This is Sandrone’s “traditional Barolo” in so far as it is a blend of several small parcels of vines. It is the product of four winegrowing areas; all very different in terms of altitude, soil and exposure. Luciano conducts these elements together with a concerto-like synergy to produce a wonderfully intense yet refined Barolo. As the note below indicates, the 2007 Le Vigne certainly punched Antonio Galloni’s card. We can see why. This is surely amongst the finest and most complex Barolo wines that Sandrone has ever produced. It’s hauntingly fragrant and eloquently fruited with a remarkable tapestry of flavour and filigreed structure. The wine spends 24 months in French oak tonneaux of 500l (approx 20% new), followed by 18 months in bottle. Bottled without filtration. 

The 2007 Barolo Le Vigne presents a beguiling combination of explosive, ripe fruit and finessed silky tannins that make it a thrilling wine to taste, even at this stage in its development. Small red berries, minerals, crushed flowers, vanillin and sweet spices are woven together in a fabric of undescribable elegance. The French oak has never been better balanced, while the vibrant, crystalline finish leaves a lasting impression. The 2007 Le Vigne has all the potential to develop into a spectacular wine…….actually, it already is. This is a totally stunning bottle of Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027. 96 points, Antonio Galloni, erobertparker.com, issue 193 Feb 2011

This is a vintage that is already promising plenty with the Dolcetto wines hinting at the greatness that will surely follow with many of the Nebbiolo wines. The mild Summer made for a later ripening season (typically held to be a good sign in Piemonte) with the harvest for this wine occurring at the end of September. The result is a deliciously vibrant, pure red and loaded with intense, dark cherry and aniseed aromas and flavours and fine tannins. Very well balanced it can be drunk immediately and over the next few years.

The 2006 Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore is made from a vineyard in the emerging Roero district. It is an especially generous Nebbiolo in this vintage. Perfumed aromatics meld into super-ripe red cherries, spices, flowers and toasted oak. The wine offers outstanding depth and richness in a full-bodied, racy style. 90 Points, Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate, Oct 2008

The “Valmaggiore” is the product of Luciano Sandrone’s passion for the Nebbiolo grape variety and his desire to show just how its expression can vary depending on the soil in which it is cultivated. The grapes used to make this wine are cultivated in one of the historical cru vineyards of the Roero district - Valmaggiore - situated in the municipality of Vezza d’Alba. The fist vintage was 1994. The vineyard is exposed South and Southwest and is characterized by an extreme slope and very sandy soil which, together with the high plant density – 8000 vines per hectare – and low yields of just 800 grams of grapes per vine, results in a particularly fruit rich yet elegant wine with an abundance of perfume on both the nose and palate. The wine is fermented in second-use 500lt French oak barrels, and is then aged for 12 months in the same wood. It was released after a further nine months in bottle.

“Sandrone-s 2007 Nebbiolo d-Alba Valmaggiore reveals sweet dried roses, cherries, flowers and spices on an expansive, mid-weight frame. Ripe, refined tannins frame the elegant and subtle finish. In 2007 the Valmaggiore shows impeccable balance and tons of class. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017”. 90 Points. Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate #185, Oct 2009.

3 Glasses - Gambero Rosso - Dark garnet red offering a strong, complex scent with a warm, powerful and savoury flavour.

Ornellaia Bolgheri DOC Superiore is the Estate's flagship wine which embodies the quality philosophy of the Estate. Resulting from a very rigorous selection, the wine is a remarkable cuvee of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. A perfectly balanced expression of the relationship between land, vine and man.

The 2007 Ornellaia is a masterpiece blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a tiny element of Petit Verdot. The intensity and purity are outstanding and the wine delivers beautiful notes of chocolate, black cherry, leather, cedar and spice. It's a big, modern expression that closes long with luscious softness and opulent fruit. Hold for 10 years or more. 99 Points; Wine Enthusiast

A wine that does everything right and puts it in beautiful balance. Full-bodied, yet reserved, silky and elegant, with wonderful fruit and friendly tannins. Best after 2012. 97 Points; Wine Spectator

Good, moderately saturated ruby. Sexy aromas of blackberry, plum and chocolatey oak are lifted by an enticing violet note. Sweet, lush and fine-grained, with a peppery blackberry flavor complicated by saline and coffee elements. This very cabernet sauvignon-dominated wine boasts terrific varietal character and finishes broad, sweet and mouthcoating. It's one of the best versions of Ornellaia ever, though it may not prove as ageworthy as some other fine vintages of this wine. Having followed Ornellaia closely ever since it was first made, I never cease to be amazed by how much it has improved over the early efforts, such as the 1985, when the vines were just too young to produce the level of quality this wine frequently achieves nowadays. 95 Points; International Wine Cellar

Dense, meaty and serious nose. Toasty and deep. This wine is an opera - drama and music, opulence and beauty, highly disciplined and deeply expressive. Liquorice, spicy jewelled fruit. Muscular, polished tannins. Magnificent. 18/20 points; Jancis Robinson

For wine writer Ornellaia 2007 exhibits ‘aromas of well-ripened fruit, with clear notes of dark cherry. Compact and massive, with well-integrated tannins. Very lengthy in the mouth. 19/20 points. Wolfang Fassbender, Switzerland’s Schweizerische Weinzeitung

This publication considers Ornellaia 2007 one of the finest vintages ever: ‘One of the finest Ornellaia; its juicy savoury, blackberry jam flavors are flecked with liquorice and exotic orange peel flavours. Perfectly reflects Bolgheri's mild Mediterranean climate. Elegance and finesse; built for decades. 95/100 points. Canada’s Wine and Dining

Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Petit Verdot 5%. Le Serre Nuove is the ‘second vin’ of Ornellaia. Its composition is decided at the moment of the final blending of Ornellaia, by choosing the barriques which combine youthfulness and suppleness with the structure, balance and intensity typical of the Estate’s great terroir. Fruit from the Estate’s younger vineyards usually make up the majority of the blend. Quantities produced depend on vintage and final blending decisions, and can vary substantially from year to year.

Le Serre Nuove 2003 shows richness and softness, as a result of the warm vintage. Aromas with intense notes of mature fruit, coming primarily from the Merlot, tare combined with the complexity of the well-structured Cabernet and the freshness of the tannins of Petit Verdot.

The 2006 Masseto reflects the particular conditions of the vintage: ripeness, concentration and balance. The intense nose with ripe fruit and jam reflects the summer sun. On the palate it's powerful, rich, and opulent, with tightly woven, sweet, polished tannins balanced perfectly by acidity, which leads into a long finish marked by elegance and freshness.

I can still remember nearly falling out of my chair the first time I tasted the 2006 Masseto (100% Merlot) from barrel. The wine is now in bottle, and it is every bit as monumental as I had hoped. The wine possesses staggering richness in a style that perfectly captures the essence of this great Tuscan vintage. Black cherries, flowers, licorice and sweet toasted oak are just some of the nuances that emerge from the 2006 Masseto. A wine of breathtaking depth, it also reveals superb clarity, freshness and vibrancy in a sumptuous, beautifully-balanced style. Simply put, the 2006 Masseto is a masterpiece from Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia. According to Agronomist/General Manager Leonardo Raspini the dryness of the vintage slowed down the maturation of the sugars, leaving the wine with an unusually high level of acidity, and therefore freshness, considering its overall ripeness. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. 99 Points; The Wine Advocate

Beautiful aromas of perfumes, berries and flowers turn to light toasty oak and sandalwood. Full-bodied, with very well-integrated tannins that build and coat your palate. Long and silky-textured on the finish. Shows great class and finesse. Merlot. Best after 2012. 2,660 cases made. 98 Points; Wine Spectator

Masseto is a rare and exclusive 'Cru', coming from a small vineyard of seven acres which bears the same name and which is known for its exceptional terroirs. A Merlot of great structure and longevity, production is severely limited due to an extremely rigorous selection and to the philosophy of excellence. One of the most sought after wines in the world, Masseto is frequently protagonist in the most important international auctions and constantly receives excellent ratings and unanimous consensus from the most important opinion leaders around the world.

The hallmark of Masseto is its power and impressive tannic structure. The 2007 vintage displays, in addition, an overwhelming elegance and complex wealth of aromatics, boasting impressions of perfectly ripe red and dark berry fruit, along with balsamic notes of wild herbs, smooth spices, and cocoa. The mouthfeel is dense, rich, intense, with glossy, silk-smooth tannins. A very long, leisurely finish reveals a good vein of acidity and concludes clean and fresh.

A perfect wine from a classic vintage, the 2007 Masseto (100% Merlot from a 17-acre vineyard of the same name) opens with an unabashedly opulent bouquet of delicious blackberry, cherry, chocolate, vanilla, exotic spice and cinnamon. Masseto excels both in terms of quality of fruit and winemaking and delivers plush, velvety tannins and an extra long, supple finish. It will make a special and valuable collection to your cellar. 100 Points; Wine Enthusiast

A very powerful and rich Merlot-based red that delivers so much currant bush, tobacco and toasty oak character. Full and layered. Goes on for minutes on the palate. Best after 2014. 97 Points; Wine Spectator

The estate's 2007 Masseto is fabulous. Loads of black cherry, blackberry and cassis are intermingled with minerals, violets and French oak. This is an especially sensual Masseto that impresses for its clarity, intensity and length. The wine's pedigree is impossible to miss, in fact in one of my blind tastings it was immediately identifiable; the class and sheer personality of Masseto came through in spades. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. 96 Points; The Wine Advocate

Paolo Saracco is known as "The Maestro of Moscato" and for good reason. His Moscato is perfumed with fresh peach, pear and white flowers. A gentle sparkle brightens the fruit and a tingle of sweetness hints of candied fruits.

Paolo Saracco is one of the reference-point producers of fine Moscato. I always make sure to have at least a few bottles on hand at the house. Antonio Galloni Wine Advocate # 190 Aug 2010

Good news for Moscato lovers - one of the finest Italian producers, Saracco, will hit our shores in two months after Mondo Imports securred the Victorian distribution rights. The first shipment will include the 2010 Moscato d'Asti - a stunning, refreshing style, not at all cloying, with some creaminess mid-palate and very aromatic. The special selection Moscato d'Autunno 750ml will sell for about $32, with the half bottles of the Moscato d'Asti selling for about $22. Mondo's Moscato by Jane Faulkner in The Age Epicure

Straw yellow with greenish reflections; perlage index slow fermentation and secondary fermentation. Intense orange blossom, peach and thyme (mainly primary aromas, those already present in the gapes). Intense, elegant, persistent. The sweet notes are well balanced acidity 'pleasant and fruity aromas typical of the Muscat grapes.

The 2010 Moscato d’Asti reveals awesome richness and complexity in its expansive layers of white peaches, smoke, minerals and flowers. Multiple shades of expression continue to emerge as this superb Moscato opens up in the glass. 92 points Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate

Paolo Saracco is one of the reference-point producers of fine Moscato. I always make sure to have at least a few bottles on hand at the house. Antonio Galloni Wine Advocate # 190 Aug 2010

Good news for Moscaro lovers - one of the finest Italian producers, Saracco, will hit our shores in two months after Mondo Imports securred the Victorian distribution rights. The first shipment will include the 2010 Moscato d'Asti - a stunning, refreshing style, not at all cloying, with some creaminess mid-palate and very aromatic. The special selection Moscato d'Autunno 750ml will sell for about $32, with the half bottles of the Moscato d'Asti selling for about $22. Mondo's Moscato by Jane Faulkner in The Age Epicure

Wine scented with the aromas typical of Moscato in evidence. The color is greenish yellow; perlage index slow fermentation and secondary fermentation.

Moscato d'Automne is distinguished for its outstanding performance in all the typical characteristics of Saracco Moscato: balance between sugar and acidity and aromas of the Muscat grapes.

The winegrowing farm Piero Benevelli, situated in Monforte d’Alba in the heart of the Barolo Langa, is composed by around 8 hectares of vineyards, from which approximately 40.000 bottles of wine are produced. This quantity allows us to maintain a family management of the Company, from the work in the estates to the winery. Our owned vineyards are located in the municipality of Monforte d’Alba. Our Company is engaged to preserve the traditions and to not abandon the teaching of the people who came before us and, at the same time, we support this knowledge with the use of the modern technologies. We have chosen to produce the classical red wines of Langa and we are more than satisfied from the very good quality of our products.

This classic styled Barolo is produced by Piero Benevelli. Their 20 acre vineyard is located in Monforte d’Alba in the heart of Barolo Langa southwest of Alba in Piedmont. Deep red with light orange glints. Full-bodied with hints of violet, plum, vanilla, cinnamon and liquorice. Full-bodied, warm, balanced, persistent and complex.

Skimpy rations this year apparently with an allocation of only a few hundred bottles. So if you want it, be quick. If I’d had a bottle of the 2006 to hand I’d have opened it to compare, just for the hell of it, but I don’t so I’ll have to extend myself and remember one or two of the eight or so bottles I knocked off before managing to pop some into the cellar….even gave a bottle away as a birthday gift. That pained me too, I can tell you.  Importer: Mondo Imports

Dried mint, licorice root, cherries, strawberries, roses – but sporting a depth, ripeness and fractionally raisined level of maturity over the previous vintage – and true to the vintage it’s a bigger, riper, lusher wine. Medium to full bodied with firm ripe powdery tannin that make their mark but don’t pull or snag on the way through the mouth – supple almost, with no astringency. It’s almost creamy in texture and has a good level of freshness and a long sweet red and black fruited finish along with a twist of dried herb . I reckon the 2006 is a slightly better wine, but a different one too. Rated : 95 Points Tasted : Nov11 Alcohol : 14.5% Price : $80 Closure : Cork Drink : 2017 - 2027 By Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

Ornato is the name of the estate vineyard owned by the Pio family in Serralunga d’Alba. "Ornato" is more modern in style than Pio Cesare's traditional Barolo, but still true to its roots. The characteristics of the soil, the microclimate and favourable exposure, allows the grapes to become extremely rich. Fermentation at a slightly higher temperature, together with skin maceration for 12 days, produces a wine with great soft tannins. The first Barolo "Ornato" was produced in 1985. Since then, it has only been produced in outstanding years.

Barolo Ornato has a deep crimson red color and its nose exhibis intense fruit scents. On the palate, the tannins are fat and found, yet also mellow and elegant. Concentrated flavors of ripe fruit previal with subtle hints of tobacco, chocolate and pepper, culminating in a rich finish.

The 2007 Barolo is inviting, sweet and open, yet has plenty of underlying tannins to provide support. It shows terrific balance in a style that reconciles the traditionalist leanings of this bottling with the ripe quality of the year. Sweet hints of tobacco, spices, leather and herbs add complexity on the textured yet grippy finish. Pio Cesare’s straight Barolo doesn’t seem to get the attention or spotlight it deserves, but it has truly been one of Piedmont’s under the radar jewels for some time. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2022. 93 points, Antonio Galloni; Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

The Colla family have a rich history of winemaking in Piedmont, dating back to 1703. Beppe Colla steered the Prunotto winery to stardom and was one of the founding fathers of the Alba DOCs in the 1960s. Younger brother Tino joined with Beppe’s daughter Federica in 1993 to establish Poderi Colla (literally, the Colla farms). Federica’s words perfectly summarise the Colla philosophy: “Our wines are not ‘high-tech’. They are man-made, with a strong human element, outstanding natural concentration thanks to terroir and fruit and very well balanced components”. The range features: soft and elegant, single vineyard Dolcetto d’Alba; concentrated Barbera d’Alba sourced from 60 year-old vines in Barbaresco, full of dark cherry and plum fruit; Nebbiolo d’Alba, a stand-out for the variety, well-structured with gamey and raspberry hints; a silky and perfumed  Barbaresco ‘Roncaglie’; and a concentrated Barolo ‘Bussia’ that both rewards drinking and decades in the cellar

Poderi Colla has produced a big, masculine wine with their 2004 Barolo Bussia Dardi/Le Rose. Huge, brooding aromas of scorched earth, spices and tobacco lead to rich, complex layers of dried figs, plums and prunes that gradually open on the palate. This impressively endowed, exciting Barolo closes with a long, sweet finish, yet it needs a minimum of a few years of bottle age to fully come together. Fermentation takes place in cement, where the wine remains until the Spring, when it is racked into medium and large casks of various sizes. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026. Wine Advocate # 174; Dec 2007 Antonio Galloni 93 points

The wine which really captured my imagination was the ‘08 Poggiotondo Chianti Cerro del Masso, a blend of 80% sangiovese, 10% merlot, 5% syrah and 5% colorino. Matured in used French oak, it is perfectly balanced, with warm spices woven through dark cherry fruits, the tannins fine-grained, the finish fresh. I drank the remaining wine that evening with great relish. Retails for $22-23. James Halliday Halliday Wine Companion

Poggiotondo covers 70 hectares on the Western hills of the Chianti region which provides a perfect microclimate for growing grapes. The soil conditions and the ideal exposure of the vineyards to sunlight together with the climate and low yielding vineyard management practice ensure perfect ripening of well balanced and flavour ripe grapes. Alberto Antonini the owner and winemaker at Poggiotondo makes his Poggiotondo wines in a modern style, whilst adhering to the true regional characteristics of the Chianti region in which the grapes are grown.  Balance and harmony is the philosophy of all Poggiotondo wines.

Formerly known as Cerro del Masso after the original name for the Poggiotondo estate, this Chianti DOCG wine is traditional in style, whilst being fresh and bright.  It is made by Alberto Antonini (Poggiotondo is the family estate where he lives) a partner in the Greenstone Vineyard project in Heathcote

The Prà family has been turning out high quality wines for generations, continuing to develop and improve an already exceptional Soave, from a ten hectare vineyard at Monteforte D'Alpone (Verona) in the heart of the Soave Classico DOC. 100% Garganega grapes from vines twenty five to thirty years of age, grown to a southern exposure on good volcanic soils, trained to Pergola Veronese positioning, normally vintaged from mid September to mid October. The grapes are harvested and treated to a soft pressing. During the fermentation process under stainless steel tank, temperatures are kept between 16-18°C to preserve the vital characters of the unique Garganega varietal, and to impart regionality to the finished wine
 
Crystalline appearance, straw-yellow colour. Intense and persistent bouquets, extremely delicate and comforting, floral elements mingled with fresh sensations of hay and slate, amalgamating into fine minerality. Aromatics of fresh herbs, scent of sage, both dry and fresh. On the palate it confirms its vital refreshing qualities and mineral aspects, a cool soothing vein of fruit is elegantly harmonized by a mellowness, and kind notes of dry crunchy fruit. Intense and persistent, it closes with pleasant hints of almond and of aromatic oils. Excellently dry and refreshing, the complexity, fine acid and vital characteristics make this Soave a classical food wine.

Brick red colour in the glass flowing to the rim. A generous aromatic nose, lots of cherry, floral notes, plum and a hint of chocolate. Full bodied yet soft and luscious mouth feel, exceptional acidity, clearly present but soft tannins and a very long finish. Drinking really well today but don't do it. 93 Points; Bargainous! This is another case of a wine that you will get the most enjoyment from if you buy 12 and open one year on year. Wine evolves like nothing else, this is what makes it so interesting, so debatable and at times, so frustrating. It's great fun to taste through the same vintage year on year, however, I'd still wait till 2012 before you even begin your experiment! Someone has to do this for me, I want to know that one person will buy 12 bottles of this wine and every year come back to me and tell me all about it. Of course I could do it myself but I'm already in danger of serious picklization. Wine 90; http://wine90.blogspot.com

The 2004 Barolo Bussia possesses an additional dimension of inner sweetness. This expansive, refined Barolo reveals an attractive array of ripe dark fruit, sweet toasted oak, spices, tar and licorice. The tannins are broad, yet silky and the wine appears to have more than enough plumpness to provide balance. The 2004 is one of the finest recent vintages of this wine. The Barolo Bussia is aged in a combination of small barrels and larger casks. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. I was very impressed with the wines I tasted from Prunotto this year. Wine Advocate # 179 Oct 2008 Antonio Galloni 92 points

The 2000 Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio, which might be considered the house Riserva even if it doesn’t use the name, is one of the best of the vintage in the appellation. Very dark and deep in color, its jammy, spicy nose is given an additional complexity by notes of sweet sage and rosemary, and the full, concentrated flavors are well balanced by a smooth texture and polished tannins. Drink: 2005-2016. Wine Advocate # 152; Apr 2004 Daniel Thomases 90 points

3 glasses from Gambero Rosso