Riserva Room

Tasting Notes: The Fletcher Barbaresco Roncaglie is the most virile wine in the lineup, with plum, black licorice, pipe tobacco and savory mint all wafting from the glass. The palate is dense, rich and electric. Not a shy wine,... Read More

Estate History: The Crissante Alessandria estate is in La Morra, in the hamlet of Santa Maria. Near the estate they farm three hectares of a cru vineyard called “Roggeri”. The estate was founded in 1958 when Crissante... Read More

Tasting Notes: The I Vigneri Salvo Foti Etna Bianco Vigna di Milo is from Carricante grown on sandy, rocky soils high on Mt. Etna in Sicily. Apricots, thyme and a mineral, mouth-watering acidity create a balance on the palate... Read More

Tasting Notes: Taken from the top selection of Sauvignon Blanc grapes, this powerful white wine opens with strong aromatics of herbs and light citrus offer inviting layers of oak aged aromatics like vanilla and toffee. The Selezione... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Borgo del Tiglio Ronco della Chiesa is the most serious of the whites wines from the cellar, a benchmark for the Friulano grape. Intense, clean varietal character with slightly tropical notes pushed by pear... Read More

Tasting Notes: MGA Fontanafredda is a single-vineyard within the greater cru site of the Fontanafredda estate, itself demarcated as an MGA. Notes of red berry fruits and violets with tight, but silky tannins. The finish of red... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Marisa Cuomo Fiorduva is bright yellow with golden hues. The scent is reminiscent of apricots and fresh flowers, with a hint of tropical fruit. The taste is smooth, dense and characterized by a considerable... Read More

Tasting Notes: Rivella Serafino is a cult producer working out of the Montestefano cru in Barbaresco proper. Cherry, lavender and rose petal all jump from the glass. Once open, lovely depth, soft tannins and a touch of richness... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Ferrando Carema Etichetta Nera is the top wine of the estate. Elegant and etheral, the nose has pronounced notes of exotic spices and ripe red berries. The palate is fine, supple, with well-integrated tannins... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Borgo del Tiglio Studio di Bianco is a blend of Friulano, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. On the nose are white flowers, herbs, stone fruits, and mint. The oak adds texture, weight, and body without cutting into... Read More

Tasting Notes: Rocche Rivera is a cru within a cru, so to speak: a south-facing vineyard situated at 300 meters altitude within the Castiglione Falletto cru of Scarrone, and immediately adjacent to the fabled Rocche di Castiglione.... Read More

Tasting Notes: Rivella Serafino is a cult producer working out of the Montestefano cru in Barbaresco proper. Cherry, lavender and rose petal all jump from the glass. Once open, lovely depth, soft tannins and a touch of richness... Read More

Tasting Notes: Piante a Lapio is made from 80-to-100-year-old Fiano planted in Lapio’s high-altitude volcanic soils, it is fermented spontaneously in casks of chestnut and acacia from local forests, and aged in those same... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di San Niccolò is the flagship wine of the estate. Intense red color with hints of garnet. Deeply sophisticated and showcasing its full pedigree in terms of both the bouquet... Read More

Estate History: Mirafiore was founded in 1858 by Emanuele Mirafiore, son of Italy's King Vittorio Emanuele II. With its range of unique wines, highly distinctive in origin, character and personality, by the end of the century... Read More

Tasting Notes: The I Vigneri Salvo Foti Vinupetra Viti Centenaire is the top wine from Etna legend Salvo Foti. Working from a stony 0.2-hectare section of vines in the Calderara cru, Salvo Foti believes that many of these are... Read More

Tasting Notes: The vineyards of Serra Della Contessa are known for its high altitude (900 meters) and generous exposure to the sun. It is generally less rainy than other slopes of Etna and has considerable temperature swings.... Read More

Tasting Notes: Mondoca, “sorì of the afternoon” (in Piemontese, sorì means “sunny vineyards”), has south and southwest exposure and experiences the highest temperatures of all the vineyards... Read More

Tasting Notes: La Rosa expresses the qualities of the Barolos grown in Serralunga d’Alba at their best, with a marked concession to grace and softness in its flavor and bouquet. On the nose, clear-cut overtones of withered... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Il Paradiso di Manfredi... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Bastianich Calabrone is a red wine made from Refosco and Merlot grapes. A portion of these are dried to soften the tannins and provide depth to the wine. The nose is filled with chocolate, spice, coffee and... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Bastianich Calabrone is a red wine made from Refosco and Merlot grapes. A portion of these are dried to soften the tannins and provide depth to the wine. The nose is filled with chocolate, spice, coffee and... Read More

Tasting Notes: The extremely pretty Mastrojanni Loreto Brunello is polished and sophisticated while simultaneously earthy and rustic. Damp berry fruits, marjoram and spice aromatics, combine into a body marked by a stony minerality... Read More

Tatsing Notes: From certified organic vineyards that surround the estate, something of a rarity in Montalcino, the Piaggione is decadently layered with red cherry, strawberry nectar, roses, violet and sweet spices. Open and creamy... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Bastianich Plus is a singular white wine from a vineyard of 70 year old Friulano vines. It is ripe and powerful on the nose, showing mature mandarin orange, melon and pear. On the palate it is rich and dense... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Oddero Barolo Brunate has a vibrant ruby color, leaning towards garnet, with intense notes of roses and violets, accompanied by a touch of damp earth and ripe red fruit. Tannins are persistent, though soft,... Read More

Tasting Notes: Aromas recall tart black cherries, leather, fresh-cut vanilla bean and oak on the Fontodi Chianti Classico. The palate is so well-crafted with a silky ball of tannins surrounded by layers of blue and red fruit and... Read More

Tasting Notes: The 2017 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino is a vibrantly perfumed, exotic, spicy red with wild herbs set against red currants and roses that combine in a tantalizing display of class and power. Silky... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Marco De Bartoli Marsala Superiore was conceived and produced to respect its “natural” tradition: it is fortified with a “mistella” produced from fresh grape must and fruit brandy obtained... Read More

The 2016 Barbaresco Faset gives the impression of being the most accessible of the 2016 Barbarescos, but only in relative terms, as it, too, is pretty tannic. Kirsch, sweet tobacco, cedar, dried flowers and anise open gradually... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Colonia vineyard sits at the top of Poggio a Rancia, surrounded by forests. The vineyard was replanted in 1966 by Domenico Poggiali and his son Giuseppe, who worked it until the late 1970s but its very rocky... Read More

Tasting Notes: The 2019 edition of Tignanello showcases the elegant side of Sangiovese. Blended with 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc and aged 14 months in oak (50% new) this legendary Super Tuscan is loaded with spice... Read More

Tasting Notes: Explosive and ready to go, the Cascina Baricchi Barbaresco Riserva Rose delle Casasse from the 2009 vintage is a blockbuster wine. Red cherry, ripe rasberry, wood-smoke and wet earth all come together in an incredible... Read More

Tasting Notes: Joaquin’s Taurasi “Riserva Della Società” (“Company Reserve”) is a bold, singular wine of remarkable presence and depth, only bottlesd in certain vintages. The Taurasi appellation... Read More

Tasting Notes: On the nose, the Ferrando Carema Etichetta Bianca offers aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, and black currant, with hints of violet and rose petals, as well as earthy notes of tar and leather. On the palate, the... Read More

Estate History: 100 miles northeast of the Langhe, in the hamlet of Maggiora, the Vallana estate was quietly making wines to rival the Baroli of Giacomo Conterno and Bartolo Mascarello. They quickly became known by the savviest... Read More

The 2019 Guado al Tasso is a model of total refinement. Deeply pitched spice, mocha and leather nuances meld into a core of plush dark fruit as the 2019 reveals its considerable charms. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing, but... Read More

Tasting Notes:The Guido Porro Barolo Vigna Rionda in only its second vintage from these young vines, shows the textual elegance that is a hallmark of this fabled vineyard site. Incredible finesse and concentration of fruit fill... Read More

Estate History: 100 miles northeast of the Langhe, in the hamlet of Maggiora, the Vallana estate was quietly making wines to rival the Baroli of Giacomo Conterno and Bartolo Mascarello. They quickly became known by the savviest... Read More

Review of the 2019 vintage:

The 2019 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Francia marries elegance, power and energy. Inky blue/purplish fruit, menthol, licorice and sage are some of the nuances that build as this creamy, textured Barbera... Read More

Tasting Notes: Sourced from two parcels: Roncaglie in Barbaresco and Casasse in Neive the Cascina Baricchi Barbaresco Riserva Quindicianni is aged in 500 and 800 liter casks for five years. After that the wine spends ten years... Read More

Tasting Notes: The 2017 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino is a vibrantly perfumed, exotic, spicy red with wild herbs set against red currants and roses that combine in a tantalizing display of class and power. Silky... Read More

Produced and bottled by Brandy and Spirit House in the 1970's, the bottle has a tight seal and high fill with no signs of seepage.

Cynar Amaro Carciofo is made from 13 plants and herbs, chief among them being Artichoke. Vegetal and bitter, with time the bitterness has mellowed allowing a nutty and round palate with coffee, toffee and herbs to emerge.... Read More

This liter bottle of Pilla Amaro Elixir China is from the 1970's works as an aperitivo or disgestivo. Made mostly from cinchona bark, it is lighter and brighter than some Amaro, and works great in cocktails.... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Ferrando Carema Etichetta Nera is the top wine of the estate. Elegant and etheral, the nose has pronounced notes of exotic spices and ripe red berries. The palate is fine, supple, with well-integrated tannins... Read More

Tasting Notes: Barolo ‘Monprivato’ is one of Italy’s most famous single vineyard bottlings. The Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio estate—the motto of which—“Only the memory of the past can open the... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia is a single vineyard wine, only in it’s third vintage, from vines planted in 1990. Simply amazing, it opens with cherry and balsamic, white pepper,... Read More

Tasting Notes: Monte Rossa Cabochon shows a golden yellow color with fine and persistent perlage. Its aroma is distinct with hints of fresh tobacco leaf, mint, eucalyptus, almond, praline and lime-flower tea. Balanced taste, good... Read More

Tasting Notes: The key word when describing the 2019 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is power. Dense, ripe and rich, this is a powerhouse of a wine that will need a few years in the cellar to come together but is without a doubt,... Read More

Estate History: Among the splendid rolling hills of the Langhe, in the heart of Piedmont, stands the beautiful Fontanafredda estate, which once belonged to King Vittorio Emanuele II who n turn gave it to Rosa Vercellana, a commoner... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto shows a bright garnet color and floral and spicy aromatic notes of fresh pipe tobacco, red cherries, cocoa and fresh raspberry highlights, medium to full body, velvety... Read More

Tasting Notes: Barolo ‘Monprivato’ is one of Italy’s most famous single vineyard bottlings. The Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio estate—the motto of which—“Only the memory of the past can open the... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Fontanafredda Barolo Riserva is an open-knit, ready to drink Barolo from the legendary 2010 vintage. Licorice, coffee and wild cherries wrap around the palate while a smoky charm infuses the aromatics with elegance.... Read More

Estate History: Emidio Pepe started his estate in Torano Nuovo, Abruzzo in 1964 after learning from his father and grandfather, who both produced wines since 1889. Emidio saw untapped potential for both Montepulciano and Trebbiano... Read More

Tasting Notes: The 2017 edition of Augusto Cappellano’s cult Barolo is a cavalcade of aromatic red fruits, savory herbs, and white flowers. Impossible to put down, this is one of the most transcendent and beautiful wines... Read More

The 2018 Barolo Francia is powerful, deep and also a touch austere. It shows the edginess of all the 2018s, but also has a feeling of textural creaminess that adds tons of character. Spice, menthol, leather and a whole range of... Read More

The 2016 Barbaresco Faset gives the impression of being the most accessible of the 2016 Barbarescos, but only in relative terms, as it, too, is pretty tannic. Kirsch, sweet tobacco, cedar, dried flowers and anise open gradually... Read More

The 2018 Barolo Arione is an imposing wine. It's presence alone is impossible to miss. Arione is a wine that demands attention. There is something wild and exotic - almost animalistic - about the Arione and the way it asserts... Read More

Tasting Notes: The Montepulciano is fermented for about 10-12 days and subsequently aged for 24 months in glass-lined cement, which Pepe prefers over oak. The wines are bottled with no sulfur and laid down to rest for several... Read More