing acidity. Try with porchetta, wild boar ragù or richly flavoured wild mushroom dishes.
Matt Smith, Buyer (spring 2019)
Matt Smith, Buyer (spring 2019)
Owned and run by brothers Eligio and Claudio Bonomo in the heart of Custoza, the Monte del Frà estate believes that work in the vineyard is the key to producing great wine. Modern winemaking techniques and exceptional attention to detail preserve the grapes’ character, making for fresh, fruit-driven wines.
Made from 100% Garganega, this has classic aromas of camomile and herbs. Fresh and light in the body, it has a clean and elegant mouth-feel. The acidity is enhanced by the minerality and finely textured palate. Drink now.