Merotto
2021 Prosecco Superiore Dry 'La Primavera di Barbara'
90
Bright, delicate yellow; aromas of while peach, ginger and yellow flowers. Mediumbodied with very good concentration. There is excellent freshness, very good acidity, and a clean, satisfying dry finish with very good fruit persistence. Nice complexity and typicity; enjoy over the next 1-3 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Merotto
2021 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut 'Graziano Merotto'
92
Bright, medium yellow; aromas of white peach, ginger, green apple and goldenrod. Impressive complexity and weight on the palate, excellent persistence, very good acidity. Very dry finish and quite stylish. Beautifully made, this is one of the finest examples of Prosecco available today. Enjoy over the next 5-7 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Cantina Fratelli Pardi
2018 Montefalco Sagrantino 'Sacrantino'
91
100% Sagrantino matured in 26 hl. Austrian botti; Medium-intense ruby red/light purple; aromas of ripe morel cherry, red plum, violet and a hint of glycerin. Full-bodied (15% alcohol); there is very ripe fruit, evident oak notes, full tannins, good acidity and impressive persistence. While there is a lot going on here, the wine is super charged and lacks finesse at present, while the oak notes stand out a bit. Still, this is impressive and will round with 5-8 years, with peak in 10 years.
2016 Montefalco Sagrantino 'Sacrantino'
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Cantina Fratelli Pardi
2018 Montefalco Sagrantino
93
100% Sagrantino matured in 26 hl. Slovenian and French botti. Medium-intense ruby red; aromas of black plum, black cherry, tar and clove. Medium-full, with excellent concentration. There is a layered mid-palate with impressive depth of beautifully ripe fruit; there is excellent varietal purity and focus and the finish is fruit-driven with notable complexity and medium-full tannins that are well-balanced; the wood notes are restrained. This is a beautifully made Sagrantino with noteworthy presence, excellent overall harmony and impressive texture. While this could be paired with an aged Parmigiano-Reggiano or similarly styled cheese now, this will be a better pairing for dinner in another 3-5 years, with peak in 10-12. An outstanding example of how one of the top estates in Montefalco is taming the tannins in Sagrantino to create a wine of strength and charm.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Cantina Fratelli Pardi
2020 Montefalco Rosso
90
A blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Cabernet and Merlot; matured in 26 hectoliter Slovenian and French botti. Bright, medium-deep ruby red; aromas of red plum, morel cherry and lavender. Medium-bodied, this is beautifully balanced with good acidity, subtle wood notes and moderate tannins. Well made with good freshness, this is a pleasure to drink now with lighter pastas and cheeses; peak in 3-5 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Cantina Fratelli Pardi
2021 Montefalco Grechetto
88
Medium-deep yellow; aromas of golden apples, pear and saffron. Medium-bodied, this is quite ripe, with a rich mid-palate; there is good acidity and harmony. Relatively straightforward, enjoy over the next 2-3 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Casalfarneto
2021 Verdicchio 'Fontevecchia'
92
Bright, medium deep yellow; aromas of melon, almond and a hint of anise. Mediumfull, this has classic Verdicchio character, very good acidity, and a distinct note of sapidity in the finish. Well-balanced, this is impressive now and has the structure to drink well for another 7-10 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hylamd
3/1/2023
Roberto Sarotto
2022 Gavi 'Manenti'
91
Bright, medium deep yellow; appealing aromas of melon and lily. Medium-full, with a lovely freshness, good acidity and notable varietal purity. There is good persistence and a clean, round finish. Enjoy over the next 4-5 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Ca' del Sarto
2021 Montepulciano d'Abuzzo
90
Bright, medium deep ruby red; aromas of black plum, blackberry and clove. Mediumbodied with very good concentration, this has notable varietal purity, moderate tannins, good acidity and excellent harmony. Straightforward with a satisfying finish, this is a noteworthy value; enjoy over the next two years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Ca' del Sarto
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Very Good
Bright, deep ruby red with a hint of purple; aromas of black cherry, plum and black mint. Medium-bodied, this is nicely balanced and straightforward with ripe Cabernet flavors and moderate tannins. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Ca' del Sarto
2021 Sangiovese
88
Bright, medium deep ruby red; aromas of marasca cherry, red plum and black mint. Medium-bodied, this has moderate tannins that are round, very good ripe black and red berry, cherry fruit and good acidity. Nicely balanced, this is a straightforward, crowd-pleasing Sangiovese that will work well with tomato-based pasta sauces or chicken with red wine. Enjoy over the next 1-2 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Ca' del Sarto
2021 Unoaked Chardonnay
88
Bright, delicate yellow; aromas of pear, lemon oil and melon. Medium-bodied, this is straightforward with good acidity, clean fruit flavors and pleasant aromas. Don’t worry about aging this wine, drink it tonight or over the next 12-15 months and enjoy.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Ca' del Sarto
2021 Trebbiano d'Abruzzo
Very Good
Bright, medium yellow; delicate aromas of pear, melon and yellow flowers. Mediumbodied, this is straightforward and clean, with modest varietal character, but lacks much complexity. Drink over the next 12-18 months.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Palladino
2019 Barolo 'Parafada'
93
Bright, medium-intense garnet; aromas of morel cherry, black plum, violets, clove and caraway. Medium-full, with excellent concentration. Quite ripe with excellent structure, big fruit, very good acidity and significant persistence; the finish displays notes of baking chocolate, coffee and saffron. There is excellent complexity along with notable varietal character; the medium-full tannins are textbook for Serralunga. Very well balanced, with marvelous typicity. Give plenty of time – peak in 12-18 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Palladino
2019 Barolo 'Ornato'
94
Bright, medium-intense garnet; beautiful aromas of morel cherry, orange zest and hints of strawberry and cumin. Medium-full, with excellent concentration; rich texture, beautifully integrated wood notes, very good acidity, medium-full, compact tannins, and significant persistence; there are notes of tobacco in the finish. Excellent complexity and sense of place – this is a textbook Serralunga Barolo. This has the stuffing, structure and breeding to see this wine through for 15-20 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Palladino
2019 Barolo 'Serralunga'
93
Bright, medium-deep garnet; aromas of wild strawberry, morel cherry, thyme and hints
of nutmeg and paprika. Medium-full, with impressive concentration; very good acidity,
excellent persistence and notable complexity; the finish offers notes of fennel and
peppercorn. This is more intense than a typical comune wine, so give this a few years
to round out and display greater complexity; peak in 12-15 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Cantina Gaffino
2019 Rosso 'Roma'
93
A blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese; aged in barriques for 12 months. Bright,
medium-intense purple; aromas of black plum, black currant, violet and mocha.
Medium-full with a rich mid-palate, excellent persistence, very good acidity and
notable complexity and harmony. This is ripe and somewhat forward, but there is
impressive structure here; this should peak in 10-12 years, perhaps longer.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Cantina Gaffino
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon 'Il Buon Bastardo'
90
100% Cabernet Sauvignon; matured in barriques for six months. Bright, mediumintense
purple; aromas black currant, black plum, black olive and tea leaves. Mediumfull
with a rich mid-palate, notable persistence, balanced acidity and ample oak notes.
How you like this wine will depend on the style of Cabernet Sauvignon you like; it is
quite ripe and forward, yet the structure is not one for lengthy development. Enjoy
over the next 3-5 years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Cantina Gaffino
2020 Merlot 'Tubbo'
91
100% Merlot; matured in large casks for four months. Bright, medium deep ruby red;
aromas of black cherry, black plum and lavender. Medium-full, with a rich mid-palate,
there is good acidity, medium-weight tannins that are nicely held in check. Subdued
oak notes and good persistence. Offering excellent harmony, this is very enjoyable.
Pair with roast lamb and enjoy tonight or over the next 4-5 years, perhaps longer.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023
Cantina Gaffino
2020 Cesanese 'Cardinale'
92
100% Cesanese, matured in large casks for four months; Cardinale refers to the decree
during the time Pope Sixtus V that regulated the sale of wine in ancient Roman taverns.
Bright, intense ruby red; aromas of black plum, cassis, anise and a hint of pink
peppercorn. Medium-full, this offers excellent ripeness, impressive varietal character,
medium-bodied, sleek tannins; subtle wood notes, good acidity and very good
persistence; the finish offers notes of clove and blackthorn. Enjoy over the next 6-8
years.
Italian Wine Report
Tom Hyland
3/1/2023