Smooth, fruity Italian red blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah grapes. This Tuscan wine is a lovely introduction to the great world of Italian reds in the Antinori stable; a family company that has been continuously producing wine back to the 1300s.

What the critics say...

"It's delightfully fruited and fragrant on the nose with dark plum."

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Mt Etna is Europe's largest active volcano and the inspiration for the artwork on the label of this funky new, savoury flavoured, silky textured red from Etna. It's pale in colour with huge structure and earthy aromas supported by red fruit notes from the Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio grapes; famous for being grown only on Mt Etna. This wine is a relative newcomer for the Piccini family, a Tuscan based wine family who now own a vineyard called Scalunera on Mt Etna. 

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

Giacomo Fenocchio is regarded as one of the best Barolo producers today. Here's a piece that sums up why he is so highly respected and what makes his wines an authentic expression of Piemonte as a wine region.

What the critics say

"Woodland-berry, new leather, camphor and fragrant blue-flower aromas align in the glass. Showing youthful tension and depth, the palate is still immaturely austere but delivers juicy cherry, raspberry and licorice alongside firm, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it well balanced. Drink 2024–2041." 

96 points
Wine Enthusiast

"The Villero cru is quickly gaining in prestige and celebrity. The 2016 Barolo Villero raises the bar on this group of new releases from Giacomo Fenocchio. If some of the other Baroli are slightly muddled in aromas, this wine shows a greater degree of focus and precision. You are aware of clear aromas of black fruit, plum, spice, leather and cured tobacco. The tannins are textured but integrated into the rich fiber of this vintage."  

92 points
Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Giacomo Fenocchio's winemaking philosophy

"Claudio Fenocchio took over from his father Giacomo in 1989 – probably the moment of greatest pressure to follow the ‘modern’ winemaking path of short fermentations and aging in new barriques. In fact, it’s difficult now to understand how much pressure was exerted – from peers and neighbors, old and young, from the press, importers, customers, and that mysterious thing called “the market”. It took a strong will to resist, and a strong devotion to tradition. Lucky for us that Claudio stuck with the best of tradition – organic farming, long fermentations, and aging in large Slavonian oak casks. Easy for us too, since we get to drink his wines. Here’s a rare group of Fenocchio bottles spanning the generations, and ending with the beautiful 2016s."

From Chambers Street Wines

Delicious dry, nutty, amphora aged Italian white with creamy smooth mouthfeel and low intervention winemaking from Elisabetta Foradori, the northern Italian queen of biodynamic winemaking. The Nosiola grape was once widespread throughout the region but whose cultivation is now restricted to the Valle dei Laghi and the hills above Trento and Pressano.

This Grillo by Cantine Fina reveals a bouquet of white peach, Mediterranean herbs and even kiwi notes. On the palate the wine is pleasantly fresh and juicy, with a mineral quality and orchard fruit flavours as well as aromas of white flowers. The beautifully long finish is raised by a touch of bitter musk. A truly beautiful Grillo in this price range!

From the famed Soave producer Pieropan this Valpolicella Superiore is made up of: Corvina Veronese 60%, Corvinone 30%, Rondinella 5%, Croatina Veronese 5%.

Organically grown at 300-500m, on vines with an average age of 20 years.

Grapes are destemmed and pressed. Fermentation temperature is between 23-24 °C / 73-75 °F with a maceration for 12 days with regular punching down for a delicate extraction of tannins and colours.

It ages in french oak tonneaux (40-50% of first passage) for 18/24 months followed by a period in bottle before release.

Typical note of cherry, small red fruits, currant jam and red roses. Pleasant spicy notes, black pepper, cinnamon, juniper berries and cloves. Hints of dark chocolate, vanilla, aromatic woods and a distinct balsamic character. Palate: Fresh, sapid, with fruity character; tannic and delicate texture.

A big and intense wine with aromas and flavours of plum, dark cherry and dried dark fruits. 

The "Ba-Ne" is a blend of the two top red grape varieties of Piedmont: Barbera and Nebbiolo.  They work together wonderfully in a blend, Nebbiolo bringing high acidity, bold tannins, and elegance. The Barbera provides a richer body, and full plump fruit.

Abbazia's version sports an earthy nose reminiscent of terracotta, a lively wine with cola, raspberry and cherry fruits, a nutty mid palate with a long chalky finish. Superb value too!

Casa Vinicola Abbazia winery is located in Santo Stefano Belbo, a small town between Langhe Monferrato and Roero in Piedmont, Northwestern Italy. The winery was established in 1848, adjacent to an ancient Abbey built in 1028, in honour of Saint Gaudentius, the hermit saint who, around the 6th century, retired to the surrounding mountains to live a life of silence and prayer.