“This wine combines fruit from high-elevation vineyards on three soil types (predominantly sandstone, galestro and limestone) to give flavors of pure red cherry laced with soft notes of tobacco and herbs. Scents of pink petals add lift, and the wine stays integrated through a fresh, vibrant finish.”

“Sweet wood nuances lead with cinnamon, clove and a touch of vanilla eventually ceding to wild cherry and wet soil. On the palate, forest berries are laced with chocolate. The fruit is concentrated and plush with ripe, powdery tannins giving effortless support. This is its usual sophisticated and polished self, with lots of juiciness. Yields are a low 30 hL/ha and ageing is in a combination of French oak tonneaux and barriques, 10% new. Give this another year for the wood to integrate.”

“A full-bodied, structured red with lots of blackcurrants, wild blackberries and cloves. Black olives, dried violets and raw cacao, too. Firm, slightly leafy tannins. Drink after 2023. From organically grown grapes.”

“Though somewhat tight, this red exhibits plenty of ripe fruit, sweet spices and refined tannins. The overall balance is there, and this is nearing a new phase in its evolution. The long, fruit-filled aftertaste picks up a saline element. Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2038.”

“The 2018 Chianti Classico is classy, polished and exceptionally beautiful. Like so many wines in 2018, the Chianti Classico is aromatic and gracious in feel, more finesse than power. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright Sangiovese fruit. From start to finish, the 2018 is all class.”