*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Producer
Sicilia
Spadafora is a noble Sicilian family, whose first certified traces date back to 1230. Over the centuries, the Casato had the predominance over five principalities, a duchy, two marquisates, a county and twenty-five baronies. Some of the family members have occupied leading positions in the Kingdom of Sicily and in some European States.
The founder of the farm is Don Pietro dei Principi di Spadafora, who inherits the estate from his uncle Michele De Stefani, a talented farmer and breeder of race horses. The estate suffered a lot of damage during the 1968 earthquake but don Pietro undertook both the reconstruction and the redevelopment of the company, reevaluating the native vineyards and bringing to Sicily allochthonous vineyards destined for the birth of quality wines.
The current owner is Francesco Spadafora, son of Don Pietro, married to his wife Claudia, flanked by his daughter Enrica.
The history of Spadafora bottled wine begins more than thirty years ago, in the summer of 1988, when Don Pietro Dei Principi di Spadafora decided to explore another world; so from the countryside of Mussomeli, family property in the Sicilian hinterland where wheat was cultivated, his son Francesco moved to Virzì to take care of the vineyards, transforming the grapes into wine.
Spadafora wines are made only with our grapes, located in the Virzì district, (Municipality of Monreale, map sheet 142), in the area adjacent to the cellar, so much so that it is defined as the garden that surrounds our houses.
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Producer
Toscana
The story between Etlivin and Gorelli continues. After the collaboration with Due Portine - Gorelli, and Le Potazzine, we start again with the Gorelli company.
Giuseppe Gorelli, after having founded Le Potazzine and given the company to his daughters, in 2017 decided to embark on a new path by founding a new company in Montalcino: La Gorelli. The first vintage of Brunello will start in 2023, while the first wine produced is a Rosso di Montalicino 2018, which both for price and quality can be exchanged for a Brunello. In addition to Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello, it also produces Brigo, a pure Sangiovese of extreme elegance. Total hectares 2.3. Bottles produced 20k.
チェリー, Ciliegia, Cherry - ブラックチェリー, Amarena, Black cherry - スパイス系, Speziato, Spicy - ベリー, Frutto di bosco, Berries -
Comment
Intense ruby red color tending towards garnet. The nose perceives notes of red berried fruits, intense, characteristic, ethereal aroma. On the palate it is balanced, dry and persistent with possible hints of wood.
Radar
Bars
Tenuta Fontenuova
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
2020
Body
7.6/10
Astringency
7.4/10
Dryness *
7.2/10
Acidity
7.2/10
Aroma
7.7/10
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Producer
Toscana
Tenuta Fontenuova was founded in 2012 by Giuseppe Raspanti but the first vintage released was 2020.
Tenuta Fontenuova initially, with its 8 hectares, was dedicated to the cultivation of vineyards and the production of grapes. In recent years it has grown to the current 20 hectares, a growth focused on quality, modern viticulture, in full respect of the environment and tradition. All this has been possible thanks to the precious help of my sisters, Maria Pia and Elisa, and my wife Serena who play the role of fundamental consultants in facing current and future challenges.
Potential production is 47,500, while current one is 6,600 bottles.
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Awards
Magazine
Item
Vintage
Points
Vinous
Barbera d'Alba
2020
91/100
Producer
Piemonte
Carlo (born in 1880) – establishment and production of wine to sell unbottled.
An enterprising farmer from the Langa hills, the son of a family of poor sharecroppers. In 1921 he bought the Rombone farm in Treiso, then an outlying hamlet of Barbaresco, today a self-governing commune. There he immediately began to produce wine, which he used to sell, unbottled, to local restaurateurs.
Fiorenzo (born in 1923) – the sale of grapes.
The second last of Carlo’ s seven children, four brothers and three daughters, he inherited a small plot of land from his father in the early 1960s, when the property was split up among the four boys of the family. Since the resources left were scarce, Fiorenzo decided to discontinue his father’ s wine cellar business and to sell the grapes, which were much in demand among local merchants at the time.
Bruno (born in 1951) – departure, return to the vineyards, the first bottling.
Like most of the local youngsters, he was allured in the 1960s, the years of the economic boom, by the promise of a better life. He thus left Treiso for the city.
After completing his studies, he worked as a teacher in a school in Alba and subsequently at the hotel management school in Barolo, where he introduced food and wine to the syllabus for students aspiring to a career in the catering business.
But his bond with Treiso and his home turf was never broken. In the meantime, the old generation of farmers who had shaped the surrounding hills was slowly beginning to die out, and it seemed there was no one left to accept their inheritance.
The turnaround came when Bruno suggested his family stop selling grapes, which were fetching poor prices, and fit out a cellar to make and sell wine, using fewer bunches of grapes per vine to allow them to ripen better. It was a simple idea and it may seem obvious today. But in these parts at that time it was revolutionary.
Pruvuma (Let’ s give it a go) was the only word his father Fiorenzo had to say. It was 1982, the year Azienda Agricola Nada Fiorenzo produced its first bottle.
Danilo (born in 1986) the fourth generation: winegrowers are born and winegrowers they remain.
The early years of the new millennium crowned the new generation’ s complete discovery of farming and winegrowing: youngsters who were motivated, who could speak English, who were respectful of traditions, mindful of the environment. One such is Bruno’ s son Danilo who, after graduating, decided to follow the way of the vine.
His choice marked another turnaround in a story that began almost a century ago and is now projected towards the future. Danilo has begun to write the chapter of tomorrow today, treasuring the heritage his elders have handed down to him and helped in his task by the generosity of a soil that has been there for millions of years – the soil of the Langa Hills.
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Producer
Piemonte
The estate Anselma Giacomo was founded in the early twentieth century and since then the tradition in winemaking has been maintained.
You will find the caracter of the company in every sip of wine.
It is currently managed by the son of Giaculin Anselma, Franco, and his wife Maria. The passion and knowledge in traditional winemaking was handed down from generation to generation. The Anselma family owns vineyards in the area of Serralunga d'Alba, one of the most prestigious territory in the Langhe where the soil is calcareous clay and where the mild climate is intertwined with the area and has a positively influence on the quality of the grapes.
The land we own is part of the famous VignaRionda vineyard, a "Premier Grand Cru" to use a bit of French. Much attention is above all paid to the work in the vineyard from the perspective that great wines are produced only from grapes of excellent quality. Maintaining the richness of the earth requires very much work and a lot of passion.
”With patience you get a great wine which has no rivals”.
Our history goes back to the early 20th century when Felice Anselma, the grandfather of Franco, decided to produce his own wine. He firmly believed that the geographical position of land already had made a natural selection in grapes and therefore he chose to only make the traditional red wines from the Langhe area from the native grapes. A philosophy which was carried on by Felice's son Giaculin and nowadays by grandson Franco.
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Producer
Toscana
La Casaccia di Franceschi is a boutique premium wine from the historic Franceschi family of Montalcino. The same family also owns the renowned Tenuta Il Poggione.
While Il Poggione embodies the family’s tradition through a classic, large-scale expression of excellence, La Casaccia is a more intimate, carefully tended project launched in 2015 by Leopoldo Franceschi together with his children Flavia and Federico.
On a rigorously selected 12–15 hectares of vineyards near Sant’Angelo in Colle, they farm organically and apply strict grape selection in pursuit of purity and elegance. It is the true premium line of the Franceschi family’s Montalcino heritage—a refined, higher-quality interpretation of Sangiovese.
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Producer
Toscana
The story between Etlivin and Gorelli continues. After the collaboration with Due Portine - Gorelli, and Le Potazzine, we start again with the Gorelli company.
Giuseppe Gorelli, after having founded Le Potazzine and given the company to his daughters, in 2017 decided to embark on a new path by founding a new company in Montalcino: La Gorelli. The first vintage of Brunello will start in 2023, while the first wine produced is a Rosso di Montalicino 2018, which both for price and quality can be exchanged for a Brunello. In addition to Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello, it also produces Brigo, a pure Sangiovese of extreme elegance. Total hectares 2.3. Bottles produced 20k.
Casa Emma
Chianti Classico Riserva Viagnalparco
2021
Body
7.9/10
Astringency
7.2/10
Dryness *
7.6/10
Acidity
7.6/10
Aroma
7.8/10
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Awards
Magazine
Item
Vintage
Points
Wine Enthusiast USA
Chianti Classico Riserva Viagnalparco
2021
94/100
Producer
Toscana
Located at the heart of Chianti Classico, at an altitude of 430m. above sea level, the vineyards of Casa Emma are surely among the greatest expressions that a land like Chianti Classico can offer.
The Bucalossi family bought the Estate from the Florentine noblewoman Emma Bizzarri.
They have maintained the name “Casa Emma” respecting the historical roots of this land.
Respect for nature, sustainability, attention to waste, has led us over the years to choose an organic viticulture management and use methods to preserve the beauty of our territory.
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Awards
Magazine
Item
Vintage
Points
AIS Sommelier
Amarone Paerno
2019
90/100
Producer
Veneto
n the heart of the Classic Valpolicella area, more precisely in the municipal district of Marano, the Vaona family has always made Valpolicella wines while preserving the traditional values that are the winery's hallmarks.
The recently renovated wine cellar is part of a complex built around the mid-17th century.
For generations, the whole family has been making RECIOTO and AMARONE della Valpolicella wines with passion and sacrifice every day.
The Vaona family owns about 10 hectares of land, characterised by excellent sun exposure, mainly in the hills and at an average altitude of about 200 metres above sea level.
The fertile soils are ideal for producing the most famous and loved wines, AMARONE and RECIOTO della Valpolicella.
The plant training systems used are: the traditional Veronese pergola system, and the Guyot system on the plains.
The latter system encourages a low yield of finer quality grapes.
Casale Pozzuolo
Montecucco Rosso della Porticcia Riserva
2021
Body
7.9/10
Astringency
7.6/10
Dryness *
7.4/10
Acidity
7.4/10
Aroma
8/10
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Producer
Toscana
Casale Pozzuolo has been producing wines for about 15 years, but thanks to the new collaboration born in 2018 with Giuseppe Gorelli it has achieved success. Gorelli's hand is unequivocal, and as various trade magazines say, Montecucco Riserva could be mistaken for a Brunello di Montalcino even by expert sommeliers. In addition to the two Reds of Montecucco with the 2020 vintage there is a 100% Sangiovese white. If Gorelli is indisputable for Rossi wines, it can also be said for whites.
Total hectares 4.Bottles produced 10,300
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Awards
Magazine
Item
Vintage
Points
Vinous
Sorugo Bolgheri Superiore
2018
94/100
The 2018 Sor Ugo is a superb Bolgheri red. Pliant, succulent and so expressive, the 2018 offers plenty of richness, but with terrific energy, too. Black cherry, mocha, spice, licorice and chocolate all build as the 2018 fills out over time. The purity of the flavors is striking.
IWSC
Sorugo Bolgheri Superiore
2014
Silver
Producer
Toscana
After generations in the wine sector, the Pellegrini family founded Aia Vecchia in 1996 with the mission to create a portfolio of small lot, high-quality Super Tuscan blends. With the help of the famous Hungarian winemaker Tibor Gal, the Pellegrini family purchased exceptional property in the Bolgheri DOC. The fusion of the microclimate, terrain and elevation creates an ideal location for growing premium grapes.
Aia Vecchia recruited well-known agronomist Daniel Schuster to assist with choosing varieties, clones, and different rootstocks, which come directly from Bordeaux in order to ensure the quality.
The first vintage of Aia Vecchia’s flagship wine, “Lagone,” was in 1998. It is a structured and elegant wine that is remains one of the greatest values to come out of the Bolgheri region and has captured the attention of critics from publications such as Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and more.
At Aia Vecchia, we succeed in obtaining the best results through hard work and our will to express the natural characteristics of the Bolgheri region. Our production is limited in order to ensure the best quality goes into each bottle.
Attention to detail is seen in everything we do, from the farming, to the hand picking of the grapes, up to the individual vinification, fermentation and aging. All of this, coupled with our respect for the land, help us to create high quality wines that we are proud to present.
La Casaccia
San Leopoldo Cabernet - Merlot IGT
2023
Body
7.8/10
Astringency
7/10
Dryness *
7/10
Acidity
7.2/10
Aroma
8/10
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Producer
Toscana
La Casaccia di Franceschi is a boutique premium wine from the historic Franceschi family of Montalcino. The same family also owns the renowned Tenuta Il Poggione.
While Il Poggione embodies the family’s tradition through a classic, large-scale expression of excellence, La Casaccia is a more intimate, carefully tended project launched in 2015 by Leopoldo Franceschi together with his children Flavia and Federico.
On a rigorously selected 12–15 hectares of vineyards near Sant’Angelo in Colle, they farm organically and apply strict grape selection in pursuit of purity and elegance. It is the true premium line of the Franceschi family’s Montalcino heritage—a refined, higher-quality interpretation of Sangiovese.
Bravium Winery
Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - Mendocino USA
2022
Body
8/10
Astringency
7.7/10
Dryness *
7.7/10
Acidity
7.8/10
Aroma
8.2/10
*Tasting data from producer *Dryness *: lower value = sweeter
Awards
Magazine
Item
Vintage
Points
J. Suckling
Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - Mendocino USA
2022
93/100
"Red cherry immediately pops from the glass, followed by juicy cranberry and pomegranate, plus a bouquet of roses, violets and lavender. Thepalate of this wine incorporates a fine-grained, sandy tannic texture alongside generous acidity and balanced alcohol, with additional notes of well-integrated oak. Editors’ Choice"
J. Suckling
Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - Mendocino USA
2022
90/100
"Cheerful and laid-back nose full of sweet brambly fruit. Lots of ripe raspberries, candied cherries and potpourri. Fruity and simple on the palate with fresh acidity, soft tannins and a dry, fruity finish. Drink now.” —Zekun Shuai, Senior Editor
Wine Enthusiast
Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - Mendocino USA
2021
93/100
Wine Enhtusiast
Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - Mendocino USA 1.5L
2021
93/100
“This beautiful expression of Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley emits immediate aromas of bright red cherry, raspberry and red plum complemented by earthy tones of roses, violets, damp forest floor, fresh mountain air and river-rock minerality. This depth and complexity follows through onto the palate, where fine-grained tannins create a silky texture. Elevated acidity maintains a sense of freshness from start to lingering finish. Editors’ Choice.”
Wine Spectator
Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - Mendocino USA
2021
91/100
Wine Spectator
Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - Mendocino USA 1.5L
2021
91/100
“Svelte, offering juicy dark currant, raspberry, and cherry tart flavors, with notes of freshly ground cooking spices. Forest floor details show on the finish. Drink now through 2024. 1,490 cases made.”
Producer
California - USA
As a winemaker, I am a minimalist in every sense of the word, especially when it comes to Pinot Noir,” said Derek.
Derek founded Bravium―a Latin word meaning “gift” or “prize”―in 2007. His widely acclaimed small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are characterized by excellent structure and aging potential, along with invigorating acidity, which allows for seamless pairing with a variety of foods.
Of all the influences that have shaped Derek’s path, his family’s Cherokee heritage has been the steady drumbeat that led him to the right places at the right times. His parents gifted him the name “Winter Hawk” as a child. To this day, the sight of a hawk feather in his vineyard reminds Derek that he is fulfilling his destiny. That rich heritage gently guides his hand in the cellar. For Derek, terroir is a gift.