An equal blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sangiovese) Ridiculously dark black-ruby color. Pretty aromas of cassis, black plum and earth, with a pronounced vanilla presence that does not overpower the fruit. Rich and densely packed, with distinctly ripe flavors of black fruits, raisin and chocolate lifted by an intriguing balsamic vinegar note. This finishes lighter than it starts, with welcome acidity nicely delineating the borderline-overripe fruit. Finishes creamy and long. This is a lot of wine for the money, and the best Vitiano in years, far removed from some astringent versions of recent memory.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 91

[Issue: Jul / Aug 09]

Aromas of plum and dark fruits lead to a full body, with velvety tannins and a soft, caressing finish. Minerally and floral. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2011. 10,800 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Oct 31/09]

Readers looking for a delicious Campanian red that is ready to drink today should consider Cantina del Taburno 2005 Aglianico del Taburno Fidelis. Black cherries, spices, juniper berries and worn-in leather jump out of the glass as this full-bodied, sumptuous wine reveals the multiple dimensions of its expressiveness. Soft and caressing on the palate, the Fidelis reveals tons of persistence and a long, satisfying finish. The Fidelis is 90% Aglianico and 10% Sangiovese aged in cask. It is a great value. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #182 / April 09]

A massive, generous wine, it literally bursts onto the palate with waves of game, earthiness, mint, spices, herbs and bacon fat notes that swirl around a core of ripe, dark fruit. There is outstanding harmony and balance in the glass, especially at this price point. Costera is 90% Cannonau, 5% Carignano and 5% Bovale Sardo, (all native varieties), that spent roughly 6-8 months in French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2012.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #178 / Aug 08]

The 2008 Lacrima Christi del Vesuvio Rosso (Piedirosso, Aglianico) flows with the essence of cracked black pepper, spices, earthiness, wild cherries and herbs on a deceptively medium-bodied frame. There is a lot going on here, especially at this level. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: erobertparker.com Sept/09]

A bright and fruity red, with fresh raspberry and blackberry tart aromas. Full-bodied, with lots of fruit and soft, velvety tannins. Long and delicious.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Dec 15/08]

Speri is an excellent producer from the Classico zone with overhead trained vineyards. Careful fruit selection occurs to guarantee the quality and intensity of this fresh ripasso. You will get tones of cherry, spice and coffee.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 90

[Issue: 10/01/09]

Delivers ripe blackberry and raspberry, with pronounced floral and mineral notes. Almost meaty in character. Medium- to full-bodied, with a silky texture and lots of flavor. Finishes long, with an almost exotic twist in the end. Lots to enjoy. Drink now. 50,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Sept 30/08]

Deliver currant, toasty oak and coffee aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a lot of rich fruit. Very polished and attractive. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2012. 5,265 cases made. #46 in Wine Spectator's TOP 100

Wine Spectator Rating: 93

[Issue: Oct 31/09]

Offers an interesting combination of currant, raspberry and meat on the nose. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a spicy dried fruit aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah. Best after 2011. 9,200 cases made. #80 in the Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2009.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: Oct 31/09]

70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a generous, full-bodied wine imbued with dark fruit, tobacco, earthiness, licorice and toasted oak. The tannins build on the finish, but the wine appears to have the requisite fruit to provide balance.

Wine Advocate Rating: (89-92)

[Issue: #177 / June 08]

Very grapey, with tar and berry aromas. Full-bodied, with soft, caressing tannins. There's loads of fruit in this red, but it's not overpowering. Generous yet balanced. Drink now. 500 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Dec 15/09]

Very rich aromas of blackberry jam, toasty oak and Indian spices. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and beautiful fruit. A rich and polished red. Drink now. 9,165 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: Oct 15/09]

65% Nebbiolo, 35% Barbera. This is a lovely, engaging effort with floral aromatics, a soft, expansive core of fruit and well-integrated oak. As is characteristic of the vintage, this is a smaller-scaled wine, but it is also beautifully proportioned in that context.

Wine Advocate Rating: 91

[Issue: #173 / Oct 07]

The 2006 Barbera d’Alba is a knockout. The aromatics alone are worth the price of admission. This rich, sumptuous Barbera tastes just like it did in barrel, which is to say plump, juicy and full of vibrant dark fruit. Notes of iron, tar and smoke that are typical of the Cascina Francia vineyard develop in the glass. The wine possesses stunning length and textural depth not to mention a finessed, harmonious personality. Stylistically it is also remarkably complete, as it combines the richness of fruit found in the 2003 with the greater perfume and finesse of the 2004 and 2005. It is not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016.

Wine Advocate Rating: 93

[Issue: #179 / Oct 08]

A refined, elegant young red, with superclean black fruit, black cherry and a good dose of new oak that gives a vanilla edge to the fruit on the medium-to-full palate. This is superintense. Needs time. Best after 2009. 1,190 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: Oct 15/08]

The 2005 Montepulciano dAbruzzo Binomio is a huge, super-ripe and sumptuous red that reveals an extreme yet varietally true expression of Montepulciano in its layers of jammy dark fruits, tobacco, chocolate, earthiness, minerals and French oak. A sensual core of fruit is wrapped around the barely perceptible tannins in this racy, full-throttle wine. I am not sure how long the Binomio will keep, but it is sure to offer a thrilling ride over the next few years. The Binomio is aged in French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #182 / April 09]

Displays ripe berry and orange peel character, with hints of other citrus fruits. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a beautiful underlying acidity. Long, flavorful and dense in structure. Best wine ever from this producer.

Wine Spectator Rating: 96

[Issue: Web Only 2009]

The estate’s 2006 Avvoltore is a stunner. This dark, brooding beauty offers tons of depth in its ripe dark fruit, menthol, spices, new leather and roasted coffee beans. Despite its muscular, firm personality, there is more than enough richness in the fruit to provide balance. Avvoltore is 75% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah aged in French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2021.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #177 / June 08]

Dark ruby in color, with beautiful aromas of currant, mint and crushed berries. Complex and subtle. Full-bodied, with ultrapolished tannins and gorgeous fruit. This goes on and on. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2012. 1,500 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 93

[Issue: Oct 31/08]

The estates 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso possesses striking depth as endless layers of sweet, perfumed fruit emerge with tons of grace. This, too, is an intense, full-bodied wine. The balance here is utterly exceptional, and the wines sheer plumpness makes for a highly rewarding glass of Brunello. Succulent dark cherries, spices, underbrush, minerals and new leather come to life as the wine sits in the glass, yet this remains a backward, structured Brunello in need of serious bottle age. The Pianrosso is a terrific effort from proprietor Paolo Bianchini. Ciaccis Pianrosso is an old-vines selection that spent 36 months in Slavonian oak.

Wine Advocate Rating: 94

[Issue: #183 / June 09]

Made from the Bricco Fiasco vineyard, also in Castiglione Falletto. Once again, this is a picture perfect expression of site in a glass. The wine shows a muscular side and literally explodes from the glass with masses of fruit on a structured, imposing frame. Notes of spices, tobacco and licorice appear, adding further complexity. The red fruits are quite spiced and floral, but there is an additional layer of power and sheer muscle to back it up.

Wine Advocate Rating: 95

[Issue: #179 / Oct 08]

Blackberry, raspberry and violet aromas follow through to a full body, with a massive palate, chewy tannins and a long, long finish. This is a blockbuster, but still full of finesse. Best after 2013. 330 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 95

[Issue: July 31/09]

The 2005 Barbaresco Serraboella is an intense wine bursting with primary dark fruit and sweet toasted oak. The tannins remain fairly imposing, but the fruit is also fresh, suggesting the wine will age gracefully. This imposing Serraboella is impressive for its breadth and concentration. The wine was aged in a combination of 20-hectoliter casks and smaller French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #179 / Oct 08]

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is awesome. This finessed, regal Brunello flows onto the palate with seamless layers of perfumed fruit framed by silky, finessed tannins. The wine remains extremely primary at this stage, and its full range of aromas and flavors have yet to emerge, but the sheer pedigree of this Brunello is unmistakable. The elegant, refined finish lasts an eternity, and subtle notes of menthol, spices, licorice and leather add final notes of complexity. The estates 2004 Brunello is a wine to buy and bury in the deepest corner of the cellar. Brunello is never inexpensive, but this is the real deal, and in relative terms, it is one of the worlds great values in fine, cellar worthy wine. Incredibly, there are 18,000+ cases of the 2004 Brunello, so it should be fairly easy to source in various markets. The Brunello is made from four vineyards ranging from 250 to 400 meters in altitude, all in SantAngelo in Colle. The wines from the various vineyards were aged separately in French oak casks prior to being assembled and bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2034.

Wine Advocate Rating: 95

[Issue: #183 / Jun 09]

Wonderful plum and blackberry notes, with Indian spices. Full-bodied, with powerful, chewy tannins and a dense, rich depth of fruit. A long, solid and powerful wine. Beautiful. Best after 2013. 250 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 96

[Issue: Sept 30/09]

The 2004 Barolo Cannubi possesses superb depth, clarity and inner perfume, with layers of fruit, sweet spices and menthol that develop in the glass as this magical wine gradually reveals its sublime personality and remarkable texture. Well-integrated oak, ripe, silky tannins and a finish that lasts forever round out this beautiful wine, which was simply stunning on both occasions I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.

Wine Advocate Rating: 95

[Issue: #174 / Dec 07]

The 2006 Pietradonice (Cabernet Sauvignon) explodes from the glass with the essence of blackberry jam, French oak, grilled herbs and cassis. This super-ripe, opulent wine offers tons of elegance and finesse in a full-bodied style. The tannins are firm but ripe, and beautifully balanced by the wines radiant, warm fruit. This is a gem from proprietor Giacomo Neri. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026.

Wine Advocate Rating: 93

[Issue: #183 / June 09]

Complex aromas of plum, citrus fruit and dried mushroom follow through to a full body, with ripe, velvety tannins and a long, fruity finish. This is tannic as well. So give it some bottle age. Has impressive concentration. Best after 2012. 950 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 94

[Issue: Sept 30/08]

Dark color with intense blackberry, chocolate and lightly toasted oak. Full-bodied and ultravelvety, with caressing tannins. Vanilla, chocolate and berry. Goes on for minutes. Best after 2010. 4,830 cases made. Wine Spectator #1 wine of the year in 2006.

Wine Spectator Rating: 97

[Issue: April 30/06]