The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is quite a bit darker and richer than the straight Brunello. Cherries, plums, spices and French oak meld together beautifully in this silky, textured red. In 2005 the Tenuta Nuova boasts fabulous overall balance in a fairly restrained style for this bottling. Kirsch, roses and spices linger on the dark, enveloping finish. This is a terrific effort from Casanova di Neri. The Tenuta Nuova is made from vineyards in Le Cetine and Pietradonice, both located in the southern part of Montalcino. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022.
Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate) 93pts. Php4,650

The wines of Casanova di Neri are renowned for their elegant, modern style and enjoy a steady flow of accolades from specialty magazines and contests the world over. In 2006, the Wine Spectator named their Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2001 the world’s top wine, calling it “one of the best examples of the recent winemaking renaissance in Tuscany”. Of the five wines made here, all except one (the Cabernet Pietradonice) are made with 100 percent Sangiovese Grosso. True products of the warm Mediterranean climate and sandy soils that characterize Montalcino, Casanova di Neri’s wines are pungent, complex super high quality wines that can age well for decades.

Paolo Scavino Barolo Carobric 2006 “A deep, sensual beauty endowed with gorgeous purity in its layers of dark red fruits, smoke and tobacco. Deceptively medium in body, the wine caresses the palate all the way through to the firm, sturdy finish. The wine’s balance, depth and overall sense of harmony are remarkable. Carobric is a blend of several vineyards, mostly Rocche di Castiglione, with a touch of Bric del Fiasc and Cannubi.” Galloni 93pts. (Php5000 per bottle)

Paolo Scavino Barolo Cannubi 2006 “opens with an attractive, finely-knit bouquet that leads to an open, soft core of perfumed fruit. Rich, and expansive on the palate, this textured, vivid Barolo reveals terrific length on the palate and finessed tannins that inform the silky finish. Though medium in body, the wine packs plenty of punch and is almost certain to put on weight in the bottle.” Galloni 94pts (Php5600 per bottle)

Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc 2006 “is a dramatic, sweeping wine that bursts onto the palate in a powerful expression of this Castiglione Falletto vineyard. Dark red fruits, smoke and grilled herbs are just some of the nuances that come to life as this imposing, focused Barolo opens up in the glass. Today, the wine is a touch austere, but in a few years the structure should fill out nicely. It is impossible to ignore the sheer pedigree and class here.” Galloni 95pts. (Php5600 per bottle)

Read more wine offerings here

Price: Php 10,900 per bottle

The Chambertin “Clos de Bèze” 2008 is an ample and elegant wine. The nose releases woody, mineral and fruity scents. There is a frank, really pure attack on the palate and a long finish with mocha aromas. This rich, powerful and sophisticated wine has all the qualities necessary to have great ageing potential.

PRESS NOTES

Allen Meadows: 92-95/100
Revue du Vin de France: 16,5/20
Bourgogne Aujourd’hui: 17/20

Price: Php 6,000.00

The estate’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’ Oro is rich and sensual in its layers of dark fruit.

Ripe and perfumed , the wine reveals tons of persistence, great depth, fine, silky tannins and an expansive, multi-dimensional personality that emerges over time.

Menthol, pine, spices and a host of other balsamic nuances swirl around in the glass, adding further complexity to the dark fruit and rounding out the wine beautifully.

Wine lovers who are patient will be rewarded with a superb Brunello. This is a terrific effort from proprietor Paolo Bianchini. Ciacci’s Pianrosso is an old-vines selection that spent 36 months in Slavonian oak.

94+ points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Ciacci Piccolomini d’ Aragona, Ateo 2007 DOC, TUSCANY, ITALY

(Grape Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot)…Php 1,100.00

The estate’s 2007 Ateo is Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot now that the Sangiovese has been eliminated from the blend. Although the wine is made from international varieties here those grapes speak with a distinctly Tuscan accent. Plummy dark fruit leads to sweet herbs, spices, earthiness and minerals as this rich, deep wine opens up in the glass. This is one of the few 2007s that will actually benefit from another year or so in bottle. It is gorgeous stuff! 

91 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Ciacci Piccolomini d’ Aragona, Fabivs S. Antino 2006 DOC, TUSCANY, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Syrah)…Php 1,400.00

The 2006 Fabius (Syrah) is a gorgeous, medium-bodied wine loaded with dark fruit, smoke and earthiness. Previous vintages have been more concentrated in style, and the 2006 seems to give more attention to finesse rather than sheer heft. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2014.

89 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Ciacci Piccolomini d’ Aragona, Rosso di Montalcino 2008 DOC, TUSCANY, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Sangiovese)…Php 1,500.00

The 2008 Rosso di Montalcino is a big, generous Rosso loaded with fruit. The wine reveals gorgeous balance, no hard edges and a compelling personality, all of which make it a great choice for near-term drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012. 

89 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Ciacci Piccolomini d’ Aragona, Brunello di Montalcino 2005 DOCG, TUSCANY, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Sangiovese)…Php 2,800.00

The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is wonderfully plump and juicy in its expressive red fruit. Floral notes are woven throughout, giving the wine its sense of lift and proportion. Though not as explosive as the 2004, the 2005 Brunello di Montalcino offers outstanding persistence on the palate and a long, generous finish. This is a terrific effort from Ciacci. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. 

92 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Ciacci Piccolomini d’ Aragona, Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso 2004 DOCG, TUSCANY,ITALY

(Grape Varietals: Sangiovese) …Php 3,700.00

“The estate’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso possesses striking depth as endless layers of sweet, perfumed fruit emerge with tons of grace. This, too, is an intense, full-bodied wine. The balance here is utterly exceptional, and the wine’s sheer plumpness makes for a highly rewarding glass of Brunello. Succulent dark cherries, spices, underbrush, minerals and new leather come to life as the wine sits in the glass, yet this remains a backward, structured Brunello in need of serious bottle age. 

94 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Ciacci Piccolomini d’ Aragona, Brunello di Montalcino, Pianrosso Reserva 2004 DOCG, TUSCANY,ITALY

(Grape Varietals: Sangiovese) …Php 6,000.00

The estate’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’ Oro is rich and sensual in its layers of dark fruit. Ripe and perfumed , the wine reveals tons of persistence, great depth, fine, silky tannins and an expansive, multi-dimensional personality that emerges over time. Menthol, pine, spices and a host of other balsamic nuances swirl around in the glass, adding further complexity to the dark fruit and rounding out the wine beautifully. Wine lovers who are patient will be rewarded with a superb Brunello. This is a terrific effort from proprietor Paolo Bianchini. Ciacci’s Pianrosso is an old-vines selection that spent 36 months in Slavonian oak.

94+ points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Tua Rita, Giustro di Notri 2007 IGT, TUSCANY,ITALY

(Grape Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Cabernet Franc)…Php 4,800.00

The 2007 Giusto dei Notri is a gorgeous, dark beauty endowed with layers of sensual black and blue fruits. Soft, seamless and utterly enveloping, the 2007 Giusto dei Notri impresses for its depth and richness, both of which have been achieved without any excess heaviness. Today the oak is rather pronounced and the wine needs further time in bottle for its full range of aromas and flavors to emerge, but make no mistake about, this is a terrific and highly enjoyable wine. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. 

95 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Tua Rita, Rosso di Notri 2009 IGT, TUSCANY,ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Sangiovese)…Php 1,300.00

It offers up an enticing bouquet, along with an array of sweet herbs, ripe red fruits, spices, tobacco and minerals. This is an especially complex Rosso di Notri that delivers superb value for the money.

Tua Rita, Lodano Bianco 2008 IGT, TUSCANY,ITALY

(Grape Varietals: Traminer, Chardonnay & Riesling)…Php 2,400.00

It offers excellent length on the palate and a long fresh finish with lovely notes of spices, sage and crushed rocks that develop in the glass.

Paolo Scavino, Barbera d’Alba DOC Affinato in Carati 2007, PIEDMONT, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Barbera)…Php 2,000.00

Scavino diverged sharply from the tough-as-nails-when-young traditional style of Barolo to produce soft and lush wines that are delicious within months of release as well as later in their evolution, applying the same winemaking techniques to Barbera and Dolcetto. The barrique-aged Barbera “Carati” is a sumptuous wine.

Paolo Scavino, Barolo Bric del Fiasc DOCG 2004, PIEDMONT, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo)…Php 6,550.00

The estate’s 2004 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is another awesome wine. Initially linear on entry, it explodes on the palate with a compelling array of dark fruit, smoke, tar, licorice, new leather, plums and baking spices. Although Bric del Fiasc is typically a wine that relies on power, the 2004 is notably refined and elegant, with sweet silky tannins that support the fruit from start to finish. Simply put, this is a remarkable wine from Enrico Scavino. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. 

96 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Paolo Scavino, Barolo Bric del Fiasc DOCG 2005, PIEDMONT, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo)…Php 5,000.00

The 2005 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is a huge, muscular wine. In 2005 the wine shows a decidedly fruit-driven, fresh style. The purity of fruit here is remarkable. The dark, brooding quality that is often present in the wine is absent, while floral, perfumed elements dominate in this vintage. The fruit remains dense, ripe and primary. From start to finish, this is a remarkable Bric del Fiasc. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. 

95 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Paolo Scavino, Barolo Cannubi DOCG 2004, PIEDMONT, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo)…Php 6,550.00

Scavino’s 2004 Barolo Cannubi is an imposing effort. It possesses a lovely inner perfume with layers of ripe fruit, menthol and spices that caress the palate, showing superb grace and purity. The tannins are sweet, ripe and round, adding to the wine’s stylish, elegant personality. This is a surprisingly big Cannubi from Scavino. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.

94 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Paolo Scavino, Barolo Cannubi DOCG 2005, PIEDMONT, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo)…Php 5,000.00

The 2005 Barolo Cannubi is simply beautiful. Sweet, open aromatics lead to a silky-textured core of ripe, perfumed fruit as the wine reveals awesome purity, superb length and classy balance. Floral notes develop in the glass, adding further complexity and sweet tannins frame the long finish. The wine needs a few years to come together, but this is striking Cannubi. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025. 

93 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Paolo Scavino, Barolo Carobric DOCG 2005, PIEDMONT, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo)…Php 5,000.00

Sweet roses, minerals, mint, licorice and dark raspberries flow from the 2005 Barolo Carobric. This richly- textured, multi-dimensional wine reveals tons of complexity. The finish is long, sweet and incredibly pure. Carobric is a wine that has grown significantly in stature over the last few years and the 2005 is terrific. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025. 

93 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Bruno Giacosa, Barbaresco Santo Stefano DOCG 2007, PIEDMONT, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo)…Php 8,050.00

The 2007 Barbaresco Santo Stefano is a gorgeous wine that combines element of ripeness, structure and the intense spiciness that makes the best wines from the Santo Stefano vineyard so compelling. Floral, high-toned notes appear on the silky finish, rounding out this highly promising wine. Gorgeous textural elegance and balance are the hallmarks of the 2007 Santo Stefano. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032. 

95 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Azienda Agricola Falleto di Bruno Giacosa, Barolo DOCG 2005, PIEDMONT, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo)…Php 6,000.00

The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. 

94 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

Azienda Agricola Falleto di Bruno Giacosa, Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto DOCG 2004, PIEDMONT, ITALY

(Grape Varietal: Nebbiolo)…Php 17,400.00

The 2004 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto is off the charts. Sweet roses, menthol, tar, licorice and minerals come together in a sensual, elegant style that recalls Giacosa’s legendary 1989 Riserva Collina Rionda, a wine many observers (this one included) place at the top of the hierarchy of all-time legendary Barolos. Ripe, sensual, and utterly spellbinding, the 2004 Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto offers superb elegance and pedigree. At this stage the wine remains surprisingly accessible. Readers will want to taste the 2004 Rocche as soon as possible as it will almost certainly head for a long period of dormancy in the near future. This magical Barolo will likely merit a perfect score in the future. The 2004 Rocche is the last wine Giacosa and former longtime oenologist Dante Scaglione produced together from start to finish and it is an appropriate bookend to a wonderful partnership that yielded so many profound wines. Anticipated maturity: 2024-2044.

99 points! Antonio Galloni of eRobertParker.com

The winery, located in Notri in Suvereto, lies approximately 100 meters above sea level and is made up of medium-textured, clayey lands, rich in micro-elements such as iron and zinc that distinguish the wines with “mineral regionality” and in which the international varieties find rather favourable environment.

It was thus by a lucky intuition that the couple planted Merlot and Cabernet, because by blending the two wines Giusto di Notri was born in 1992, which was instantly talked about in the national and international press for its depth and “Tuscanicity” encountered in the glass.

Later they decided to leave two barriques of Merlot and make them into wine without blending: in 1994 Redigaffi would become a cult wine, the first Italian wine to obtain a score of 100/100 from Robert Parker with its 2000 vintage , enabling Tua Rita to be added to the list of the 100 best wineries of the world according to the prestigious Revue du Vin de France.

An escalation of successes began for Tua Rita that over the years led it to expand and modernize the cellar. Thanks to the collaboration of their son-in-law Stefano Frascolla (owner of the winery of the same name ) and of oenologist Dr. Stefano Chioccioli the winery today extends over 50 Ha , of which 30 Ha are vines. Production stands at 110.000 bottles, spread among five red wines and two white ones.

“Brother-and-sister team Paolo and Lucia Bianchini continue to make excellent Brunellos in the tradition of their father, Giuseppe, who died in 2004. They are better employing their new modern cellars, which were completed [in 2006], and continue to maintain their south-facing vineyards at near pristine levels. The Brunellos emphasize finesse and balance, with layers of ultrafine tannins and subtle ripe fruit, yet they age incredibly well. The Bianchini family was gifted its Brunello estate in 1985 by Countess Elda Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona, who had no heirs; Giuseppe had been the estate manager.” — The Wine Spectator

Deeply concentrated, it layers the palate with essences of dark cherries, oriental spice and cola nut. It remains expressive throughout with excellent delineation and inner mouth perfume. An ethereal marriage of sky and soil.

Price Php 3,400 per bottle