Wine for Laying down, 5-10 Years

From a fresh vintage and internally nicknamed "Luminous Freshness," Krug's light golden colored 2004 Brut is brighter on the nose than the 2002 that I tasted next to it. There are fresh, candied citrus as well...(read more)

Organic farming. Deeply coloured. Wonderfully pure and intense nose of sweet blackcurrant and black cherry with notes of chalk and clay. There’s even a hint of blackberry jam. The palate shows lovely concentration, with...(read more)

A ripe and juicy version, backed with good energy, this delivers a core of plum, blackberry and fig compote flavors that are accessible already, though the tarry spine and mulling spice–, black tea– and licorice-filled f...(read more)

The 2017 Barbaresco Cottà is punchy, with terrific freshness and verve. Red toned fruit, flowers, mint and bright acids yield a decidedly delicate expression of Cottà, a Neive vineyard where the wines tend...(read more)

A lean, taut red, this evokes cherry, earth and woodsy underbrush elements. Shows the classic austerity of the vintage and seems to be unfurling at a glacial pace, yet this has ripe red fruit at its heart. Beefy tannins...(read more)

A full-bodied Brunello with lots of plums and cherries, as well as orange-peel character. It’s creamy and round-textured. Soft and chewy tannins. Shows the warmth and ripeness of the 2017 vintage. Drink after 2023.

The Fuligni 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautiful wine, and it shines a much-deserved spotlight on one of the most consistent estates in Montalcino. It is bright and luminous with a dark ruby shine. The bouquet reve...(read more)

The Fuligni family moved from Maremma to Montalcino early in the 20th century, establishing the estate in 1923. Maria Flora has been at the helm since 1971, with her nephew Roberto managing most of the operations today....(read more)

Leads with cedar, cassis, mocha, balsamic, roasted meat. Palate again good energy, more evolved, macerated cherries and cassis, chocolate, tannins frame the whole.

A 0.95-hectare parcel in Ábalos, planted in 1960, is the source of this field blend of Tempranillo with 15% Garnacha and 2% Viura. Fine, floral and complex, it has the freshness and precision of a wine from 650 me...(read more)

This has a very attractively spicy edge with ripe red-plum and blackberry aromas. Some blue fruit, too. Looks in a good drinking window. The palate wears the oak influence a little more richly than the nose with long, st...(read more)