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Reviews
2021 Massolino Barolo
Review Date: 06-02-2026
Often, the true measure of an estate is found in its normale. Massolino’s classic Barolo is a masterclass in traditional blending, primarily sourced from several outstanding sites across Serralunga (including Briccolina, Collaretto, and Broglio). It captures the overarching signature of the vintage with perfect harmony. Broad, savory, and impeccably balanced, it offers exceptional value and serves as the perfect introduction to the house style.
2021 Massolino "Margheria" Barolo
Review Date: 06-02-2026
While located firmly within Serralunga, Margheria offers a brilliant counterpoint to the commune's typical density. The soils in this MGA contain a significant streak of sand, which imparts a remarkable elegance and finesse to the finished wine. Margheria is incredibly fragrant, bursting with bright red cherry, savory herbs, and an almost ethereal floral lift. It possesses the characteristic Serralunga backbone, but wraps it in a silky, approachable texture that makes it stunningly beautiful even in its relative youth.
2021 Massolino "Parussi" Barolo
Review Date: 06-02-2026
Parussi is a fascinating outlier in the Massolino portfolio—it is their sole cru located outside of Serralunga, situated across the valley in Castiglione Falletto. The terroir here shifts noticeably, featuring a higher proportion of sand mixed with limestone. This soil composition translates into a Barolo of piercing precision. Parussi trades the sheer weight of Serralunga for intense, lifted aromatics, chalky tannins, and a brilliantly focused, racy energy. It is an intellectual, highly expressive Nebbiolo.
2022 Fèlsina Chianti Classico Riserva
Review Date: 05-27-2026
Fèlsina is the undisputed king of Castelnuovo Berardenga, and in a deeply warm, solar vintage like 2022, they are one of the very few estates in the southern reaches of the appellation that completely retained their nerve.
It leaps from the glass with a fiercely high-toned wave of crushed alberese rock, dried tobacco, scorched earth, and a deeply "crunchy" core of tart black cherry and dried blood orange peel. It smells intensely savory, cool, and firmly anchored to the dirt.
2018 Fèlsina Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (375ml)
Review Date: 05-27-2026
The process is a painstaking labor of love. A blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes are hand-harvested and then hung to dry (appassimento) in airy lofts for months, concentrating their sugars and flavors. The thick, sweet juice is then pressed and sealed in small oak and chestnut barrels, called caratelli, where it ferments and ages slowly for at least a decade in the vinsantaia—a process that exposes it to the natural temperature fluctuations of the seasons.
It is rich and lusciously sweet but with a vibrant, electrifying acidity that cuts through the richness, preventing it from ever feeling cloying.
This is a wine to be sipped slowly on its own at the end of a meal, or paired with the classic Cantucci (almond biscotti). A small bottle will last for weeks after opening, its flavors continuing to evolve.
This wine is immortal; you can keep it in the cellar for generations.
Price:
$34.99
2021 Federico Mencaroni Lacrima di Morro d'Alba
Review Date: 05-27-2026
Venture to the rolling hills of the Marche region, caught between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, and you will find the Federico Mencaroni estate. Located in the picturesque town of Corinaldo, this family-run winery is currently guided by its fourth generation. Federico Mencaroni took the reins from his uncle in 2009, combining modern precision with a deep respect for his family's agricultural heritage. His vineyards are planted in ideal clay and limestone soils, benefiting from a unique microclimate that marries continental mountain air with moderating coastal breezes.
While the Marche is famous for white Verdicchio, its greatest red secret is Lacrima. Indigenous to the tiny Morro d'Alba appellation, the Lacrima grape takes its name (meaning "tear") from the fact that its thin skin often weeps juice when fully ripe. Mencaroni ferments this entirely in stainless steel to preserve its astonishingly pure aromatics.
This wine is an absolute aromatic explosion. It pours a deep ruby with violet reflections, but the nose is what stops you: an intoxicating wave of blooming violets, wild strawberry, and sweet spice. On the palate, it is smooth, charmingly fresh, and unburdened by heavy tannins. Pair this floral beauty with a charcuterie board or a savory meat ragù.
2024 Bianchi "Il Rosato" Vino Nebbiolo Rosato
Review Date: 05-27-2026
The legendary Pasquero-Elia family, the visionary minds behind the historic Paitin estate in Barbaresco, have embarked on a thrilling new chapter with their "Bianchi" venture. While Paitin has been a cornerstone of traditional winemaking in Neive since 1796, the Bianchi project serves as a fresh, modern canvas for the family to explore vibrant new expressions of their beloved Piedmontese terroir.
This Rosato is a masterclass in the versatility of the noble Nebbiolo grape. While their Barbaresco demands years of patient cellaring, this wine is designed to capture the grape's youthful, immediate energy. Sourced from the Langhe's famous calcareous-clay soils, the fruit is harvested specifically for rosé production to maintain high acidity, undergoing just a brief, delicate maceration to extract a perfect kiss of color without the heavy tannins.
As the weather warms up, this is exactly what you want chilling in the fridge. It pours a brilliant, pale salmon hue. The nose trades Nebbiolo's brooding dark notes for a bright, springtime bouquet of wild strawberry, white peach, and crushed rose petals. On the palate, it is crisp, bone-dry, and electric, finishing with a savory, mineral snap. It is the ultimate seasonal aperitivo and a gorgeous pairing for fresh goat cheese or a vibrant spring pea risotto.
2023 Gianfranco Bovio 'Firagnetti' Langhe Nebbiolo
Review Date: 05-27-2026
When discussing traditional Piedmontese winemaking, the Bovio family holds a revered place in La Morra. Originally famous as local restaurateurs, the late Gianfranco Bovio revitalized his father's estate in the 1970s, establishing a winery that has become a benchmark for classic, terroir-driven Nebbiolo. Today, the third generation continues this legacy, deeply committed to preserving the historic style of the Langhe.
The "Firagnetti" Langhe Nebbiolo—named after a Piedmontese dialect term referring to a vineyard area with short rows—is the perfect introduction to the Bovio philosophy. Sourced from the estate’s younger vines, this wine offers the noble pedigree of Barolo without the prerequisite decade of cellaring. The vines thrive in the calcareous-clay soils of La Morra, known for yielding Nebbiolo with pronounced elegance and perfume rather than brute force.
In the glass, it reveals a brilliant, translucent ruby color. The nose is incredibly expressive, offering a classic bouquet of dried cherries, crushed roses, and the subtle hint of leather and spice that defines the grape. On the palate, it is vibrant and approachable. Instead of gripping tannins, it delivers a lively freshness and a graceful, spicy finish, making it a dream pairing for agnolotti del plin or roasted poultry.
2022 Tenute Silvio Nardi Rosso di Montalcino
Review Date: 05-26-2026
To understand the modern history of Montalcino, you have to look at Silvio Nardi. In 1950, long before Brunello became a global luxury icon, Nardi—a successful agricultural equipment manufacturer from Umbria—purchased the historic Casale del Bosco estate. He was an outsider with a bold vision, becoming one of the very first to bottle Brunello and a founding member of the local Consorzio. Today, his daughter Emilia leads the estate, pushing the boundaries of precision viticulture.
While Brunello is built for decades in the cellar, the Rosso di Montalcino is designed to capture the immediate, vibrant energy of the Sangiovese Grosso grape. Sourced from the estate’s younger vines across different exposures in Montalcino, this wine benefits from the region's classic galestro (friable shale) and alberese (limestone) soils, which impart an unmistakable chalky tension.
In the glass, it is a masterclass in Tuscan elegance. It trades the heavy, brooding tannins of Brunello for a bright, vertical energy. The nose offers a pure expression of sour cherry, violet, and a hint of dusty earth. It is lively, savory, and incredibly versatile—the perfect "baby Brunello" to pair with a springtime lamb ragù or a simple, rustic Margherita pizza.
2023 Tua Rita "Rosso dei Notri" Toscana Super Tuscan
Review Date: 05-26-2026
The story of Tua Rita reads like a Tuscan fairytale. In 1984, Rita Tua and her husband Virgilio Bisti purchased a small, rustic property in Suvereto, a medieval town in the Maremma on the Tuscan coast. What started as a peaceful retirement project to farm a little land and make wine for friends quickly blossomed into one of Italy’s most iconic cult wineries. They were pioneers in realizing that the Maremma coast was capable of producing world-class Bordeaux-style blends.
The secret to Tua Rita’s magic is the soil of the Colline Metallifere (the metal-bearing hills). This unique coastal terroir is packed with iron, clay, and a rich array of minerals, swept daily by the salty breezes of the Tyrrhenian Sea. "Rosso dei Notri" is their brilliant, energetic introduction to this terroir.
Typically blending Sangiovese with international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, this Super Tuscan translates the warmth of the coast into a wine that is generous and plush, yet incredibly fresh. It bursts with dark coastal fruit—blackberry and ripe plum—underscored by a distinctive, iron-like minerality and a hint of Mediterranean scrub. It is a powerful, yet elegant coastal red perfect for welcoming the warmer grilling season.
2021 Masseria Setteporte Etna Rosso
Review Date: 05-26-2026
Welcome to the volcano! Mount Etna in Sicily is currently the most thrilling wine region in Italy, offering what many call "the Burgundy of the Mediterranean." The Portale family of Masseria Setteporte has been farming the southwestern slopes of Etna, near the town of Biancavilla, for generations. While most of the famous Etna estates are on the northern face, the southwestern slope offers a distinct terroir: higher sunlight hours balanced by staggering altitudes (up to 700 meters above sea level).
Winemaking here is defined by the earth beneath the vines. The soils are pure volcanic ash, pumice, and ancient lava flows. The native Nerello Mascalese grape (blended with a touch of Nerello Cappuccio) acts as a sponge for this terroir. It has the pale color and aromatic finesse of Pinot Noir, but the wild, smoky heart of Sicily.
2024 Piccolo Goccio Sangiovese
Review Date: 05-26-2026
Sometimes, the most compelling wines come from the most humble philosophies. "Piccolo Goccio" translates to "Little Drop," a name that perfectly encapsulates the artisanal, boutique approach behind this wine. In a world where Sangiovese is often blended, heavily oaked, or polished to meet international tastes, this project is a refreshing return to the grape's unadulterated, rustic roots in central Italy.
This wine is a tribute to the rolling, sun-drenched hills of Tuscany, where Sangiovese has thrived for centuries. By sourcing fruit from small, dedicated plots and utilizing a gentle, low-intervention approach in the cellar (often leaning entirely on stainless steel or neutral vessels), the winemaking steps out of the way to let the raw terroir speak.
The result is a wine that captures the nervous, joyful energy of Sangiovese. It pours a brilliant, translucent ruby, offering immediate aromatics of crunchy red cherries, wild strawberry, and a savory hint of wild thyme. It is light on its feet, with that signature mouth-watering acidity and a dusty, earthy finish. It’s an honest, "glou-glou" style of Sangiovese that demands a spot on your picnic blanket alongside hard pecorino cheese and finocchiona salami.
2023 Planeta "Contrada Taccione" Etna Bianco
Review Date: 05-26-2026
Planeta built its empire on rich, golden Chardonnay, but their operation on the northern slopes of Mount Etna is an entirely different animal. The 2023 Contrada Taccione is 100% Carricante grown at roughly 700 meters in deep black lava sand, and it is a masterclass in raw, volcanic tension. The nose is wildly evocative of the mountain—a high-toned, cooling wave of white acacia flower, fresh green almond, and crushed pumice, cut with a sharp hit of mountain peach and wild herbs. While a small fraction (about 20%) sees oak, it doesn't translate as vanilla or weight; instead, it provides a very subtle structural framing that lets the volcanic minerality completely dominate the aromatics. On the palate, it vibrates with pure, electric energy. It drives straight down the center with a razor-sharp spine of acidity and a fiercely "crunchy" core of yellow plum and prickly pear. The volcanic soil gives the wine an intensely savory, mouthwatering saline snap on the finish that leaves the palate completely reset. This is bone-dry, highly architectural Etna Bianco that absolutely demands a plate of raw seafood or sea urchin.
2022 Planeta "La Segreta" Sicilia Rosso
Review Date: 05-26-2026
The nose is incredibly punchy and alive, delivering a sharp, untamed hit of crushed mulberry, wild caper, and cracked black pepper. It smells like actual, sun-baked Sicilian earth, not a commercial syrup factory.
On the palate, it vibrates with the kind of nervous, "crunchy" energy you almost never find at this price point. It absolutely refuses to be sweet or heavy. It drives forward with a bright, vertical zip of acidity that completely strips away any potential flabbiness. The tannins are light but distinctly dusty and traditional, clamping down just enough to leave a mouthwatering, strictly savory snap on the finish.
2021 Planeta "Maroccoli" Menfi Syrah
Review Date: 05-26-2026
Growing Syrah in the deep south of Sicily is usually a recipe for a baked, flabby, jammy disaster. Most of it ends up tasting like alcoholic fruit syrup. But Planeta’s Maroccoli vineyard sits at serious elevation, and the 2021 vintage completely evades the trap. This is Syrah with absolute fangs.
The nose skips the sweet blackberry compote entirely. It comes at you with a wild, feral blast of heavily cracked black pepper, smoked meat, and raw iron, all wrapped in a savory veil of sun-baked Mediterranean scrub. It smells deeply intellectual, cool, and undeniably untamed.
On the palate, it absolutely refuses to be a soft, lazy fruit bomb. It possesses serious density, but it drives straight through the mid-palate with a tense, vertical spine of acidity and pure nervous energy. The fruit is dark but fiercely "crunchy." The tannins are dusty, strict, and highly demanding, creating a rigid architectural grip rather than some plush, velvet cushion. It finishes bone-dry, propelled by a fierce, mouthwatering, and intensely meaty snap. This is an uncompromising, high-tension beast that completely resets the palate and commands a massively charred piece of lamb.
2023 Planeta Etna Rosso
Review Date: 05-26-2026
Planeta might be a massive name in Sicily, but their operation on the northern slopes of Mount Etna is entirely focused on raw, volcanic expression. If you want a wine wrapped in commercial luxury or heavy oak, look away. This 2023 Rosso is 100% Nerello Mascalese grown in jet-black ash, and it is built strictly on tension.
The aromatics are feral and distinctly alpine. It leaps from the glass with a sharp, high-toned blast of crushed pumice, wild mountain strawberry, and a smoky, savory veil of ash and dried herbs. There is absolutely zero sweet fruit masking the terroir; it smells incredibly cool and intellectual.
On the palate, it vibrates with pure, nervous energy. It drives completely vertical, snapping tight with a razor-sharp spine of acidity and a fiercely "crunchy" core of tart red fruit. The tannins are ultra-fine but incredibly strict—dusty, volcanic, and demanding. It finishes bone-dry with an electric, saline cut that completely resets the palate. A tense, unapologetic mountain wine with serious architectural grip that demands a plate of roasted wild mushrooms or grilled lamb.
Price:
$29.99
2023 Planeta Chardonnay
Review Date: 05-26-2026
Planeta practically put modern Sicilian wine on the map with this exact bottling, and historically, it leaned hard into a rich, golden, heavily-wooded profile. But the 2023 is a completely different beast. It sheds all of that heavy, commercial luxury to deliver something fiercely coastal, wild, and alive.
Sourced from the blindingly white, chalky soils of Menfi, the nose totally bypasses lazy tropical fruit. Instead, it hits you with a sharp, untamed blast of crushed sea shells, wild fennel, green almond, and preserved lemon. There is a framing of wood here, but it reads as toasted hazelnut and crushed stone rather than anything sweet or buttery.
On the palate, it absolutely vibrates. There is undeniable texture and dry extract from the barrel fermentation, but it refuses to be wide, fat, or perfectly polite. It drives straight down the center with a tense, vertical spine of acidity and a massive, mouthwatering saline snap. It has a raw, electric nervous energy that keeps all the island richness perfectly in check. This is bone-dry, highly architectural Chardonnay that completely resets the palate and demands a massive plate of charred swordfish.
2021 Fèlsina Fontalloro Toscana
Review Date: 05-26-2026
Fontalloro is the absolute benchmark for 100% Sangiovese straddling the border of Chianti Classico and the Colli Senesi. In a rigidly structured, classic vintage like 2021, Fèlsina has delivered a wine of staggering tension and pure, unmanipulated power. It completely rejects the modern, polished Super Tuscan playbook.
The aromatics are deeply savory and grounded. It leaps from the glass with a high-toned, intellectual mix of crushed alberese rock, dried tobacco leaf, and scorched earth, all tightly coiled around a fiercely "crunchy" core of tart red cherry and dried blood orange peel.
On the palate, it is all vertical drive and nervous energy. Rather than expanding with fleshy, sweet mid-palate weight, it drills down with a razor-sharp spine of acidity and a mouthwatering saline snap. The tannins are monumental—dusty, demanding, and unapologetically traditional—building a strict structural cage that guarantees decades of life in the cellar.
2021 Vecchie Terre di Montefili Chianti Classico
Review Date: 05-26-2026
This bottle is a masterclass in high-altitude, unmanipulated Sangiovese. Perched on a high, rocky crest of galestro in Panzano, Montefili completely ignores the modern temptation to soften or fatten up Chianti Classico. There is no Merlot makeup, no heavy oak blanket—just pure, chiseled rock and razor-sharp fruit.
The nose skips the sweet cherry cliches entirely, leading instead with a deeply savory, high-toned blast of crushed iron, wild rosemary, and a remarkably bright, sharp hit of blood orange peel. It smells cool, vertical, and entirely bound to the stone.
On the palate, the wine vibrates with an absolute jolt of nervous energy. It refuses to slouch or spread out across the mid-palate; instead, it drives straight up and down with a piercing, electric line of acidity and a mouthwatering saline snap. The tannins are traditionally gritty and demanding, creating a tight, architectural frame that completely cleanses the palate.
This isn't a soft, comforting red to sip on the couch. It is a tense, bone-dry, highly intellectual wine that commands a piece of charred meat and absolute attention.
2018 Vigneti Repetto 'Evoluta'' Monleale Barbera
Review Date: 05-26-2026
"Monleale" is the elite subzone designation for Barbera in the Colli Tortonesi, requiring longer aging and stricter yields. The 2018 "Evoluta" (Evolved) is a serious, brooding titan of a wine. It has shed its primary fruit to reveal savory layers of black plum, worn leather, dark chocolate, and a touch of balsamic. The tannins are fully resolved, leaving a wine of deep, velvety concentration. This is Barbera built for a steakhouse.
2021 Vigneti Repetto 'Sfera' Barbera Colli Tortonesi
Review Date: 05-26-2026
The name "Sfera" speaks to the wine's shape—round, pure, and unbroken by heavy oak. This is a wine of incredible, crunchy energy. It is intensely aromatic, bursting with wild blackberry, dark cherry, and a streak of violet. The acidity is bright and motivating, making it an incredibly versatile, vibrant red that you will want to reach for every night of the week.
Price:
$19.99
2021 Vigneti Repetto "Quadro" Timorasso Derthona DOC (Vintage Release)
Review Date: 05-26-2026
This 2021 proves exactly why collectors are cellar-aging this grape. With just a couple of years in the bottle, the wine has begun to broaden, shifting from primary citrus into a deeper, more honeyed profile. You can start to detect those signature notes of chamomile, dried apricot, and that distinct, flinty minerality. It is textural, weighty, and profoundly complex.
Price:
$39.99
2023 Vigneti Repetto "Quadro" Timorasso Derthona DOC
Review Date: 05-26-2026
This is Timorasso at its most athletic and high-tension. The 2023 is electric, racing out of the glass with aromas of crushed white stone, green apple, and white flowers. On the palate, it is crystalline and savory, finishing with a sharp, lip-smacking salinity that begs for raw seafood or rich, bloomy-rind cheeses.
2017 San Filippo "Le Lucere" Brunello di Montalcino
Review Date: 05-04-2026
This brilliant eastern Montalcino cru acted as the absolute perfect defense mechanism against the heat of the year. The nose completely bypasses any heavy, roasted baggage that most Brunello have in this vintage. Instead, it comes at you with a highly high-toned wave of wild mint, crushed galestro stone, and a distinct, "crunchy" core of dark sour cherry and dried blood orange peel. It smells serious and demanding.
On the palate, it absolutely refuses to be fat or syrupy. Where lesser wines from this vintage completely collapse under their own weight, Le Lucere drives forward with a razor-sharp, vertical spine of acidity.
Normally, a single-vineyard Brunello of this pedigree and critical acclaim sits comfortably at $120 elsewhere. At $79.99, it is absolute highway robbery. Secure your allocation before it disappear. It’s to be enjoyed now, we are in the perfect drinking window.
2023 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Ornellaia" Bianco Sauvignon Blanc
Review Date: 04-28-2026
In a vintage like 2023, this wine is absolutely electric. It completely bypasses the heavy, tropical, and over-oaked traps that plague warm-climate Sauvignon Blanc. The nose doesn't hit you with cheap passionfruit or sweet melon; instead, it delivers a profound, high-toned wave of crushed white stone, wild sage, green almond, and a distinct, cooling blast of saline marine air.
On the palate, it is a masterclass in texture and tension. It possesses an enveloping, waxy weight from its time in barrel, but it absolutely refuses to be fat. It is propelled by a laser-focused, vertical spine of acidity and a "crunchy" nervous energy that cuts straight through the richness. The finish is bone-dry, driven by a fierce, mouthwatering saline snap that lingers for minutes.
2023 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Ornellaia" Toscana (375ML)
Review Date: 04-28-2026
This vintage completely redefines the estate's profile, trading in sheer mass for breathtaking electric tension and strict, unyielding structure.
The 2023 vintage completely bypasses the jammy, baked traps of the Maremma coast. It leaves the sweet cassis behind to deliver a brooding, cooling wave of crushed graphite, cedar box, and dark, macerated blackberry, all tightly wound with a profound hit of wild Bolgheri macchia—roasted rosemary, eucalyptus, and wild mint.
The Cabernet and Merlot here are framed by a rigorous grid of chalky tannins. They are ultra-fine but incredibly demanding, clamping down hard on a bone-dry, fiercely savory finish. This is a tense, uncompromising masterpiece that demands absolute patience. Lock this away in the darkest corner of your cellar for at least a decade.
2023 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Ornellaia" Toscana
Review Date: 04-28-2026
This vintage completely redefines the estate's profile, trading in sheer mass for breathtaking electric tension and strict, unyielding structure.
The 2023 vintage completely bypasses the jammy, baked traps of the Maremma coast. It leaves the sweet cassis behind to deliver a brooding, cooling wave of crushed graphite, cedar box, and dark, macerated blackberry, all tightly wound with a profound hit of wild Bolgheri macchia—roasted rosemary, eucalyptus, and wild mint.
The Cabernet and Merlot here are framed by a rigorous grid of chalky tannins. They are ultra-fine but incredibly demanding, clamping down hard on a bone-dry, fiercely savory finish. This is a tense, uncompromising masterpiece that demands absolute patience. Lock this away in the darkest corner of your cellar for at least a decade.
2017 Elio Grasso "Gavarini Chiniera" Barolo
Review Date: 04-27-2026
Here is one of those deals that stops you in your tracks: a single-vineyard Barolo from a master producer, Elio Grasso, at a price we almost never see. The "Gavarini Chiniera" is a benchmark for Monforte d'Alba, and this is your chance to get it for a steal.
The 2017 vintage was hot and dry, resulting in wines of immense concentration and power. In lesser hands, these wines could be clumsy, but this is Elio Grasso. He has channeled that intensity into a wine that is both powerful and impeccably balanced. The nose is a captivating storm of ripe dark cherry, plum, and licorice, layered with those classic Monforte notes of iron, scorched earth, and savory herbs.
What makes this offer so compelling is the wine's readiness. At this point in time, the 2017 is ready to go—a more forward and accessible Gavarini Chiniera that is absolutely delicious and thrilling to drink now with a decant. Yet, its formidable structure ensures it has many years of beautiful evolution ahead of it, easily 15-20 more.
For this price, it’s an absolute must-buy. You rarely, if ever, see this iconic single-vineyard Barolo priced so low. This is a true killer deal and the perfect powerhouse red to stock up on for the upcoming holiday season.
2024 E. Pira Chiara Boschis Barolo Chinato
Review Date: 04-24-2026
The ultimate conclusion to an Italian dinner. Chiara’s Chinato is a labor of love—a fortified Barolo aromatized with a secret recipe of herbs, spices, and barks (including Cinchona). It is rich, bitter-sweet, and profoundly complex. In an era where many houses have moved to commercial styles, Chiara maintains the traditional depth that makes this one of the world's great digestifs.
Price:
$49.99
2024 E. Pira Chiara Boschis Langhe Nebbiolo
Review Date: 04-24-2026
Don't call this an "entry-level" wine; it is a serious Nebbiolo sourced from prime parcels in La Morra. The 2024 is incredibly fresh and expressive, dominated by a bouquet of cherry, raspberry, and dried rose. It is vibrant and "nervous" in the best way, making it the perfect bottle to open while you wait for the Barolos to cellar.
Price:
$39.99
2022 E. Pira Chiara Boschis "Cannubi" Barolo
Review Date: 04-24-2026
The 2022 Cannubi is a triumph of finesse over heat. It is deep and restrained, showing a sleek elegance that is hard to find in a warm year. Expect a myriad of sweet perfumes—red fruit, spice, and the signature balsamic notes of mint and eucalyptus that only this hill can provide. Suckling calls it "profound in its depths" with plush tannins you can really sink your teeth into.
2022 E. Pira Chiara Boschis "Mosconi" Barolo
Review Date: 04-24-2026
A total powerhouse. This is one of the most refined expressions of Mosconi we’ve seen, managing to maintain its structural presence while layering in stunning floral overtones. It is austere, complex, and driven by a massive mineral core. Notes of bright cherries, cedar, and sliced mushrooms lead into a driving, persistent finish.
2022 E. Pira Chiara Boschis "Via Nuova" Barolo
Review Date: 04-24-2026
The "New Road" is outstanding for its pure savoriness in 2022. It is a vibrant, mid-weight Barolo that perfectly balances the characteristics of its six constituent vineyards. Expect earthy strawberries, peonies, and restrained blood orange on the nose, with a silky, dainty palate and tannins that add a surprising, chocolatey touch.
2024 Matteo Ascheri Langhe Nebbiolo
Review Date: 04-24-2026
If the brilliant 2021 Barolo is the benchmark for value and precise terroir expression, the 2024 Langhe Nebbiolo is the ultimate everyday proof of Matteo Ascheri's no-nonsense approach. This is exactly what entry-level Nebbiolo should be: pure, unmanipulated, and completely stripped of any commercial makeup.
The nose is incredibly open and fragrant, immediately mirroring the ethereal qualities of his Barolo. . It is undeniably one of the smartest, most expressive everyday Nebbiolos on the market.
Price:
$24.99
2022 La Ca' Növa "Montestefano" Barbaresco
Review Date: 04-20-2026
A dark, brooding expression that defies the heat of the vintage. Expect juicy dark cherry, plum, and licorice framed by a deep, earthy core. Ready to enjoy immediately.
2022 La Ca' Növa Barbaresco
Review Date: 04-20-2026
A mid-weight, charming blend of parcels in Ovello, Cole, and Loreto. It’s a red-toned, fruit-forward entry-level wine that offers incredible value, though its 2022 grippiness suggests it benefits from a quick decant.
2021 La Ca' Növa "Montestefano" Barbaresco
Review Date: 04-20-2026
A modern legend. This is one of the highest-scored wines in the region, offering explosive aromatics and a pedigreed structure that will last for decades.
2020 La Ca' Növa "Montestefano" Barbaresco
Review Date: 04-20-2026
2020 are surprisingly good now, they are in a great window. Its formidable tannins mean there is a long-term cellar play potential here as well.
2022 La Ca' Növa "Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina" Barbaresco
Review Date: 04-20-2026
Bright, focused, and remarkably accessible. It retains its signature salinity and chalky texture, with high-toned notes of orange peel and white pepper.
2021 La Ca' Növa "Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina" Barbaresco
Review Date: 04-20-2026
A classic. It conveys a translucent finesse, redolent of crushed flowers, cedar, and salt.
2020 La Ca' Növa "Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina" Barbaresco
Review Date: 04-20-2026
"Dynamite" wine laced with mint and white pepper. It offers a bit more pliancy than the Montestefano, making it ready to enjoy in just a few years.
2020 Buglioni "Il Bugiardo" Valpolicella Ripasso Classico
Review Date: 04-15-2026
Let’s be brutally honest: the Ripasso category is an absolute minefield. Far too much of what makes it to the US is just thin, commercial Valpolicella masked with a heavy dose of residual sugar to fake the richness of an Amarone. It's lazy, it's cloying, and it completely lacks spine. Buglioni’s "Il Bugiardo" (The Liar) is the undisputed exception of the underwhelming sea of Ripasso floading the market. It earned its name because it famously fooled seasoned experts into thinking it was a top-tier Amarone, and the 2020 vintage shows exactly why.
This wine completely bypasses the sticky, jammy traps of the appellation. The nose doesn't hit you with cheap, sweet fruit.
On the palate, it delivers massive depth and dry extract from its time on the Amarone skins, but here is the crucial difference: it absolutely refuses to be fat. It is propelled by a vertical, electric spine of acidity that keeps all that density perfectly in check. At 50% off retail price this is a wine to buy by the case. Best deal around!
Price:
$14.99
2022 Idda Etna Rosso
Review Date: 04-09-2026
Spicy and warm, this red offers aromas of Mediterranean herbs, cherry blossoms, and terra cotta. It is a balanced, "enveloping" wine with intense notes of graphite and black pepper.
2022 Tascante “Ghiaia Nera” Etna Rosso
Review Date: 04-09-2026
100% Nerello Mascalese that pulses with volcanic energy. It strikes a perfect balance between Pinot-like elegance and the structure of Nebbiolo, offering notes of red berry fruit, woodsmoke, and incense.
2022 Benanti Etna Rosso
Review Date: 04-09-2026
A classic blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. It is light on its feet and vividly fruit-focused, bursting with wild strawberries and red cherries with just a whisper of volcanic ash on the finish
2023 Graci Etna Rosso
Review Date: 04-09-2026
A "sexy" and refined red bursting with violet, lavender, and ripe wild strawberry fruit. Eric Guido calls it "wickedly fresh and floral" with a stream of motivating acidity.
2024 Graci Etna Bianco
Review Date: 04-09-2026
Taut and precise with 94 Points from James Suckling. It features sophisticated apricot fruit wrapped in lemon peel and an "umami" depth that reflects the volcanic ash.
2016 Giulia Negri "La Tartufaia" Barolo
Review Date: 04-08-2026
Named after the truffle woods that border the vineyard, this is La Morra at its most linear and refined. The 2016 is stunning—heady aromas of underbrush, eucalyptus, and mint. It’s more athletic than the Scavino, with spiced cranberry and red cherry fruit backed by firm, silky tannins. It’s an elegant, high-altitude expression that feels "cool" and vibrant.
2013 Ettore Germano "Prapò" Barolo
Review Date: 04-08-2026
This is for the serious cellar. 2013 was a classic, long-season vintage, and Prapò is Sergio’s "Grand Cru" site. This wine is chiseled and savory, offering a complex mix of crushed cranberry, balsamic, and ground clove. It is vibrant, nervous, and built for the long haul. If you want to know what "savory" Barolo is all about, this is your bottle.
2015 Ettore Germano "Cerretta" Barolo
Review Date: 04-08-2026
The Cerretta vineyard produces wines with a distinct "dark" personality. In the warmer 2015 vintage, this is a total knockout. It is smooth and succulent, bursting with raspberry compote, licorice, and wild herbs. It has that signature Serralunga "iron" and smoke on the finish, but the tannins are incredibly polished. It’s a powerhouse that’s already starting to open up.