Search Results

The 2025 Tenuta Roveglia “Limne” Lugana is a fresh white with real flesh on it, and that combination is the whole point. The nose is clean and clearly drawn: crunchy apple, citrus and white flowers, with almond underneath adding a quieter, savory note. Then the palate fills out through the middle in a way that would surprise anyone expecting a lean, austere lake white. What makes Limne interesting is how that supple texture and its nervous energy work together: the freshness keeps the fruit defined without stripping the wine of substance. It is 100% Turbiana — genetically a Verdicchio, not a Trebbiano — from vines averaging 25 to 35 years old, and it spends four to five months in stainless steel, so nothing from a barrel gets between you and the fruit. The best cross over into Italian wine if you like Sauvignon Blanc!

Lugana’s vineyards stretch across the southern end of Lake Garda, with the appellation spanning Lombardy and Veneto. Tenuta Roveglia’s 2022 “Vigne di Catullo” carries the Lugana Riserva designation, which requires at least 24 months of aging, including six months in bottle—a distinction that emphasizes maturation within this northern Italian white-wine appellation.

The 2020 Brut Franciacorta Milledì is distinctly savory, with a burst of exotic spices and white smoke giving way to a whiff of crushed apricots. It floods the palate with silken bubbles contrasted by a core of zesty acidity and a salty flourish that resonates toward the close. This comes across as rich yet energetic, with a spine of saline tension and hints of sour citrus that pucker the cheeks throughout the finish. (EG)

An intense wine full of stone-fruit aromas such as white peaches as well as broom flowers and waxy depth. Medium-bodied, it shows density and strength of acidity with exotic flavors and a vibrant finish. Drink or hold. (JS)

This is a fresh, dense sparkling wine with lots of cooked-apple, fresh-lemon and mineral character. Full body, lots of fruit and a delicious finish. This was disgorged in the summer of 2014. A blend of mostly chardonnay with some pinot noir and pinot bianco. Drink now.

This wine has improved a lot in the last vintages, with more restraint and classic style. The nose is rich, as ever, with green apples and ripe stone fruits, yet allied to lime-peel and pastry aromas, enhanced by chalky mineral undertones. Full-bodied, it shows amazing finesse of bubbles, with weight and a tight-knit structure, zesty acidity and mineral length. Drink or hold. (AF)

Lovely white blossom, lemon zest and blanched almond aromatics. Gentle mousse with a pleasant touch of bitter almond on the long, lemony finish.

When people hear Ca' del Bosco, they think of their legendary Franciacorta, but for me, the true insider's wine is this Chardonnay. The "Bosco Selva della Tesa" is their "Burgundian" expression—a profound, serious, and complex white that shatters expectations. The 2020 is a stunning example of their craft. Sourced from 35-year-old vines and aged in French oak, this is a wine of incredible structure and depth. The nose is a captivating mix of golden apple and toasted hazelnut, leading to a full-bodied and rich palate that the winery rightly compares to the structure of a red wine. It’s a sophisticated, gastronomic Chardonnay, perfect for roasted chicken or veal. An exceptional and powerful white from a master of the craft.

The NV Franciacorta Alma Grande Cuvée Non Dosato is remarkably fresh. A whiff of white smoke gives way to hints of dried flowers, crusty brioche and ginger-spiked apples. This opens with a pretty inner sweetness offset by saline mineral tones and tart orchard fruits. It finishes long and full of tension, leaving a salty flourish savory spice nuances. (EG)

Tenuta Roveglia is based in Pozzolengo, near the southern end of Lake Garda in Lombardy. Its 2025 Chiaretto Rosé carries a traditional name for the area’s pink wines: “Chiaretto” derives from the Italian chiaro, meaning light or pale, a reference to the wine’s color.

Dense and tight with lots of lemony flavour and tension. (JR) 17/20

A very floral wine with aromas of geraniums, fresh violets, red fruit and spices. Light-bodied with silky tannins, refreshing acidity and a chalky finish. Drink now. (AF)

Game, smoke, earth, strawberries and bright licorice root depth. The attack is soft and elegant, with silky tannins and refreshing acidity. A chewy, vivid finish. Drink or hold. (AF)

Layered and vibrant dark fruit profile with blueberries, strawberries, sweet violets and some peppery notes. Sucrosity on the palate with a medium body, silky tannins and a savory finish showing black olive flavor. Drink or hold. (AF)

From one of Valtellina’s top producers, Sandro Fay’s 2022 “Il Glicine” is a stunning and elegant expression of high-altitude Nebbiolo. Sourced from the steep, terraced vineyards of the Sassella cru, this wine perfectly captures the alpine soul of the region. The nose is wonderfully aromatic and pure, with notes of sour cherry, wild strawberry, and dried rose petal, accented by hints of crushed stone, white pepper, and alpine herbs. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, taut, and energetic, with a core of pristine red fruit framed by fine-grained, silky tannins and a vibrant, mouthwatering acidity. The finish is long, clean, and intensely mineral. A beautiful, terroir-driven Nebbiolo with remarkable finesse.

This wine takes us to one of the most dramatic wine regions on Earth: Valtellina. Located in Lombardy, tight against the Swiss border, this is the home of "heroic viticulture." Here, the Nebbiolo grape (locally known as Chiavennasca) clings to steep, terraced cliffs that have been carved out of the mountain by hand over centuries. If you drop a grape bunch here, it might roll a thousand feet down to the valley floor! Plozza is a historic institution in this valley.. They are famous for their Sforzato (dried grape wines), but their Rosso di Valtellina is perhaps the purest expression of their philosophy. In Valtellina, the Nebbiolo grape behaves differently than in the foggy hills of Barolo. The high altitude, the intense ultraviolet light, and the cool alpine breezes create a wine that is thinner-skinned, paler, and more aromatic. It is Nebbiolo stripped of its heaviness, revealing its "mountain soul." This bottle is a tribute to the farmers who maintain those dry-stone walls year after year, offering a taste of the Alps that is as rugged and beautiful as the landscape itself.

BastiànCuntràri’s Rosso di Valtellina is a fresh and elegant expression of Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) from the Grumello subzone. Sourced from vineyards at 400 meters elevation, it showcases purity and finesse. Aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, and red roses lead to a crisp, mineral-driven palate with bright acidity and fine tannins. Balanced and easy-drinking, this wine is a true reflection of Valtellina’s terroir. Perfect with cured meats, alpine cheeses, and light pasta dishes, it offers immediate enjoyment while maintaining great versatility.

The 2023 Barbacan "Liom" Rosso is a rare, experimental amphora red focused on the Valtellina’s "forgotten" indigenous varieties. The nose is wildly aromatic, bursting with fresh strawberry, wild raspberry, and dried mint over a dusty, granitic minerality. On the palate, it is light-bodied and incredibly vibrant, balancing crunchy red fruit with soft, silky tannins and a refreshing "mountain air" lift. Unlike the structured "Curnàl," this blend of Ròssola and Ròssolino is built for pure, unadulterated "glou-glou" energy. Unfined, unfiltered, and made with zero added sulfur, it is a playful, high-altitude juice.

The 2021 Bellavista "La Scala" Franciacorta Brut (DOCG) is a highly aristocratic, structural, and deeply sophisticated vintage sparkling wine that honors the historic bond between the estate and Milan's legendary opera house. A precise selection of Chardonnay (~75%) and Pinot Nero (~25%) from old, morainic hillside plots in Erbusco, Francesca Moretti vinifies a quarter of the base wine in small, neutral oak barrels for structural breath before secondary fermentation. Kept on its fine lees in the deep chalky cellars for over four years, this classic-method powerhouse completely subverts soft commercial styles with its exceptional architectural grip.

Dense and tight with lots of lemony flavour and tension. (JR) 17/20

Ca’ del Bosco’s Chardonnay from Lombardia is a refined and expressive take on this noble varietal, combining richness with precision. The nose is layered with ripe golden apple, citrus blossom, and toasted almond, complemented by hints of vanilla and wet stone. The palate is creamy yet vibrant, showcasing ripe orchard fruit, lemon curd, and delicate spice, balanced by bright acidity and a subtle saline minerality. A long, elegant finish lingers with notes of hazelnut and citrus zest. A polished, Burgundian-inspired Chardonnay, perfect for seafood risotto and roasted poultry.

Bruno Verdi’s 2024 Sangue di Giuda is a benchmark example of Oltrepò Pavese’s unique sweet, sparkling red, offering irresistible charm and vibrant fruit. The nose is bursting with fresh and juicy aromas of wild raspberry, blackberry jam, and ripe plum, with a hint of violet. On the palate, it’s light and effervescent, with a delightful sweetness that is perfectly balanced by refreshing acidity and soft tannins. The finish is clean and fruity, making it incredibly easy to drink. Serve well-chilled for a fun, festive aperitif or a perfect match for fruit tarts and pastries.

The 2023 Barbacan "Curnàl" Rosso is a rare, small-production Alpine Nebbiolo blend vinified and aged entirely in terracotta amphorae. The nose is lifted and pure, offering wild cherry, dried violets, and alpine herbs with a distinct granitic edge. On the palate, it is "deep without being heavy," balancing succulent red fruit with vibrant acidity and fine, structured tannins from a 90-day skin maceration. The finish is long and stony, showing notes of iron and mountain air. Unfined, unfiltered, and made with zero added sulfur, it is a primal, "transparent" expression of high-altitude viticulture.