Italy

James Suckling 93/100 Wine Advocate 94/100 WINERY NOTES: Only native vines, without Cabernet or Merlot, to maintain the most typical formula of the most famous Italian wine, without following the trend that see the use of wines from the South to modify the beautiful ruby red typical of the Sangioveto with red-black hues. A wine which with its typical characteristics strives to achieve maximum elegance. Tasting notes: Typical ruby red colour, which has a tendency to become garnet red as the wine ages. The nose has an intense aroma of violets and an elegance that is enhanced over time. On the palate the wine displays relatively dry and...

Wine Advocate 95 points. A pure expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, the Castellare di Castellina 2018 Coniale is a layered and darkly saturated wine that embraces a throwback stylistic preference focused on richness and concentration. Made in one of the most beautiful corners of Tuscany in the Chianti Classico region, the wine sports sweet, ripe tannins with pretty flavors of dark fruit, blackberry, spice and barbecue smoke. This vintage is especially powerful and bold.ML Jun 2022. WINERY NOTE: Pure Cabernet Sauvignon, putting Castellare’s productive capacities to the test with the rest of the world. Work carried out in the vineyard and a...

100 Points, Luca Gardini, Gardini Notes: "Bright and dense ruby red. The nose is clean, with clear aromas of blackberry, and notes of rosemary and eucalyptus. Brackish finish with balsamic touches. The mouthfeel has great tension and depth with fine tannins and a fresh saline finish. Pomegranate and aromatic herbs return, of great drinkability. The culmination of Paolo Panerai's project, from Sangioveto and Malvasia Nera. Blueberry jam and Mediterranean shrubs on the nose, in the mouth there’s savory tannins and a balsamic finish." 96 points Goergina Hindle (Decanter): "Lovely abundance and expression on the nose, you get that perfect...

James Suckling 94 points. Tuscany is a land of excellence for Merlot. Castellare merlot, thanks to the special location of the vineyard, has a rare personality. Since the first vintage it was defined as a monument to wine excellence. Tasting notes: The colour is deep and vibrant purple, clear, brilliant and beautiful texture. The nose is complex and the black fruit (blackberry and blueberry in particular) prevails in a clear manner. Raspberry, cherry and plum, followed by roasted notes of cocoa, vanilla and coffee. The mouth is soft and enveloping, with fine and elegant tannins. Warm, soft and very balanced. The finish is long and harmonious...

Wine Spectator 93 points. Luca Maroni 92 points. Veronelli 3 Stars. WA 91. Here's a sassy and spicy expression of Merlot. The 2014 Poggio Ai Merli is a tight and slightly nervous wine from a cool vintage. The otherwise mellow Merlot grape shows tart aromas of red fruit and cherry with spice, tobacco and white chocolate. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged in new French barrique. Only 3,000 bottles are produced. Poggio ai Merli performs very well in cooler vintages (2013 is a case point). But the 2014 vintage offers a lower textural threshold and moderate persistence. ML Dec 2016. #poggio

Wine Advocate 95 points. Not a blend of grapes but a blend of wines, 30 Vendemmie is equal parts I Sodi, Coniale and Poggio al Merli—the three great wines of this estate. It shows dark richness and concentration with bold cherry and blackberry backed by spice and a soft, chocolaty finish.

Raffaele Vecchione - WinesCritic.com, 95 points. 2018 Vintage Tasted: Nov 2022 Black prunes, wild blueberries and raspberries are the dark scents in this young Brunello. In the background wisteria, English lavender and violets but also spices such as black pepper corns and cardamom. Medium to full bodied on the palate, biting tannins and a strong finale of intense length. A great classic, projected to age in the best possible manner, solid and concentrated with great precision. Better from 2024. Winery Note: Col d’Orcia is a traditional producer of Brunello di Montalcino. The choice to continue using the large Slavonian oak barrels was...

Wine Advocate 93 points. Made with certified organic fruit, the Col d'Orcia 2017 Brunello di Montalcino definitely shows some of the heat of the vintage, and I think this impression is reinforced by the location of this property on the southern side of the appellation, where temperatures are normally a few degrees higher on average. The winemaking team at this historic estate is not deterred by hot vintages, and their winemaking protocol captures the freshness and brightness of Sangiovese nonetheless. In fact, the alcohol content here measured 14.5%, which is almost contained, compared to some other wines in this report from cooler subzones....

Wine Advocate 94+. Always released one year later as if it were a Riserva (although it is not labeled as such), the Col d'Orcia 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Nastagio offers an increased level of clarity and purity that comes directly from the high quality of organically farmed fruit collected in this classic vintage. This growing site is characterized by rocky, limestone-rich soils. This is a broad and large expression of Sangiovese that wraps evenly over the palate, offering good textural weight and freshness along the way. That 15% alcohol is a bit much, but it's a common feature in many wines from this vintage. Production is 13,000...

Wine Advocate 90 points. Made with certified organic fruit, the Col d'Orcia 2019 Rosso di Montalcino Banditella is another protagonist in a storyline that sees this entry-level category of wine emerge with increased importance within this storied Tuscan appellation. We will surely be seeing even more excellent Rosso in the future. This expression offers nice concentration with rich flavors of blackberry, plum and sweet earth. ML Feb 2022. The name Gineprone refers to the aromatic herb Juniper and indicates how this Chianti from the Siena hills reminds the drinker of all the herbs and spices that are typical of the Mediterranean underwood....

Gineprone refers to the aromatic herb Juniper and indicates how this Chianti from the Siena hills reminds the drinker of all the herbs and spices that are typical of the Mediterranean underwood. Complex and full bodied yet approachable and fruity, Gineprone is the Montalcino version of the Chianti wine that has made Tuscany famous around the world.

WINERY NOTE: The Mediterranean climate, the Montalcino “terroir”, the nobility of Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah, the knowledge and the passion of those who have been looking after vineyards and producing wine ever since. This is how Nearco was born. On the gentle southern hillsides of Montalcino, embedded in the middle of austere Brunello vineyards, one can find the plots dedicated to the great international varieties that made the Tuscan reds so famous. Real “cru”, where Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah have found ideal growing conditions to express their celebrated class at its best. NEARCO is vinified with these grapes, assembled with...

Wine Advocate 93+. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the unsung grapes of Montalcino, and because this appellation is whole-heartedly focused on Sangiovese, we only get rare opportunities to taste the French grape. The Col d'Orcia 2015 Sant'Antimo Cabernet Olmaia is a beautiful wine and one that has enthusiastically embraced the deep warmth and golden sunlight of the vintage. You taste those hot-vintage characteristics in the fullness, richness and softness of the fruit on display here. This is no doubt the best vintage I have thus far tasted of Olmaia, and the wine has evidently found new confidence in this 2015 expression. Black fruit aromas...

Wine Advocate 94 points. Olmaia (made with certified organic fruit) has emerged as its own brand. The wine underlines the potential of Cabernet Sauvignon in this part of Tuscany, an area almost exclusively dedicated to Sangiovese. The 2016 Sant'Antimo Cabernet Olmaia reminds us of the importance of diversity in a monoculture, which allows us to better understand the potential of a growing area. This wine reveals an inky dark appearance with thick color concentration. It is broad and full-bodied for sure, but it proceeds with nuanced grace over the senses. Black and purple fruits segue to earthy tobacco, cured leather and dark spice. These...

Wine Advocate 95 points. Made with certified organic fruit, the Col d'Orcia 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is open-knit and big both in intensity and mouthfeel. This full-bodied Riserva graces us with budding tertiary notes of tobacco and cured leather, but the ripe and fundamentally very rich fruit of this vintage remains firm at its core. You also get cola, licorice and grilled rosemary. This vineyard site sees ancient soils with an important component of well-draining sand, and this helps to concentrate flavors. The wine's fruit weight is large-scale for sure, and it's more than enough to soften the 15% alcohol in...

Wine Advocate 96 points. The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento bursts from the glass with an exciting array of sweet dark cherries, flowers, mint and licorice. All of the elements are in the right place. The 2006 combines power and finesse to a degree I have seldom experienced in the Col d’Orcia wines. Layers of fruit flow through to the huge, authoritative finish. Readers will be tempted to try the 2006 young, and so will I, to tell the truth. Although I would love to be wrong, the reality is that the 2006 isn’t likely to be at its peak until age 20 or so. This is a fantastic showing from Col d’Orcia. Anticipated...

Wine Advocate 90 points. Made with certified organic fruit, the Col d'Orcia 2019 Rosso di Montalcino Banditella is another protagonist in a storyline that sees this entry-level category of wine emerge with increased importance within this storied Tuscan appellation. We will surely be seeing even more excellent Rosso in the future. This expression offers nice concentration with rich flavors of blackberry, plum and sweet earth. ML Feb 2022. "The baby Brunello". Organic. WINERY NOTE: A modern interpretation of a classic from Montalcino: a special selection from a great Sangiovese vineyard is vinified and refined with advanced methods and...

Wine Enthusiast 91 points. Rosso di Montalcino is now a classic wine, made with pure Sangiovese grapes, released one year after the harvest so as to retain all the freshness and fruitiness of a young wine and at the same time the intensity that only the Montalcino terroir is capable of delivering. Colour: Deep ruby red with violet hues. Bouquet: Ample and complex with notes of cherry and sour cherry followed by a woody and spicy fragrance. Flavour: Elegant and soft with pleasant ripe tannins. The aftertaste is fruity, long and persistent.

James Suckling 96 points. The Collazzi estate belongs to the Marchi family since 1933. It is located in south of Florence where land, climate and wind provide ideal conditions for the production of Collazzi. The wine has a great aromatic balance and beautiful earthy forest aromas. This vintage 2018 expresses the Marchi brothers' desire to give a new impetus to the estate. Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Cabernet Franc 25%, Merlot 20%, Petit Verdot 5% FEATURES Principal Characteristics Elegant, complex in its aromas, rich and intense, with aa marked propensity to age in bottle for many years. The different varieties of grapes used for the production...

James Suckling 92 points. Only 6000 bottles made. WINERY NOTES: 60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 20% Sagrantino In the winery the staff are all women, they are the doves you see on the label. But there is also a dragon represented, it is Carlo Gardini, husband to Donatella Cinelli Colombini, the owner. The Il Drago e le 8 Colombe was produced for the first time in 2005. At that time there were only 7 doves, and then Valérie Lavigne the consulting wine maker who is professor in the Bordeaux University was added. She changed the blend, removing the Alicante and substituted it with Sagrantino. This variety cones from Umbria, the region right next...

Vinous- 95 points. WA 93. 95 Points! Good full ruby-red. Raspberry, dried violet, balsamic oils and sweet spices on the knockout, perfumed nose. Sweet, concentrated and spicy, possessing a deep core of ripe red fruits and tarry nuances that have terrific definition and lift. The ripe, very deep finishing flavors spread out to saturate the palate. Another magically well balanced wine from Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s portfolio of Brunellos released this year. - Ian D'Agata, Vinous Media The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a robust and richly textured wine with dark fruit flavors of prune, blackberry and black currant. Ample spice,...

Wine Enthusiast 95 points/ Top 5 Brunello Riserva. Wine Advocate 94 points. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with only 6,500 bottles made) is a layered and structured wine that delivers a polar opposite experience especially when you compare this wine to the lighthearted annata 2014 Brunello. This riserva embodies power, grit and textural richness. It also delivers a robust and slightly evolved bouquet with dark fruit, spice and leather. In comparison, the wine from 2014 is thinner and more fruit forward. This wine is suited for grilled meats and steak. It's a hearty winter wine for sure. ML Feb 2019.

Wine Spectator 95 points. Wine Advocate 94 points. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows a dense and concentrated personality, owing much to the warm, sunny and delightful conditions of this epic growing season. This wine draws its fruit from a 10-hectare parcel with clay soils and wide-open skies with clouds and sunbeams, which take in most of the landscape to the north of Montalcino. This is a 9,600-bottle production. Black cherry, blackberry confit, spice and warm earth make up the bouquet. Plush and slightly sweet fruit flavors color the softly textured mouthfeel. This Riserva shows a bit of extra...

Wine Advocate 95+. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is silky and fine, but the wine also shows that special power and intensity that is so specific to this classic growing season. The wine's tannins, freshness and fruit flavors reach a point of harmony, and no one element overshadows the other. There is some crunch or tension on the close that underlines the quality of Sangiovese fruit harvested this year. Production is 10,300 bottles. ML Feb 2022.

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso, 2020. James Suckling 95 points. "The ripe-cherry, flower and hot-stone aromas are very attractive. Full body. Dense and layered with a beautiful center palate and intensity. Cedar and light dried-flower character shows through as well. Try after 2022." JamesSuckling.com (JS, 11/07/2019). Wine Advocate 94 points. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino caps long years of careful study and experimentation. When I think back to what this wine tasted like, say, 10 years ago, I notice that the ongoing stylistic tweaks faithfully reflect the general evolution of the appellation. This wine is very much a...

Wine Advocate 95 points. The wines of Donatella Cinelli Colombini are always something of a homecoming for me as I vividly remember my first sips almost 20 years ago. It is a great honor to witness their evolution over all these years. The estate's winning card is consistency, with steady results delivered year in and year out, although the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino takes the game up a notch. This wine offers purity and brightness to a degree I don't remember seeing in past vintages. This Brunello fully embraces the sharpness and linearity that this classic vintage will be celebrated for. Red cherry fruit and fresh plum follow to earthy...

Vinous Media (Antonio Gallono) 90 points. Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Chianti Superiore is made practically with only Sangiovese; the presence of just a few complementary clusters is in respect of the tradition that sees Chianti as a blend of more varieties. Its dominant element is its elegance, typical of Sangiovese with the particular aroma of violet that characterizes this denomination among all the others.

60% Sangiovese, 40% Merlot. James Suckling 92 points. Bright, deep ruby ​​red. The aroma is intense, rich in red fruits and earthy tones. This is a medium-bodied wine, with good Sangiovese acidity and a soft and round Merlot texture: good balance between fruit and soft tannins, with good structure, making this a wonderfully complex and elegant wine, with a persistent finish .

Wine Advocate 95 points. This is a special selezione expression. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne starts off a bit closed and shy, however it soon gains speed thanks to the intensity of its berry fruit, spice and camphor ash aromas. This wine is built to withstand longer cellar aging. It is firmly compact and tight at its core, recalling a Brunello from a cooler vintage. However, much of that 2015 sunshine and dark fruit exuberance comes through nonetheless. Fruit comes from a 10-hectare site with a large component of clay in the soils. Only 6,600 bottles were made, and the wine was released in January...

Wine Advocate 95 points. I love the way this wine has absorbed and reflects the sunny and warm personality of its maker, the brilliant Donatella Cinelli Colombini. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne has her spirit and her vision, and I recognize that as I taste through these samples. Her distinctive winemaking mark is achieved with botte and tonneaux aging, and her style is definitely fuller and more generous than most. It's a modern Brunello, if you care to categorize wines in this way. Only 6,660 bottles were produced. The vineyards are exposed to wider horizons that make for more light hours each day (from dawn to sunset) of the...

Wine Advocate 95 points. This is a special selezione expression. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne starts off a bit closed and shy, however it soon gains speed thanks to the intensity of its berry fruit, spice and camphor ash aromas. This wine is built to withstand longer cellar aging. It is firmly compact and tight at its core, recalling a Brunello from a cooler vintage. However, much of that 2015 sunshine and dark fruit exuberance comes through nonetheless. Fruit comes from a 10-hectare site with a large component of clay in the soils. Only 6,600 bottles were made, and the wine was released in January...

Wine Advocate 96 points. Opening to a dark color and rich concentration, the Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne (with 6,600 bottles made) shows a lot of fun character. I want to say that the wine is more modern or contemporary in style, but that's not really true. Yes, there's more fruity richness here, but the bouquet is also very vertical in intensity, lifted and bright. There's a fine spot of sweet cheery and tart apple skin. There is no heaviness. The fruit comes from a six-hectare site at a low 225 meters above sea level with medium-rich soils and lots of clay. That richness that I described evidently...

Vinous Media (Antonio Galloni) 92 points. This is Brunello’s younger and smiley brother, obtained from the same Sangiovese grapes and the same Montalcino area but destined to be consumed sooner. Montalcino, the land where Sangiovese expresses itself best in the whole world and where wines that can last centuries are born, can also produce a great young red wine. Outstanding quality at this price. An ideal food wine as the freshness and brightness of the acidity cuts through any cheese or fatty foods. Perfect partner for a pizza. #TAVOLO

Organic. Made with certified-organic fruit. Intense and brilliant ruby ​​red. Fine, complex with vinous aromas reminiscent of Sangiovese and suggestions of small ripe red fruits such as cherries, raspberries and blackberries together with floral elements and specifically violets. Communicative wine that satisfies with its harmonic fullness. The silky effect comes from tannins balanced with the fruit and alcohol. Good persistence, extremely pleasant. QUANTITY PRODUCED: 20,000 bottles

James Suckling: 95 Points "This is very dense and structured with stone and blackberry character. Full-bodied and intense with chewy tannins that frame the wine. Flavorful finish. Smoky and lightly bitter, in a good way. Pure sangiovese. This needs time to soften. Better after 2024." 10/21 Wine Advocate: 95 Points "This wine always stands out in my mind, and it's worth dedicating a few words as to why. Poggio Valente offers us a rare opportunity to taste Sangiovese made according to the highest standards but from a territory—on the Tuscan Coast—that does not share a big legacy with monovarietal Sangiovese reds. The Fattoria le Pupille...

JAMES SUCKLING 99 POINTS - "So much crushed stone, rosemary, lavender, mint and blackberry. Full-bodied and very structured with layers of powerful and polished tannins. It goes on for minutes. Ink, blackcurrants and blueberries. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Needs at least five or six years to open." Wine Advocate: 97 Points. "My article on icon wines from Tuscany focuses primarily on releases from the 2018 vintage. Fattoria le Pupille releases its top wine, the 2019 Saffredi, earlier than the rest. This blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot is explosive. The percentage of Cabernet...

Cabernet grown in Sicily is somewhat unique insofar as it has none of the vegetal characteristics that often are associated with the variety. This fine effort from the Castellare empire spends 10 months in oak (50% new) then a further 8 months in bottle before release. Will easily cellar for 10 years. #PP

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso. The vine that best expresses the oenological character of Sicily. This wine, made scrupulously of the best grape selections, expresses in absolute purity the extraordinary elegance and ability to evolve over time. The intense ruby ​​red color typical of the vine stands out. The nose is distinguished by delicate and persistent notes of red berry fruits such as blackcurrants, blueberries and cherries. Full, velvety and persistent, it aims at an elegant harmony as a whole. Endorsed by designer house Versace. #PP

Decanter World Wine awards, Platinum Medal and 97 points. Wine Enthusiast 95 points. WineMag UK 94 points. "Aromas of camphor, rose and star anise mingle with whiffs of woodland berry and tilled earth on the nose. Precise and polished, the elegantly structured palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, white pepper and cinnamon, while fine-grained tannins provide support. It's balanced by fresh acidity" Winemag.com 94/100 The nobility of the name of Fontanafredda - a historic company purchased in the mid-19th century by King Vittorio Emanuele II - finds great expression through the equally noble Barolo. Entirely composed of...

James Suckling 95 points. Wine Enthusiast 95 points. "Aromas of dried berries and plums with burnt orange and hints of cedar. Hazelnut and almond undertones. Medium-to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and a pretty finish. A kind of dusty texture at the end. Very elegant and long. Drink after 2024." JS. "Smooth and juicy, this fresh, polished red offers enticing aromas of rose, violet, forest berry and baking spice. On the delicious, succulent palate, refined tannins accompany ripe morello cherry, raspberry compote, nutmeg and cinnamon. It's already thoroughly enjoyable. Drink through 2031. "Kerin O’Keefe, WE. Winery Note: Fontanafredda...

Technical notes Vinification: the fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks adopting the traditional method, such as floating cap with pump-over. After 7-8 days on the skins at a temperature of 28-30 °C, followed by a rapid malolactic fermentation within the months of november. Ageing: at the end of the wine-making process, in january, the wine is transferred into wood for the maturation; part of the wine is aged in large French and Slavonian oak casks, while the remaining is stored in small barrels (225 and 300 litres) made of medium-toasted French and American oak for about a year. The two parts are then blended prior to bottling....

Decanter Magazine 97 points. Wine Advocate 94 points. Some 6,000 bottles were put aside for a late release of one of the best vintages in recent memory. The 2010 Barolo Riserva is a savory and sophisticated expression with dried cherry, smoke, tar and crushed granite that lift gently from the bouquet. The wine reveals itself with slow but mounting intensity as it takes on more air in the glass. It has been aged in large oak casks for 48 months and has emerged intense, balanced and expressive as a result. Anise seed and licorice appear on the close. Drink date: 2018-2030. Score - 94. (Monica Larner, robertparker.com, Aug. 31, 2017)

James Suckling 93 points. "Very pretty ripe cherries and strawberries with light toffee undertones. It's full-bodied, but bright and focused. Chewy tannins. Needs time to soften. Better after 2022." Winery Note: TASTING NOTES The colour is garnet-red with ruby thighlights that take on a slightly orange tone over time. It has a clear-cut, intense nose with sweet sensations of spices and hints of dried rose and sous bois. The taste is soft, full, velvety, harmonic and vibrant. PAIRINGS The Barolo par excellence goes well with important dishes, such as traditional Piedmontese meat main courses and medium-long-aged cheeses. But not only that, if...

Wine Enthusiast -Piedmont, Italy - Smooth and savory, this lovely red has aromas of fragrant blue flowers, new leather, wild berries and tobacco leaf. On the elegant, structured palate, taut, refined tannins support raspberry compote, blood orange, licorice and baking spice. 94 points.

James Suckling 92 points. Clean, full and intense nose, with typical traces of withered flowers, dry leaves and underbrush. Robust and well-bodied, with acidity and firm tannins that give a sense of freshness that prolongs the finish.

100% Nebbiolo. When young, it features a fragrance which is wonderfully spontaneous and full of surprise: in its bouquet, colour, and generous, velvety body this Langhe Nebbiolo brings out all the typical qualities of the magnificent vineyards it is made from. Later in life its colour becomes garnet-red with strong orange shades, and its nose deepens, with traces of withered flowers, such as roses and, above-all, geraniums. Its warm, soft, well-bodied flavour is velvety and well-balanced, lingering in the mouth Red fruit, bright, spicy, perfumed, some new leather in the mix. Medium bodied, light rasp of tannin, fresh fruit, autumnal notes,...

Top Ten Best Selling Wines - December 2022 Under $60 James Suckling 92 points. Wine Spectator 92 points. "Tasting Notes: Lots of dried strawberries with walnuts and lightly smoky, woody aromas, following through to a full body with chewy tannins and a juicy finish. Slightly bitter and woody at the end. Needs time to soften. Try after 2024." JS. Winery Note: The results of lengthy ageing, above-all on account of their natural qualities, these robust, well-bodied wines are packed with structure and are well capable of withstanding the test of time. Barolo has an attractive ruby-red colour with garnet highlights which become orange with the...

WA 92 The 2013 Barolo Serralunga d'Alba is a wine of heft and power. This is a site-specific expression that reflects the darker colors, aromatic intensity and firmer tannic structure that can be achieved specifically in this township. The wine impresses for its focus and finesse. A greater percentage of barrique is used because the fruit had the dense fiber and broad shoulders to support that extra oak. Serralunga d'Alba became its own Barolo sub zone in 1988. Like the many vintages made since then, this wine makes a bold statement on the unique qualities that define this celebrated Barolo sub zone.ML July 2017.

Tasting notes The colour is ruby-red with violet highlights. Very intense, vinous fruity nose which is very nice and lingering. Its pleasantly dry, robust taste is well-balanced and velvety, with a marked almondy aftertaste. Pairings It is excellent served with hot starters, pasta dishes, vegetables and not over-elaborate meats.