95/100 Wine Enthusiast, Kerin O'Keefe

"Underbrush, camphor, cedar and mature dark-skinned fruit aromas come to the forefront along with spicy notes. Full-bodied and firmly structured but also boasting a surprising weightlessness, the palate features dried cherry, steeped prune, licorice and tobacco set against a firm backbone of tightly knit, close-grained tannins. It's still youthfully austere so give it time to fully develop. Drink 2027–2037. " Drink 2027 - 2037

94+/100 Parker's wine Advocate, Monica Larner

"Considering the untimely passing of Renato Vacca in March of 2020, there is a lot of emotion coming back to this wine: It has always been an expression of Barbaresco nostalgia and romanticism, even when its creator was alive and well, working in these vines located directly under his family house. The Cantina del Pino 2017 Barbaresco Ovello bears his winemaking imprint with balance and elegance that never misses a beat. This vintage offers more density and concentration for sure, and the positioning of the Ovello cru overlooking the Tanaro River Valley sets the wine up for open-knit characteristics and suave softness. Those impressions are amplified in this vintage but are not overblown. Some 6,000 bottles were released and you get terrific value in this bottle. The wine is set to hit the market in September 2021." Drink 2023 - 2038

94/100 Vinous, Antonio Galloni

"The 2017 Barbaresco Ovello is a superb effort for the year. Bright, aromatic and effusive, the 2017 is so expressive right out of the bottle. It has the vintage 2017 power found in all the wines here, but also the cut and verve that make Ovello one of the most distinctive sites in all of Barbaresco. It is such a gorgeous wine." Drink 2025 - 2037

Timorasso is one of the great white grapes of northern Italy and it nearly died out following phylloxera in the late 1800s, until it was revived in the small Colli Tortonesi DOC of Piedmonte.

Castello di Verduno is an historic Piemontese estate that makes classic Barolo and Barbaresco from prime vineyard sites in both appellations. The winery is located in Verduno, the northernmost commune of Barolo.

For their Barbarescos and Barolos, winemaker Mario Andrion prefers 30 to 40 day macerations and extended aging in large Slavonian botti. Their varietal wines see mostly stainless steel aging, with some large botti.

This wine is 100% Nebbiolo grown on Marne di Sant'Agata, which is a combination of sand, clay and limestone. Hand harvested grapes were fermented in stainless steel for 20 days with periodic punching down of the cap, prior to 18 months in large traditional Slavonian oak with three months resting in stainless steel and another 14 months ageing before release. 

This wine comes from the Piana Rotaliano area in the recess of the Adige Valley, tucked between the Dolomites. This wine is neither a rosé or a red wine, but sits somewhere between the two. The Lezer manages to balance freshness, elegance and seriousness.

Asinone is the top expression from Poliziano and only produced in very good vintages. It is 100% Sangiovese and made from the Tuscan town of Montepulciano is the Tuscan town (not the grape from Abruzzo). Vino Nobile is a top village expression of the Sangiovese grape.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a DOCG status from the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano (not ot be confused with Montelpulciano d'Abruzzo). This is one of Italy?s most prestigious DOCG's. Predominantly made from the local Sangiovese strain called Prugnolo Gentile, this is luscious structured and powerful wine with the potential to gracefully age for many years.

Sensationally good value for money sparkling wine made from Italy's Emilia-Romagna region... This light bodied, lighter alcohol wine has 11.5% alcohol and lively flavours of ripe white peach tempered by the balance bubbles. It's made from 75 Trebbiano and 30% Chardonnay grapes and is extra dry in style, which means it has a light fruity taste and a dry finish. 

It bears a passing resemblance to Prosecco in style but it has different flavours and represents very good value for money. 

Vino Novello News comes from Montepulciano and Sangiovese grapes grown in the municipalities of Ortona and San Salvo, on the Adriatic coast of Abruzzo.

It is vinified through the carbonic maceration technique in whole clusters at a temperature of 30 ? C for 10 days. The grapes are pressed and spontaneously ferment for 4 days after which the wine is bottled and ready for consumption.

Ruby red in colour, it expresses itself on the nose with hints of red fruits. On the palate it is fresh and harmonious, very pleasant, ready to drink.

It goes perfectly with cured meats, recipes based on mushrooms and grilled chestnuts.

Pora is located in a warm and fertile site on a beautiful hillside with west and south exposures nearer to the valley floor. The resulting style is generous with ripe velvety tannins and a certain smoothness.

We have secured small volumes of this age worthy, complex Barbaresco, which comes from the Pora Vineyard, one of nine single vineyard cru Barbarescos made only the best vintages by Produttori del Barbaresco. This wine is full bodied, bone dry and super concentrated with earthy, mushroom aromas tempered by rose petals and delicate red floral aromas. It's produced by one of Italy's and the world's highest quality minded wine cooperatives, which has 51 members who collectively own approximately 100 of the nearly 700 hectares in this appellation in Piemonte, north west Italy.

This highly respected winery cooperative was founded in 1958 and now has 51 members who collectively own approximately 100 hectares of the entire appellation, which means they own approximately a seventh of the appellation. The single vineyard wines, such as this one, are only made in highly rated vintages (all of the grapes go into a blend in other years) and released after four years maturation in the riserva programme. 

All single vineyard cru wines from Produttori del Barbaresco are fermented at 30°C and given 32 days of skin contact time before being pressed in large oak barrels for 36 months of maturation in wood followed by a further nine months aging in bottle, prior to release. 

Fast facts on Barbaresco

Barbaresco as an appellation was created in 1894

Barbaresco was given DOCG status in 1980

This is a small wine production area with approximately 700 hectares of vineyards registered to make Barbaresco – which must be 100% Nebbiolo and made within the same sub region in which the grapes are grown. 

Rio Sordo is famous for its noble rusticity and silky quality in the mouth thanks to lower calcium levels in the soils of this vineyard. The wine develops gamey mushroom qualities over time that scream out for it to be served with a decent roast beast.

Rio Sordo is one of the great red wines of Italy and is made entirely from the great structured red grape, Nebbiolo; exceptional in taste, complexity and its ability to age for at least a decade, evolving into a silky delicious wine over this time. It's made by the Produttori del Barbaresco. This highly respected winery cooperative was founded in 1958 and now has 51 members who collectively own approximately 100 hectares of the entire appellation, which means they own approximately a seventh of the appellation. The single vineyard wines, such as this one, are only made in highly rated vintages (all of the grapes go into a blend in other years) and released after four years maturation in the riserva programme. 

All single vineyard cru wines from Produttori del Barbaresco are fermented at 30°C and given 32 days of skin contact time before being pressed in large oak barrels for 36 months of maturation in wood followed by a further nine months aging in bottle, prior to release. 

Fast facts on Barbaresco

Barbaresco as an appellation was created in 1894

Barbaresco was given DOCG status in 1980

This is a small wine production area with approximately 700 hectares of vineyards registered to make Barbaresco – which must be 100% Nebbiolo and made within the same sub region in which the grapes are grown. 

From the sun baked slopes of Mount Etna and a joint venture between winemakers Gaja and Graci, this is 98% Nerello Mascalese, 2% Nerello Cappuccio which is vinified in a mixture of concrete and oak vats, with a three-week maceration followed by ageing for 24 months also in concrete and oak.

"Perfumed nose of red berries, spiced cherries, hazelnuts and smoke. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Balanced and round with a silky texture on the mid-palate and volume on the concentrated, long finish. It really grows on the palate. Better after 2024."
— 96 Points, James Suckling

Tre Monti Vigna Rocca Albana is a dry Northern Italian white wine made from Albana grapes grown in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The grapes are left hanging for a long time to increase concentration then soaked in stainless steel for 15 - 20 days with skin contact. The wine has aromas of melon, apricot, honey and wildflowers and flavours of ripe peach, bitter almond pineapple and ginger.

Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Bianco is a distinctive and complex white wine from Sicily.

 It is made from a blend of two native grape varieties: Albanello and Zibibbo. The grapes are handpicked from sustainably managed vineyards and fermented with natural yeasts. The resulting wine displays aromas of citrus, white flowers, and herbs, coupled with a minerality and saline character that is characteristic of the Sicilian terroir. It has a rich, full-bodied texture and a crisp acidity that balances out the wine's unique character. This wine pairs well with seafood, light pasta dishes, and fresh salads. It's a must-try for those who appreciate authentic and expressive wines.