Review Date: 5-17-2013

The 2007 vintage in Tuscany produced many top quality wines and this Super Tuscan from Viticcio shows the power, structure and age worthiness of Bordeaux blends from Chianti. Powerful,focused with a blend of gravelly earth and ripe cherry on the palate, long and intense a wine with great structure.

Review Date: 5-15-2013

I've always thought Fiano d'Avellino was really good but never great, that was until I had this wine. Tenuta Sarno has more depth, more structure and more flavor than I can ever remember having before in a Fiano. The aromas are spicy and powerful while on the palate layers of complexity, alternating between a leesy, biscuit like richness and a slightly gritty tannin grip really make this wine's presence unmistakable. I would love to have this with a bigger, more structured fish like Swordfish although I'm sure many of you'd head towards Lobster. I really think this wine is stunning, you definitely need to try this!

Review Date: 5-14-2013

This is a beautiful expression of the 2008 vintage in Barolo and that vintages is turning out to be one of my favorite vintages in recent years. The wines are balanced, full of classic aromatics and flavors yet showing enough character and complexity in a drink now wine that would satisfy most Barolo lovers and still show flavors that are reminiscent of bygone decades. This Ascheri is elegant, I mean by that it has grace not that it is lightweight, ok by Paso Robles standards it isn't a "BIG" wine but certainly full-bodied, yet doesn't have the mouth searing tannins of Barolo past. Perfect accompaniment to Risotto with Porcini or Barolo al Brasato (Pot Roast).

Review Date: 4-26-2013

Massolino produces classically styled Barolo from Serralunga, the most robust and brawny of the Barolo communes. This 2001 is perfectly balanced and from a tremendous vintage, however this wine is in its hibernation period, another 5 years in your cellar will launch it into the I'm ready to drink stage. Have patience the price is tremendous and it will be worth the wait!

Review Date: 4-18-2013

I often fear "Super Tuscan" blends of Sangiovese with Bordeaux varietals, so often the Sangiovese is poorly grown and suffers at the hand of the more powerful Bordeaux varietals even in small amounts. Segue to the “new” owner (since 2004) Eric Albada Jelgersma a Dutch Businessman who also owns Château Giscours and Château du Tertre in Margaux in Bordeaux and insert a very young French winemaker for his first venture in Tuscany… I cringed… However at the first whiff of aromas I knew that this wine is truly astounding. The blend is Sangiovese (85%), Merlot (10%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (2%) a “classic” Super Tuscan blend and hails from the Tuscan coast in the town of Riparbella near Bolgheri. The Sangiovese is brilliant, long, aromatic, complex fruit with layers of ripeness, earth, spice and hints of leather coupled with subtle hints herb and spice from the Cab Franc, supple mid palate from the Merlot and a bit of back end power from the Cabernet Sauvignon. All of this is aligned along a perfectly balanced central acidity that gives a long, long finish to this wine. Outstanding value, wonderfully drinking now and will age well for another 5-7 years.

Review Date: 4-4-2013

It seems to be a never ending parade of "what kind of grape is that"? Crovino? And yes they are they only producers who make one... BUt thank GOD they do! The wine has a great fleshy richness on the palate without being over ripe. A little bigger than a CRU Beaujolais, a little softer than Nebbiolo, and 100% delicious.

Review Date: 4-4-2013

Ligurian Grenache? That's what I thought, but wow this stainless steel aged red has "classic" Grenache fruitiness, with sort of a crunchy freshness. A really complete wine, complex, fruity and absolutely delicious!

Review Date: 4-4-2013

This wine is such a pleasure to drink, another outstanding effort from the tremendous 2008 vintage for Barolo. The aromatics are classic, earth, floral, not a sweet ripeness but complete ripeness, rich but not fat on the palate and a layered finish that just begs you to take another drink, and at this price....what a steal.

Review Date: 4-2-2013

This 2009 Barbaresco has superb, deep fruit aromatics, and a power that just seems to fill your glass with a breath of the harvest. Powerful and complex on the palate but while still holding that “sweet” profile that softens the tannins into balance. A long life a ahead and impressively drinkable now.

Review Date: 4-2-2013

After the success of the 2009 Barbera from Oddero I was readily looking forward to the 2010 edition! Well the wine is tremendous, that classic Oddero earthiness coupled with layers of supple fruit balancing the acidity and leading to a very complex and long lasting finish.

Review Date: 3-26-2013

Rich, complex, with great central focus, a hint of biscuity aromatic, supple on the palate at this price an outrageous steal!

Review Date: 3-26-2013

A wine with great depth, richness, complexity and can be drunk now! I really like this effort, drinkability, full bodied and still layers of complexity. An outstanding wine from South Africa.

Review Date: 3-23-2013

I usually don't get too fired up about Cabernet from Italy, especially with the world-wide competition in the category, this wine however shocked me with its quality. This is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 20% of other grapes primarily Syrah that is simply scintillating! The wine has great body yet not in the flamboyant sense, this is serious depth of texture, flavor all centered around a core of acidic balance and hints of tannin on the edge. Layers of flavors, cassis, earth, spice it just goes on and on, really a delicious and complex wine. This is ready to drink now but will age well for another 3-7 years.

Review Date: 3-21-2013

This is sensational Chianti Classico, I almost don't want to say Chianti because so many folks have an idea of what they think Chianti tastes (and it isn't good) like but this is just out and out fantastic wine. 2010 a dynamite vintage for Chianti, the wine has loads of luscious up front fruit, superb balance and length and is just an experience! You'll love it!

Review Date: 3-15-2013

This is a drinker! Bibi has given us a real bargain, something for everyday drinking that is balanced, fresh, full of light strawberry/cherry fruit but not simple at all. This wine shows good structure yet is supple on the palate and has a surprisingly long finish for wines in this category. Taste a sip of Tuscany!