2022 Italian Wine

Like their Etna Bianco, Etna pioneer Benanti’s Etna Rosso is a blend of multiple vineyards on the volcano’s northern and southern slopes and is built for pure pleasure enjoyment! As Vinous says, it “wafts up... Read More

Organic/Bio As Vinous says, Gilberto Bonipert is one of the rising stars of Alto Piemonte, the region above Barolo and Barbaresco that reaches into the foothills of the Alps. This is his all-steel Nebbiolo and it’s a treat... Read More

“Gulpable” Chianti Classico isn’t really a thing, but maybe it should be? This blend of 90% Sangiovese plus Merlot and Colorino aged in big Slavonian oak casks would be a fine example. It’s bursting with... Read More

Lower ABV A lovely rose of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo that's dry, soft, and welcoming with building intensity through the spiced cherry finish. As Wine Enthusiast says in the 93 point review, The nose is fresh and floral,... Read More

Lower ABV The debut release from Francesco, Lorenzo, and Caterina Cordero—the grandchildren of Luciana Vietti and Alfredo Currado – after departing Vietti is very impressive. Even the label – done by the Cordero... Read More

The d’Angelo family specialize in site-specific and truly varietal expressions of southern Italy’s best red grape, Aglianico, but with more freshness, suppleness and immediate appeal than you’d find in Taurasi... Read More

D’Angelo was one of the first wineries in Vulture to experiment with aging Aglianico in small French oak, and as this shows, that extra expense creates something very special indeed! All of Aglianico’s earthy power... Read More

One of the finest Barbera in all of Italy whether enjoyed now or with a decade-plus in cellar. As Wine Advocate describes it in the 94 point review, Offering a level of aromatic clarity and elegance that is not always easy for... Read More

Organic/Bio 22 hectares nestled in the core of the Chianti Classico region, Gagliole’s Rubiolo shows the best of what the region has to offer. Pietraforte rock being the base of the soil gives the wine smoothness and delicious,... Read More

This is a fabulous bargain in very high-end Etna red. It's mainly Nerello Mascalese with a smattering of the softer Nerello Cappuccio from sites across the north slopes of the volcano. It’s wonderfully layered and complex,... Read More

Organic/Bio As Wine Advocate said last year, “Giuseppe Russo makes some of the best wines on Etna. Full stop.” And this is Doug’s favorite pretty much every year. From roughly 50 year-old vines at 500 meters,... Read More

Vinous describes this cheerful, fun, Abruzzo Montepulciano well: opens with a darkly floral blend of wilted violets and lavender, giving way to crushed blackberries and sage. It's soft and round with a silken texture and masses... Read More

While there’s a little bit of coppery-pink shine here, this isn’t really a “rosé.” Instead it’s purple-pink-skinned Pinot Grigio picked from Silvo Jermann’s oldest vines, all growing... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Consistently one of the finest and most complex examples of Marche Verdicchio, this moves beyond just fruit and minerality to add layers of nuttiess and dried floral notes. The complexity comes from old vines... Read More

Organic/Bio At just 37 years of age, this was Riccardo Baldi’s 19th commercial vintage, and it’s pretty clear from this stellar 2022 that practice has very much made perfection. From 100% organic grapes fermented in... Read More

Sometimes you want the flavors and a character of Brunello di Montalcino in a more open, easy, style. And at a drink anytime price point. That’s what you get here in a wine made from the Brunello grape – Sangiovese... Read More

Biodynamic Lower ABV In an ocean of Valpolicella, Agricola Montenigo stands out for its commitment to biodynamic farming and a noticeable sense of fun. Like here! This is the Valpolicella trio of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella... Read More

Organic Lower ABV The Veneto is best known for Corvina-based reds like Amarone or Valpolicella and the light Bardolino reds from around Lake Garda. But small growers working in the eastern part of the zone are doing something... Read More

Organic/Bio A triumph of winegrowing in a difficult vintage and a steal of a price from a family that resolutely refuses to chase fame. As Vinous says in the 92 point review, A gorgeous, super-classic wine from Ormanni. Readers... Read More

Organic/Bio Someday I'll go to Le Contrade dell'Etna and taste wines from every important contrade on the volcano. Until then, though, my position is clear and absolute: Guardiola is my favorite and, arguably, the best.... Read More

Organic/Bio With just 1HA of vines on the 2,800 foot elevation, lava-covered, Contrada Sciaranuova, this is always one of the more limited wines from Passopisciaro. The name translates to new lava flow which covered the site in... Read More

Organic/Bio Without question, Planeta is the most important winery in Sicily and has done more than anyone to drive up quality and awareness of good Sicilian wine around the world. Etna is just a small part of what they do but,... Read More

Nicola Argamante and his wife, Loredana, make around 7,000 cases of wine per year from their 30 acres of vines near Monforte d’Alba. This is their daily drinker, mainly Dolcetto plus splashes of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Albarossa... Read More

Organic/Bio Here’s proof that great farming and straight-ahead winemaking can deliver fine Chianti – and even finer value! – from outside the Classico zone. More and more Chianti is either all Sangiovese or Sangiovese... Read More

Organic/Bio In vintages 2018 and 2019, Luigi Moio began to experiment with creating a blend of all three of his white varietals – Fiano, Greco and Falanghina – to create what he thought of as a “Grand Cuvee.”... Read More