Charles Lea's favourite (reasonably priced) Italian reds
Here's a short list of wines that seem to make it into my wine rack on a regular basis. Mix them up for a bit of variety.-Charles Lea

2022 BARBERA D'ALBA Serraboella Cigliuti
Alba Piedmont Italy 15.5% Red
Barbera.
Lovely pure black cherry and blackberry fruits, violets and dark chocolate aromas. In the mouth this is bold and vibrant with succulent black fruits, dark chocolate and floral touches once more, sleek, ripe and long.
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2023 DOLCETTO DOGLIANI Pap脿 Celso Marziano Abbona
Piedmont Italy 14.0% Red
Dolcetto.
This really is the calling card for this impressive estate. Grandpa Celso planted these beautiful vines 65 years ago and every year it is a real highlight. The soil here in the single vineyard (Doriolo) is calcareous ove...(read more)
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2023 LANGHE NEBBIOLO Barale Fratelli
Piedmont Italy 14% Red
Nebbiolo.
The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo emerges from vines in Coste di Rose and Castelleto. Bright and floral, with lovely purity of fruit, Barale鈥檚 Langhe Nebbiolo is terrific. Blood orange, cinnamon, spice and kirsch are front and ce...(read more)
Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
2023 LANGHE NEBBIOLO Cigliuti
Piedmont Italy 14.5% Red
Nebbiolo.
Wonderfully fragrant, raspberry and polished cherry fruit, in the background just a hint of black pepper with floral roses pushing through. A wonderfully fragrant red fruit and wild flower filled palate, with a rich tann...(read more)
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2022 LANGHE NEBBIOLO Roccheviberti
Piedmont Italy 14% Red
Nebbiolo.
As ever here, the Langhe Nebbiolo is a true baby Barolo - from Barolo vineyards - and treated in the same way as all the Barolos. After a year in barrel Claudio tastes all the wines and at this point decides which will h...(read more)
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2023 NEBBIOLO COLLINE NOVARESI DOC Le Piane
Piedmont Italy 13% Red
Nebbiolo, Croatina.
The entry point for the Le Piane stable, bright red fruits abound the nose, cherries and strawberries, so fresh and inviting, with hints of dried roses. In the mouth whilst lighter in body it doesn't lack for intensity o...(read more)
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2022 BOLGHERI ROSSO Le Macchiole
Bolgheri Tuscany Italy 14% Red
Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah.
50% Merlot, 20% Cab Sauv & Franc, 10% Syrah, aged in stainless steel and older oak then concrete. Black cherry, blackberry and plum fruit, good fruit density, dark and nicely delivered with chocolate and spice on the...(read more)
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2019 CABURNIO Tenuta Monteti
Maremma Tuscany Italy 13.5% Red
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alicante Bouschet.
Plum, cassis and dark cherries, touch of underbrush, pencil lead, smoked tea, nicely fragrant. Sleek, succulent and ripe with lovely core of plum and cassis, supple rich tannic frame, tobacco and gently smoked tea note,...(read more)
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2021 CHIANTI CLASSICO Castagnoli
Chianti Tuscany Italy 14.5% Red
Sangiovese.
Red cherry and damson, balsamic spice, as always very elegant. Bright acid on the entry, crisp woodland fruits, earth, tobacco and spice. Great length, this wine makes you salivate with a lovely push of liquorice on the...(read more)
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2021 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO Padelletti
Tuscany Italy 14.5% Red
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Lovely delicate floral and dusty, cherry, balsamic, chocolate notes. In the mouth there are lovely layered ripe red fruits, balsamic, leather, chocolate and fragrant herbs and flowers. Elegant and light on it's feet, but...(read more)
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2021 TASSINAIA Castello del Terriccio
Bolgheri Tuscany Italy 14.5% Red
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.
Up front there is the pure fresh-edged feel of blueberry flesh, but this dances across the palate with juicy brightness and a good depth of red and black berry fruit. A really attractive Tassinaia with such pure fruit ex...(read more)
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2016 TERRAZZE CHIANTI CLASSICO Riserva Castagnoli
Chianti Tuscany Italy 14.5% Red
Sangiovese.
Tasting great now, it has been drinking well for a couple of years - why wouldn't you want this with new season grouse? Grown in very hard-to-manage narrow terraces on a precipitous slope, with each vine on a pole, so ev...(read more)
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