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Alluring aromas of dark exotic spice, black-skinned berry, violet and juniper waft out of the glass on the gorgeous 2021 Fontalloro. Elegant and structured, the chiseled palate is incredibly focused, delivering ripe Morello cherry, cassis, star anise and cake spice alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it beautifully balanced and energized. While it’s tempting now, this is still in its infancy and needs time to fully develop so give it a few more years.

I’ve long admired a particular estate in the heart of Bolgheri, known for its powerful and structured Bordeaux blends. In the hot 2022 vintage, their meticulous vineyard work resulted in fruit of incredible concentration and balance. We worked with them to create this special cuvée, which has all the hallmarks of a top-tier Bolgheri red. It’s rich with notes of blackcurrant, cassis, cedar, and Mediterranean herbs. The palate is full-bodied and intense, with powerful but polished tannins and a freshness that defies the vintage. A true taste of Bolgheri's "magic mile" at a fraction of the price.

Bid on this bottle of 1985 Tenuta San Guido "Sassicaia" Bolgheri (100DC, 100RP, 98VN). Wine Advocate: "... The soaring beauty of this landmark Sassicaia literally transcends the rather mundane realm of wine critique with its string of adjectives and wearisome descriptors. It hardly deserves to be treated like any of the other gorgeous wines we tasted on this glorious day. In truth, the 1985 Sassicaia does reveal a new perspective onto its perfection each time you have the fortune to taste it. I noticed a layer of bright almond-like sweetness... The wine seems to be getting younger, not older... Of the various samples presented from the 1980s, this wine exhibited the brightest garnet color and the most youthful personality. It shows stunning volume. The integration is seamless and the wine's many complicated pieces fit together with utmost precision like a jigsaw puzzle that renders a most beautiful Italian masterpiece when admired at completion. (ML)" (04/2017)

Bid on this bottle of 1997 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Ornellaia" Bolgheri Superiore (97JS, 95RP, 95WS). James Suckling: "Fruit and complexity as well as freshness and richness. Beautiful nose with extraordinary aromas of prunes, licorice, and dried flowers with rosemary undertones. Full-bodied and velvety textured. So beautiful to drink now, but obviously has a long future ahead." (06/2011)

Bid on this magnum of 2010 Antinori "Tignanello" Toscana (1.5L) (OWC - 96JS, 96VN, 95WE, 94DC, 94RP, 92WS) in original wood. Vinous: "Antinori's 2010 Tignanello is stunning, as it has been since I started tasting the component wines in 2011. Firm yet sweet, silky tannins form the backbone for this gorgeous, vivid wine. Dark red cherries, plums, cloves, mint and sage inform a Tignanello that impresses for its delineation, nuance and power. Clean, saline notes support the mineral-drenched finish. The 2010 isn't huge, but rather is a vertical wine endowed with tremendous energy and vibrancy. I can't remember a Tignanello with this much crystalline tension and pure energy. Simply put, the 2010 Tignanello is a magnificent, towering wine from Antinori. (AG)" (08/2013)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2019 San Giusto a Rentennano "Percarlo" Toscana (97VN, 96RP, 96WS). Vinous: "The 2019 Percarlo is a wine of reserve. There's terrific purity to the fruit and fine tannins for the year, but also a bit of firmness that needs time to resolve. Bright red-toned fruit, cedar, tobacco, licorice, blood orange and spice open nicely to play off those vibrant tannins. (AG)" (07/2022)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2015 Fontodi "Flaccianello della Pieve" Toscana (99VN, 98RP, 97JS, 96DC, 96WS). Vinous: "The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is a wine I loved on release. Today, after nearly ten years in bottle, the 2015 is still an infant. It shows all the natural concentration of the year, along with the slightly more potent, extracted style Fontodi was gradually evolving from at the time. The 2015 spent 18 months in French oak barrels and six months in cask, with some variation depending on the lots that were chosen for the final blend. As much as it pains me to say it, readers might still want to cellar this! (AG)" (07/2025)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2010 Antinori "Solaia" Toscana (98DC, 98JS, 98VN, 97RP, 97WE, 93ST). Vinous: "The 2010 Solaia rounds out this flight in style. Swaths of tannin give the 2010 a real sense of explosive energy and vibrancy that only builds with time in the glass. A whole range of dark aromas and flavors give the 2010 its brooding, inward personality. Tasted from magnum, the 2010 is very young, but its pedigree is unmistakable. (AG)" (09/2020)

Very few vintages of this legendary Tuscan wine deliver the immediate joy, richness and complexity found in the Tenuta San Guido 2023 Bolgheri Sassicaia. Tasted both before and after its January 2026 bottling, this is a wine that feels uncannily open and generous in its youth, a rare trait for Sassicaia, which is famously inscrutable at this stage. The 2023 vintage was marked by a cold winter and above-average rainfall followed by a severe outbreak of downy mildew that damaged leaves, forcing brutal fruit selection and resulting in a 20% reduction in yields. Only the estates willing to make these sacrifices succeeded, and the best wines rank among the most compelling and elusive of recent years. (ML)

Orange blossoms, flint and pears with hints of apples. It’s medium-bodied with a creamy texture and a caressing finish. Pretty minerals and flowers at the end, with just a hint of bitter lemons. Drink now. (JS)

Cerbaiona began when former Alitalia pilot Diego Molinari purchased the estate in 1977, replanting its small vineyard with cuttings from Biondi-Santi and committing to traditional Brunello methods. Early bottlings in the 1980s quickly earned cult status, driven by the site’s historic reputation, cool microclimate, and low-yield Sangiovese. A major transition came in 2015, when Molinari sold the property to a group led by Gary Rieschel and Matthew Fioretti, who immediately converted the estate to organic farming and began replanting with site-specific Sangiovese clones. From 2016 onward, Cerbaiona undertook a radical reconstruction of its winery, adding a second subterranean level supported by 1.5 km of micropiles. The new facility functions as a “wine atelier,” with cobalt-blue resin-lined vinification rooms, custom steel vats, a laboratory overlooking the cellar, and a vaulted barrel room designed for long aging. Production remains intentionally small: 10,000–15,000 bottles of Brunello and 3,000–5,000 bottles of Rosso di Montalcino per year, with occasional small Sangiovese IGT lots. Fioretti’s team has refined the cellar approach—shorter macerations and increased use of 350-liter French barriques, followed by extended rest in unlined concrete tanks—aiming for polished wines that still express Cerbaiona’s distinctive terroir.

Dark and profound wine of great precision, vibrant cassis, graphite and cedar wood, very balsamic with eucalyptus and camphor. Full-bodied with weight and substance on the mid-palate. It shows an elegant attack with velvety tannins, refreshing acidity and long graphite depth. Drink or hold. (AF)

An intense wine with vibrancy and style. On the nose it shows bright cassis, bramble fruit, eucalyptus, balsamic, graphite, minerals and hints of leather and tobacco. Soft palate with silky, velvety tannins, crisp acidity and a long, chewy, savory finish. The first vintage with 10% cabernet franc. Drink or hold. (AF)

A fruity style, boasting black currant, blackberry, black cherry, graphite and toasty oak flavors. Fluid and balanced, this leaves a detailed, refreshing finish, with an aftertaste of fruit and mineral notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2033. 18,000 cases imported. (BS)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 1990 Tenuta San Guido "Sassicaia" Bolgheri (96DC, 93RP). Decanter: "The nose is practically humming, hovering close to perfection, the burnished Tuscan sun on full display. This is the most perfect level of ripeness, warmth, beauty and juiciness; the main quality here is drinkability. This still has the bite of tannins, their teeth are still on display but exerting a languorous hold, nothing fierce or menacing at this point. Roasted wild strawberries, grilled over sarments, elongated tannins with nothing to prove. (JA)" (10/2016)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 1990 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Ornellaia" Bolgheri Superiore (96ST, 96WS, 94DC, 94RP). Wine Spectator: "A decadent red, with loads of tobacco, cherry and meat aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and long rich aftertaste. I have found bottle variation with this wine, but this is superb quality. *Number 8 in the Top wines of 1993*" (10/2000)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2020 Antinori "Tignanello" Toscana (97JS, 96KO, 96VN, 96WE, 95RP). James Suckling: "Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision. 68% sangiovese with the rest in cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. " (07/2023)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2015 Antinori "Tignanello" Toscana (98JS, 98VN, 96RP, 96WS, 95KO, 94W&S). Vinous: "Antinori’s team did a fabulous job with the 2015 Solaia. Bold and supremely exotic to its core, the 2015 (magnum) possesses stunning richness from start to finish. Ripe red berry fruit, blood orange, mint and sweet spice all build as the 2015 shows off its considerable allure. The 2015 is a very young wine, but it is stunningly beautiful tonight. (AG)" (09/2020)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2014 Antinori "Tignanello" Toscana (96VN, 95KO, 94JS, 93RP, 93W&S). Vinous: "The highlight in this range, the exquisite 2014 Tignanello is all about persistence and understated class. The aromatics alone are captivating. Sculpted, finely delineated flavors add to the wine's vivid personality. Because of the challenges posed by the growing season, the blend leans more heavily toward Cabernet Sauvignon than is typically the case. Above all else, though, the 2014 is all about harmony, and there is plenty of that here. Unfortunately, production is down 30%. (AG)" (01/2018)

A wine with aromatic beauty: perfumed and sexy. Full body, super velvety tannins and long and delicious finish. Wonderful intensity and decadence to this. 100% Merlot. Drink or hold. But too good now. (JS)

This has a very different expression to other Sassicaia wines, which all stand as testament to their vintage and location; they evolve and give a specific impression of passing time. The tannins are still biting, baring their teeth almost, this many years on. The grip is incredible. Here you start to understand why young wines can show clever winemaking, yet it is only with older vintages where you truly understand the effect of terroir and the confidence it gives a wine as it ages. It has the signatures of a leather saddle, along with a floral-edged bowl of autumnal fruits. It holds supreme elegance and real structure. This will proceed at its own pace, and you are welcome to come along for the ride. (JA)

The 2022 Al Passo, the estate's Sangiovese-based blend, is once again terrific. Bold, pliant and generous, the 2022 is impeccably done. Ripe plum, cedar, tobacco, dried herbs and crushed flowers take shape in a wine that marries the richness of the year with a good bit of energy. All the elements are so well balanced. (AG)

From Gaja’s magnificent Ca’Marcanda estate in Bolgheri, the 2023 “Promis” is a vibrant and wonderfully polished Super Tuscan. A blend of Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese, this wine showcases the classic elegance and freshness of the 2023 vintage. The nose is aromatic and inviting, with notes of fresh red cherry, raspberry, and a hint of violet, layered with subtle notes of spice and Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and graceful, with a core of juicy, pure fruit supported by silky, fine-grained tannins and a bright, balancing acidity. The finish is long, clean, and harmonious. A stylish and versatile red that offers both immediate pleasure and classic Gaja finesse.

The 2013 Masseto is really starting to show off, opening in the glass to aromas of framboise, crushed stones, cypress, fresh leather, and minty lift. Ripe but chiseled, it’s full-bodied, with very well-defined, ripe tannins. Notes of salty dark earth drive the wine forward, while more savory and earthy notes of pu-ehr tea last long after the wine is gone. It’s a wine that will be sturdy in the long run, and its structure is not going anywhere. For my personal taste, the 2020 has a slight edge over this, but it’s a remarkable wine. Drink 2025-2050. (AF)

The drought and heat of 2022 pushed vines in Tuscany to their limits, and the outcome in many cases are wines of density and concentration but with a vein of freshness – and that's exactly what we see here in the 2022 Solaia. It opens with cool aromas of damp earth, woodland berries, red fruit coulis and a waft of balsamic herbs. In the mouth it is immediately very fleshy, almost voluptuous but holding its shape. Balsam-infused black cherry and dark berries are deepened by chocolatey wood, while succulent acidity brings out the top end and leads to a long, bright, energetic and fresh finish which is full of promise for the future.

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.

A fairly bold style for this wine. Rich, complex, bright and focused, showing cassis, plums, wild fennel and a bit of cloves. Medium-bodied and quite supple, it’s full of fruit concentration with firm, grainy tannins, toasty flavors and refreshing acidity. Easy to drink. Drink or hold. (AF)

Bid on this 4-bottle lot of 2013 Isole e Olena "Cepparello" Toscana (97RP, 96VN, 95WE, 94JS, 93DC). Wine Advocate: "Hands down beautiful, The 2013 Cepparello is a creation of stunning elegance and balance. A pure expression of Sangiovese, this wine undergoes a sophisticated oak regime that sees ageing in various barrel sizes and barrique of various ages. It lives 18 months of its life in French and 3% American oak before being released. This vintage (that is cooler compared to 2012 and 2011) delivers an exceptionally soft and mellow bouquet with slightly sweet sensations of ripe cherry and fragrant blue flower. Soft tones of spice and cinnamon bring up the rear. The wine is medium to full in terms of body weight, and the finish is driven by cool tones of balsam and menthol herb. The 2013 Cepparello is one of my favorite wines of the vintage. (ML)" (12/2016)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2015 Fontodi "Flaccianello della Pieve" Toscana (99VN, 98RP, 97JS, 96DC, 96WS). Vinous: "The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is a wine I loved on release. Today, after nearly ten years in bottle, the 2015 is still an infant. It shows all the natural concentration of the year, along with the slightly more potent, extracted style Fontodi was gradually evolving from at the time. The 2015 spent 18 months in French oak barrels and six months in cask, with some variation depending on the lots that were chosen for the final blend. As much as it pains me to say it, readers might still want to cellar this! (AG)" (07/2025)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2016 Tenuta Sette Ponti "Oreno" Toscana (99JS, 94RP, 94VN, 93WS, 92DC). James Suckling: "Gorgeous floral and deep, dark berry aromas with hints of spices such as cinnamon and hazelnuts. Full body and ultra-fine and strong tannins that are powerful yet so sleek and beautiful. Fantastic length and texture. Deep, dark and profound. Takes you on a long journey and shows you its true character. Give it time." (05/2018)

Bid on this 4-bottle lot of 2014 Antinori "Guado al Tasso" Bolgheri Superiore (95VN, 93JS, 93RP, 90WS). Vinous: "The 2014 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso has a level of aromatic intensity and breadth that is truly remarkable, especially for the year. Medium in body, gracious and lifted, the 2014 is pure class. Mocha, espresso, black cherry, leather and smoke are beautifully delineated in the glass. Medium in body and super-polished, the 2014 is without question one of the wines of the vintage on the Tuscan coast. I can't wait to see how it ages. This is impressive juice. Production is down by 40%. The 2014 Guado al Tasso is a rock star wine. I can't wait to see how it ages. (AG)" (04/2018)

Bid on this 4-bottle tasting lot; including 1-bottle of 1982 Ruffino "Riserva Ducale - Gold Label" Chianti Classico, 1-bottle of 1985 Badia a Coltibuono Sangioveto, 1-bottle of 1988 Podere Il Palazzino "Grosso Sanese" Chianti Classico, and 1-bottle of 1997 Marchesi Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva (90RP). Of the 1997 Marchesi Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva, Wine Advocate writes: "The 1997 Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva (90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, aged in large French oak casks) reveals the vintage's super-ripeness as well as abundant quantities of black currant fruit mixed with cherry liqueur, tobacco, saddle leather, and spice aromas. (RP)" (02/2000)

Bid on this 4-bottle lot of 2008 Tenuta San Guido "Sassicaia" Bolgheri (97JS, 97RP, 97TWI, 97WE, 96DC, 96IWR, 96VN, 94WS). Wine Advocate: "The 2008 Bolgheri Sassicaia is a wine without a winemaker. The last vintage made by Giacomo Tachis was 2007 and incoming enologist Graziana Grassini claims 2009 as her first vintage. Within the context of this retrospective, the 2008 vintage opens a new chapter, because it is the first wine to show evident tertiary definition and complexity. In fact, the wine performs beautifully with an exalted performance and ethereal aromas. They include cassis, wild berry, crushed mineral, licorice, petrol and grilled herb. This wine is really coming together now and is entering a very exciting moment in its drinking life. It boasts finesse, elegance and grace. Yet, it also shows unmistakable richness and structure that gives the wine an enormous presence in terms of mouthfeel. (ML)" (04/2017)

Bid on this magnum of 2015 San Guido "Sassicaia" Bolgheri (1.5L) (98JS, 97DC, 97RP, 97W&S, 97WE, 97WS, 95VN). James Suckling: "Love the aromas to this young red with blackcurrants, sage, cinnamon and five-spice character. Changes all the time. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with a ripe and rich tannin backbone that gives form and beauty to the ripe and beautiful fruit. Tight and very long. A classic Sassicaia." (01/2018)

Bid on this 2-bottle tasting lot; including 1-bottle of 2004 Fattoria Le Pupille "Saffredi" Maremma Toscana (97WS, 96VN, 95RP, 95WE, 94DC) and 1-bottle of 2006 Fattoria Le Pupille "Saffredi" Maremma Toscana (96RP, 94JS, 94WS, 93DC). Of the 2004 Fattoria Le Pupille "Saffredi" Maremma Toscana, Wine Spectator writes: "Shows a very ripe nose, with rose, berry and hints of meat. Full-bodied and powerful, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Massive yet balanced. What a wine. The greatest Saffredi ever made. (JS)" (10/2007)

Quite rich, intense and spicy for a Bolgheri rosso, with embers, bark, licorice and ash. Supple and ripe, offering velvety tannins, medium body, crisp acidity and a round finish with savory, floral depth. Drink or hold. (AF)

Aromas of currants, fresh sage and mint follow through to a full to medium body, fine tannins and a savory finish. Attractive fruit, acid balance. Drink or hold. (JS)

Blackberries, blueberries and lavender with some sandalwood. Some roses, too. Full-bodied and very tight with linear, racy tannins. I like the intensity and focus. Very cool for a 2017. Drink or hold.

Underbrush, plum, blue flower, cocoa and balsamic notes are just some of the aromas you’ll find on this fragrant, savory red. Polished and delicious, it boasts an earthy finesse and is loaded with personality, doling out juicy Marasca cherry, ripe blackberry, licorice, tobacco and an appealing hint of game that imparts even more depth. Silky tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced and supremely elegant. It’s already tempting but will also age beautifully. (KO)

Aromas of currants, cedar, mahogany, bark and orange peel say this is distinctly Tuscan. It’s medium-bodied with softness and freshness that bring you back for more. Very soft yet fine tannins. Juicy and subtle. So delicious now. Drink or hold. (JS)

The 2023 Chiesamonti is terrific. It offers a bit more depth, energy and structure than Le Trame in this vintage. Crushed rocks, slate, mint, blood orange and white pepper convey notable tension and energy. Grippy yet well-integrated tannins shape the long, vibrant finish. (AG)

In this vintage Cepparello shows very restrained notes of red cherries, dried violets and a lot of stony minerality. There is a meaty and savory character in depth. Overall very precise and integrated. Velvety tannins dominate the palate, showing a chalky texture, even dusty, with a full body, amazing concentration and very refreshing acidity. The finish is brightly focused on cherry pits. A good wine for the long haul. Possibly one of the best Cepparello ever. Best after 2031. (AF)

Gracious and racy, the 2011 Le Pergole Torte is superb. A younger version of the 2007, the 2011 is all about spherical texture and pure voluptuousness. Although 2011 was a warm vintage, the Pergole Torte still needs a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften fully. Dark red cherry, tobacco, plum and spices meld into the dense, plush finish. A late September harvest had not been seen at Montevertine since 2003. This is the last vintage made by Giulio Gambelli. (AG) 95+

The 2020 Cepparello is a total stunner, just as it was last year. Deeply colored, layered and explosive in the glass, the 2020 possesses striking textural richness and overall intensity. Black cherry, graphite, plum, spice and lavender flesh out effortlessly. There's tremendous pedigree and sheer stature here. Cepparello is surely one of the wines of the year. (AG)

The 2021 Carmignano Riserva Piaggia takes its time in the glass, tempting the imagination with dried violets and flowery underbrush that evolve into peppery wild berries, autumnal spices and a dusting of cocoa. Elegant and velvety in feel, this sweeps across the palate, gaining contrast through a core of mineral-inflected yet pleasantly ripe red and black fruits. Tantalizing acidity guides the experience. The 2021 finishes with dramatic length and concentration, leaving a bitter blackberry resonance to mingle with edgy tannins, while a hint of blood orange forces the mouth to water for more. The contrasting nature and sheer depth of the 2021 leave me in awe. Bury this deep in the cellar. (EG)

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata is another stunning wine from the Paolo de Marchi era at Isole e Olena. It offers tons of varietal character, vertical structure and class to burn. It is also a very, very young wine to bury in the deepest corner of the cellar. Dark red-toned fruit, dried flowers, leather, menthol and rose petal all soar out of the glass. It's a reminder of how magical the 2020 harvest was here. Readers lucky enough to find it will be thrilled. (AG)

Moreish, confident and well judged, this is smoky yet ethereal, muscular yet light, wonderfully juicy and fragrant, with a perfectly judged blend of lightness of touch set against an unmistakable punch of damson, loganberry and red cherry fruits. Liquorice, tapenade and slate ensure the texture is slow and steady, and this is just a fabulous wine. Marco Balsimelli director, 65% new oak for ageing.

Bid on this 2-magnum lot of 2007 Fontodi Flaccianello-Della Pieve Toscana (1.5L) (96KO, 95VN). Kerin O'Keefe: Aromas of baked plum, blue flower, French oak and camphor are front and center on this bold, full-bodied red. Made entirely with organically grown Sangiovese, the delicious palate boasts concentration and a weightless elegance, doling out layers of ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, licorice, cocoa and carob framed in tightly-wound, close-grained tannins. Give it a few more years to fully develop. (11/2020)