Italy

Only made in the best vintages, the 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva from Querciabella is a really beautiful bottling from this stunning estate. The product of three single vineyards, it’s currently pretty reserved, but with notes of fresh cherries, wild roses, and a hint of rosemary. It’s a simply wonderful wine.

The 2015 Camartina is an astonishing super-Tuscan. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, from high altitude vineyards in Greve-in-Chianti, it’s a wine that astonishes with its elegance, finesse, and purity. Notes of morello cherry, blackcurrant, and wild flowers, with an intensely structured core, and a long, savoury finish. Outstanding, a real tour de force.

The 2015 Camartina is an astonishing super-Tuscan. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, from high altitude vineyards in Greve-in-Chianti, it’s a wine that astonishes with its elegance, finesse, and purity. Notes of morello cherry, blackcurrant, and wild flowers, with an intensely structured core, and a long, savoury finish. Outstanding, a real tour de force.

The 2015 Camartina is an astonishing super-Tuscan. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, from high altitude vineyards in Greve-in-Chianti, it’s a wine that astonishes with its elegance, finesse, and purity. Notes of morello cherry, blackcurrant, and wild flowers, with an intensely structured core, and a long, savoury finish. Outstanding, a real tour de force.

The 2015 Camartina is an astonishing super-Tuscan. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, from high altitude vineyards in Greve-in-Chianti, it’s a wine that astonishes with its elegance, finesse, and purity. Notes of morello cherry, blackcurrant, and wild flowers, with an intensely structured core, and a long, savoury finish. Outstanding, a real tour de force.

Coming from a single vineyard on the Tignanello estate, Solaia takes its name from the sunny nature of vineyard. The 2017 is opulent and exotic, with loads of spice and a savoury, mineral finish.

A blend of Chardonnay and Grechetto, the 2018 Cervaro has lovely richness to the fruit, with notes of hazelnut and a hint of honey. You feel the Umbrian sun here, but it's all in balance.

One of the great Super-Tuscans, in 2017 Tignanello is intense and structured, with notes of wild herbs, baked earth, and cassis. There's a silkiness to the finish, which lasts an age.

A single vineyard Freisa, and a step up, this is a brilliant wine from this tiny estate. Wild hedgerow and flowers soar from the glass, with incredible structure and length. Mineral, precise, and very long, this is a delight. And it ages brilliantly: older bottles we tried blew us away.

Freisa is a forgotten grape variety of the Langhe. High up in the commune of Camo, Mario and Gabriele are showing just how good it can be. Floral and fresh, with elements of red berry fruit, some herbal character, and also nicely grippy tannins, this is a wonderful alternative to a Langhe Nebbiolo.

A blend of two declassified Nebbiolo da Barolo vineyards: Bussia Brovi in Monforte d’Alba & Roncaglie in La Morra. This has plenty of volume, with delicate fruit, notes of rose petal and plenty of minerality on the finish. A lovely example of what's to come.

Just 2000 bottles were made of this, from Monforte vineyards near to Monchiero. Dark and juicy, with blackcurrent and a hint of tar, there's lively acidity and a very pure and charming finish. This is so delicious. Bravo.

Vibrant in colour, there's a complex nose of pomegranate, iron oxide, and bright, wild strawberry fruit. There's just a lick of tannins, and a very savoury, focussed finish. Joyful now, but with the bones to age, too.

Lovely concentration and ripeness to the 2017 Cerasuolo, with just a hint of fava bean and blood orange on the nose, and hedgerow fruit on the palate. There's a depth here that comes from the vintage, but it's in no way overblown. Lovely.

This is a real benchmark white of Italy, that ages spectacularly. Mineral, intense, with plenty of grip and palate weight, it's a remarkable wine. Buy this, and keep if for a few years.

Wow. What purity and focus, and also such silky tannins. This is a brilliant red. Notes of pomegranate and rose petal, and lots of blood orange add to the core of red fruit. The tannins are talc-like, and there’s such focus on the palate. This is outstanding.

More shy on the nose, but on the palate there’s incredible depth and intensity. Really powerful and grippy, very wild, with notes of orange, peaches and apricots, and such a mineral undercurrent. The best of Etna.

Delicate and herbal on the nose, with fresh lavender as well as plenty of pomegranate and red berry fruit. The tannins sneak up on you: there’s an almost nebbiolo element with that grip and a tar and roses element. But the bright, pale colour and volcanic undertones give it away.

More shy on the nose, but on the palate there’s incredible depth and intensity. Really powerful and grippy, very wild, with notes of orange, peaches and apricots, and such a mineral undercurrent. The best of Etna.

Sourced from across the Barbaresco region, from trusted suppliers, this is a wonderfully fragrant example of the region's everyday grape variety.

Yet another wine that shows just how good the 2014 vintage is. Soaring aromatics, incredible finesse, and remarkable length. A complete wine.

This comes from a single site in the Roero region, giving bright fruit and silky tannins. Giacosa's mastery of Nebbiolo is well known, and this shows their whole talent.

Wonderfully fresh and vibrant, particularly for a 2017, this has notes of cinnamon and freshly cut flowers swirling from the glass. A finessed and classy Barbaresco, that's surprisingly ready to go.

Yet another wine that shows just how good the 2014 vintage is. Soaring aromatics, incredible finesse, and remarkable length. A complete wine.

Ian D'agata has written, "I have long thought that the Arneis was by far Giacosa’s most underrated wine", and this is a zesty, fresh example from one of the grape variety's staunchest defenders

Juicy and fine boned, with notes of orange and a hint of ripe beef tomato, the 2018 Barbera is a lovely wine. It's drinking well out the gate, but will age nicely, too.

Wonderfully fresh and vibrant, particularly for a 2017, this has notes of cinnamon and freshly cut flowers swirling from the glass. A finessed and classy Barbaresco, that's surprisingly ready to go.

A top vineyard, the Rabaja shows real intensity and power, particularly in the brilliant 2016 vintage. Classic notes of tar and roses are also supported with hints of citrus zest, and a bass note of tobacco. Incredibly complex.

In the remarkable 2016 vintage, it's no surprise that this was a top performer. There's astonishing energy here, with dark berry fruit, a hint of cassis, and loads of exotic spice. The finish is incredibly long.

In the remarkable 2016 vintage, it's no surprise that this was a top performer. There's astonishing energy here, with dark berry fruit, a hint of cassis, and loads of exotic spice. The finish is incredibly long.

A lovely wine from the vineyard surrounding the estate, this is some of the best value that you'll find in Piedmont. Delicate but not overly, the finish here is stunning, with so much energy and poise. Delicious, and approachable younger than some.

The Nervo comes from Serravalian soils, and shows the high-toned fruit, citrus lift, and minerality that you'd expect from such origins. In 2018 it's a real stunner: not to be missed.

From Tortonian soils, as found in Barolo and La Morra, this is for those who like a slightly silkier, richer style of Nebbiolo. Notes of tar and tobacco on the finish, and there's exotic spice, too. Beautifully complex, and very long.

Crunchy fruit, with notes of sour cherry and pretty floral, with lovely energy and such a sense of vibrancy on the palate. Just such a joyful wine.

One of the best Dolcettos we know, with wonderful pure berry fruit, silky tannins, and amazing texture and finesse on the finish. Not overblown, and everything is held together with vibrant acidity.

Lightly sparkling, this is a wine of poise and stunning energy. With notes of elderflower and crunchy apples, with freshly picked mint and sage and a fine, silky texture, this is a mouthwatering wine that will have you reaching for glass after glass. We challenge you to find a more upfront and delicious wine.

Just 4,000 bottles were produced of this brilliant fizz from Cascina Cerutti. On the nose, notes of wild flowers and quinine, and a beautiful core of ripe apples and greengage. The palate is silky and intense, with a fine thread of acidity, and a chalky texture. There’s just a hint of panettone on the finish, and a creaminess that lasts for minutes. This is a brilliant bubbly.

The 2015 Riserva from Rabaja has plenty of breadth and volume as you'd expect, with notes of black pepper and sage, and a core of ripe fruit. This is a charming Barbaresco right now. Lovely.

Massara is Verduno's forgotten vineyard, and this has wonderful wild strawberry perfume and nervy acidity. Lovely energy here, and a long and fragrant finish.

Monvigliero is undoubtedly a Grand Cru of Piedmont: this shows why, in the classically styled 2013 vintage. Notes of wild strawberries and hint of pomegranate and blood orange. The palate is so silky and sensous, and the sapid finish lasts for minutes. Brilliant

One of the finest vineyards in Barbaresco, from a spectacular vintage. This is perfumed, intense, and fine-boned, with amazing precision on the finish. Outstanding.

Made from the Pelaverga grape, endemic to Verduno. This is so peppery, lithe, and graceful. Lots of crunchy strawberries and white pepper, and hints of tarragon, too. Incredibly fresh: a brilliant aperitif wine, or for every night of the week.

The 2017 Coltassala, the single vineyard wine from Volpaia, is brooding, intense, and very powerful. With time it's sure to be an impressive wine: at this price, a no brainer.

90% Sangiovese. 10% Merlot. Plums and wild cherries on the nose, intense and powerful, with lovely silky fruit and balsamic notes. There’s a candied orange note, and plenty of clove spice, too. Very complex, and very delicious.

A single ungrafted vineyard produces the pinnacle of Volpaia's production. The 2016 is impressive. Notes of rose petal and graphite swirl, and the tannins are intense and structured. Give this a little time: you'll be rewarded.

Such a heady nose on this of hazelnuts, figs, and exotic spices. The palate has amazing freshness, with plenty of grip and a long, saline, nutty finish. Impossible to spit.

On the nose notes of pomegranate, fresh morello cherries, and a hint of grapefruit pith. The palate is intense and tightly wound: this will need some time to come out of its shell. Yet you feel the rippling energy here, the purity of fruit, and the underlying complexity: this is an astonishingly good Nebbiolo from one of the region’s masters. Not to be missed.

The 2013 Bricco Boschis was an impressive wine, and this Riserva performs as you'd hope. Notes of blood orange and pomegranate support the core of fruit, and the tannins are incredibly well integrated. Brilliant