A complex red with floral, lemon-rind and candied-cherry character. It’s medium-bodied with juicy fruit, as well as plenty of dried citrus rind. Some sandalwood and dried-flower undertones, too. Drink in three or four years.

The 2021 Pinot Nero della Sala is dark and intense, with a seductive spice box bouquet that blends crushed blackberries with allspice, cloves, dried violets and blood orange. It’s feminine and graceful on the palate, with cool-toned acidity and silken waves of ripe red and blue fruits that give way to crunchy mineral tones and dark chocolate. The 2021 tapers off long and structured, leaving an air of sweet lavender and tangerine that keeps the taster looking back to the glass for more. Bravo.

This bright and engaging sweetie is silky on the palate and just off-dry. Leads with lychee and lime blossom aromatics and offers a lovely range of blood orange puree, apricot, candied pink grapefruit and dried mint underscored by rich hints of praline and graham cracker. Sémillon, Grechetto, Riesling, Traminer and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2032. 85 cases imported.

The 2022 Muffato della Sala entices, mixing savory and sweet. A gorgeous cascade of tropical melon, peaches and mint comes together with ginger and lemon zest. This is weighty upon entry, nearly creamy in feel, yet finds lift through a core of zesty citrus and mineral tones. Brilliant acidity adds an abundance of energy. A liquid floral concentration lingers along with lemons as the 2022 finishes long yet wonderfully refreshing. White raisin hints linger on and on. The Muffato della Sala finishes at just 85 grams of residual sugar per liter, imparting it with an adorable sweetness while remaining perfectly balanced.

Lemon zest and crushed green apples come together with a whiff of spring flowers as the 2023 Orvieto Classico Superiore San Giovanni della Sala blossoms in the glass. It opens with a pleasant inner sweetness matched by masses of citrus-tinged orchard fruits, all balanced by a core of saline minerals and juicy acidity. The 2023 cleans up beautifully, both long and potent yet remarkably fresh. Sour melon hints slowly fade.

The 2023 Bramìto della Sala is youthfully coy in the glass, opening with fleeting aromas of raw almond, white flowers, vanilla bean and spice. This is far more enticing on the palate, silken and round, with a core of zesty acidity to contrast. Ripe orchard fruits and minty herbal tones swirl throughout. Crunchy mineral tones and sour citrus define the finish. The 2023 tapers off long and mouth-watering, leaving a resonance of lemon custard to linger. Aromatically, the 2023 still needs time to develop, but with such a wonderful balance within, it will be time well spent.

Cherry, pomegranate and plum aromas and flavors are the main themes in this dense red, punctuated with loam, spice, mineral and wild rosemary notes. Harmonious and solidly built, this picks up steam through the long, fruit- and savory-infused aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best from 2027 through 2043. 80,640 cases imported.

This is ripe and fruit-forward on the nose but then surprisingly elegant and restrained on the palate, framing focused flavors of strawberry paste, fig cake, dried thyme and spiced orange peel with sculpted, fine-grained tannins and lightly mouthwatering acidity. Savory hints of fresh earth, graphite and espresso linger on the finish. Drink now through 2034.

Laced with pure cherry, strawberry, graphite and tobacco aromas and flavors, this red is beautifully supported by a backbone of vibrant acidity and taut, refined tannins. Everything is framed by vanilla and toasty oak in the best sense, revealing harmony, with a long, orange-tinged finish and, yes, even drinkability at this stage. Best to give this a few more years in the bottle. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2045. From Italy.

A deep, dense red, drenched with blackberry, pomegranate, plum and sweet spice flavors. Iron, tobacco and wild herb elements peek through as this plays out on the finish under a strong grip of tannins. Shows terrific balance and length now, yet this will only improve after a few more years in the bottle. Superb. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2047. From Italy.

The 2021 SLV is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 21 months, in 100% new French oak. It’s a concentrated, opulent vintage of this wine. Bright nose of violets, blackberry and blueberry compote. Full-bodied with plush velvet tannins that are ripe, powerful and super granular. An undercurrent of huckleberry fruit mingles with graphite minerality. Natural acidity is present and juicy. The long finish is bright and floral and resolves with more ripe black fruit, salted dark chocolate, and toasty oak.

The 2021 Cask 23 was aged 21 months in 100% new French oak barrels. It displays an opaque purple-ruby colour with a magenta rim. The wine offers super dark fruit aromatics, with notes of sagebrush, fig, dried lavender, and salted dark chocolate. Full-bodied, it boasts incredible tension and mineral-laced, muscular tannins that are fine-grained with tremendous staying power, finishing with cocoa powder and an extravagant flourish. This wine has impressive energy and remarkable tension.

Vanilla and cream blend with black cherry and sweet spices in this forward, leaning-in nose, evoking a plush cherry pie (imagine a bear sitting at a berry bush, gorging away on warmed berries and sweet spices and you have the idea!). Soft, fine tannins and a pop of acidity on the finish make this a lush, creamy delight for those seeking indulgence.

Wonderful aromas of dried orange peel, tangerines, dark cherries and flowers follow through to a full body with firm, chewy tannins that are polished and balanced. It’s extremely long and beautiful at the end. A little shy, but shows so much potential for aging. Try after 2024.

The pedigree and purity of this red are evident immediately from its black currant, blackberry, pomegranate, violet and wild herb aromas. Saturated with red and black fruit and picking up licorice and mineral elements, this is all about finesse and harmony. Cruises to the long finish, which is tinged with fruit, mineral, cedar, licorice and spice notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2043.

The Badia a Passignano vineyards, close to the Tenuta Tignanello estate, lie at an altitude of between 250 and 300 metres above sea level and are surrounded by 600-metre high hills to the east and southwest, which form a protective amphitheatre. This area is described by Antinori as a ‘geographical liaison between the UGA of San Casciano and the UGA of Panzano’. It has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and summers that remain fresh and well ventilated. This in turn encourages a longer, slower ripening season. The 2021 has some notes of green herb as well as bitter cherry, orange zest and sweet vanilla. There is a touch of forest greenness and a balsamic note, as well as spicy black pepper. On the palate the tannins are firm, upright and assertive but always refined. There is a beautiful soft, enveloping texture and weight, and the acidity gives mouthwatering freshness on the finish. It is a little oak-dominant at present, but is still young and needs time. A beautifully made wine that expresses a strong identity.

The spicy, indulgent nose presents aromas of cloves, cardamom, bergamot, dried cherries and vanilla, while the palate leans into the citrus, cherry and vanilla elements. Acid fizzes around
imposing, solid tannins.

Aromas of lemon, crushed stone, white flowers, stone fruit and dried pineapple swirl together to create a fresh, enticing nose, and continue to mix and mingle on the bright, salty palate as acid gleams overhead. It is refreshing, but also substantial.

The nose is all summery indulgence with watermelon and cherry blossom, cut with the freshness of
pink grapefruit and salt. The palate leans into that citrusy salinity, while acid bursts overhead like a
fireworks spectacular, to create a fizzy, undeniably delightful wine.

Fresh and graceful, offering delicate notes of glazed apple, apricot and tangerine fruit, with fragrant hints of macadamia nut, honeysuckle and vanilla. Clean-cut and lightly salty on the finish. Drink now through 2027. 500 cases imported.

A pure beam of black cherry fruit forms a core of expressive flavors in this fresh, graceful red, laced with Earl Grey tea, graphite, pomegranate seed and vanilla accents. Shows fine equilibrium and length, expanding nicely on the palate. This is framed by supple tannins that firm the long, spiced finish.

Savory tobacco, leather, tomato leaf and tarry smoke notes accent the cassis, plum cake and red licorice flavors on display in this lively, medium-bodied red, backed by chewy tannins. Drink now through 2029. 800 cases imported.

On the nose, a powerful black cherry element hits you first, but quickly gives way to abundant herbaceous aromas of soil, oregano, sage and thyme. The palate explodes with berries, but a slightly bitter orange peel undertone and a flinty earthiness provide balance. Acid swishes past firm, grippy tannins.

This new, pure cabernet franc shows notes of citrus, dark fruit, cedar and sandalwood. Medium-bodied with refined tannins and a vivid finish. Such clarity and brightness. Better in a year or two.

Laced with pure cherry, strawberry, graphite and tobacco aromas and flavors, this red is beautifully supported by a backbone of vibrant acidity and taut, refined tannins. Everything is framed by vanilla and toasty oak in the best sense, revealing harmony, with a long, orange-tinged finish and, yes, even drinkability at this stage. Best to give this a few more years in the bottle. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2045. From Italy.

A deep, dense red, drenched with blackberry, pomegranate, plum and sweet spice flavors. Iron, tobacco and wild herb elements peek through as this plays out on the finish under a strong grip of tannins. Shows terrific balance and length now, yet this will only improve after a few more years in the bottle. Superb. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2047. From Italy.

Rich and well-fruited, but with a touch of restraint, as boysenberry, blackberry and cassis notes move slowly and steadily, flanked by suave hints of alder and warm earth and backed by subtle echoes of violet and savory on the finish, with a gorgeous mouthfeel. Drink now through 2040.

Savory flavors and a pleasing richness are well matched with succulent while abundant tannins and juicy length. This iconic wine features flavors of blackberry and refreshing dried herbs spun through with spices. Attractive and satisfying.

Savory, generous and impressive, this icon of a wine from the famed Fay vineyard flows through the mouth with flavors of cedar, sage and thyme. Richly flavored, concentrated and mouthwatering, this is a wine to savor. An impressive balance of succulent tannins and juicy acidity bring energy and great length

This is loaded with gorgeous flavors of boysenberry, mulberry and blackberry puree that maintain a sleek and refined feel as violet, iris and anise notes add range, lift and energy. A super fine-grained feel completes the seduction on the lengthy finish, where subtle minerality chimes prettily. Drink now through 2042. From California.

Balanced and supple, this red has a smoky undertone to its black cherry and blackberry fruit. Graphite and rosemary accents join the long finish.

Offering cherry, raspberry and smoke flavors backed by lively acidity and light tannins, this juicy red is charming and ready to enjoy. Drink now through 2026. 6,500 cases imported.

Balanced and moderately long, this bright, fruity red offers cherry, strawberry and light earth flavors in a charming, approachable profile. Sangiovese, Merlot and Syrah. Drink now through 2028. 18,500 cases imported.

An intensely flavored white, delivering notes of white flowers, passion fruit, peach, apple and spices, with a hint of wild Mediterranean herbs. Harmonious and succulent, this persists on the aftertaste. Drink now through 2028. 7,500 cases imported. From Italy.

The pedigree and purity of this red are evident immediately from its black currant, blackberry, pomegranate, violet and wild herb aromas. Saturated with red and black fruit and picking up licorice and mineral elements, this is all about finesse and harmony. Cruises to the long finish, which is tinged with fruit, mineral, cedar, licorice and spice notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2043.

An expressive red, displaying blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry flavors, with accents of vanilla and black pepper. More crisp than tannic on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2030.

This is a wonderful improvement, with bright lime and green apple aromas. Medium-bodied, crisp and bright. So lemony at the end. 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillion. Drink now.

Well-cut acidity defines aromas and flavors of white peach, pomelo, spring herbs and white blossoms in this light-bodied, lithe white, with a salty finish. Grechetto, Procanico, Pinot Blanc and Viognier. Drink now. 840 cases imported.

A waft of roasted nut on the nose enriches the palate’s lively range of steeped apricot, Mandarin orange peel, pastry cream and chamomile notes. Racy acidity gives the complex profile fine definition and carries this on the well-spiced finish. Drink now through 2033.

Laced with pure flavors of cherry and raspberry and shaded by a spicy oak element, this bright, balanced red is elegant yet reveals fine intensity. Light tannins line the lingering finish as iron and tobacco notes join in. Best from 2026 through 2042. 1,000 cases imported.

A dark red with garnet tinge, the 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is harmonious on the nose with aromas of black cherry, baking spice, crushed roses, and licorice. Med to full-bodied it offers attractive sweet tannins, its pure dark fruit continuing through a long finish, and a well-balanced feel. This is a very attractive style that is going to hold up nicely over the next 12-15 years.

*ADVANCE

This wine sees its fruit sourced from multiple villages: San Casciano, Gaiole, Castellina and Greve. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is not married to a specific subzone of the appellation because it seeks to embrace a house style rather than a vineyard identity. Aged in tonneaux with some barrique, the wine is rich and lasting but not large. In fact, it remains elegant on the palate with fine tannins and good fruit tension with cherry and blue flowers.

The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is laced with black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice and spice. Ample and expansive in feel, the 2021 is wonderfully generous, not to mention incredibly delicious. Fruit sources are from some of the most coveted sites in the appellation.

The spicy, indulgent nose presents aromas of cloves, cardamom, bergamot, dried cherries and vanilla, while the palate leans into the citrus, cherry and vanilla elements. Acid fizzes around
imposing, solid tannins.

Cherry, pomegranate and plum aromas and flavors are the main themes in this dense red, punctuated with loam, spice, mineral and wild rosemary notes. Harmonious and solidly built, this picks up steam through the long, fruit- and savory-infused aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best from 2027 through 2043. 80,640 cases imported.

The warm, fresh, salty and grapefruit-forward nose is like a Greyhound with a salty rim on a summer day by the pool. The palate runs with that fantastic blend of salt and citrus, while wild strawberries and cherries add juiciness, and a sandy

Hailing from Salento in Puglia, the 2023 Rosato Furía di Calafuria is elegantly balanced and lively. Sweet red apple and just-ripe strawberry play against a nicely buffering phenolic grip and salty mineral density. The nose is a hair shy, but I can forgive that, as it’s particularly fun in the mouth—just juicy enough to ensure that everything stays in its right place. A distinctive sour orange note hangs around after the surprisingly lengthy finish. Well done.

Aromas of lemon, crushed stone, white flowers, stone fruit and dried pineapple swirl together to create a fresh, enticing nose, and continue to mix and mingle on the bright, salty palate as acid gleams overhead. It is refreshing, but also substantial.

The nose is all summery indulgence with watermelon and cherry blossom, cut with the freshness of
pink grapefruit and salt. The palate leans into that citrusy salinity, while acid bursts overhead like a
fireworks spectacular, to create a fizzy, undeniably delightful wine.

The 2023 Rosato Calafuria is at once energetic and creamy, striking a natural balance between tart stone fruit, ripe berries and round, almost leesy notes of candle wax and lanolin. This is surprisingly complex for a wine of such large production (more than 50,000 cases). Salty and salivating, I keep dipping back into the bottle. A pretty hint of mint lingers on the close. Yum.

A balanced red with a toasty edge, alongside light, supple tannins well-knit with notes of crushed mulberry, baked damson plum and flattering details of red licorice, dried thyme and milled pepper. Fresh and appealing. Drink now through 2026. 4,000 cases imported.

Crème de cassis, dark chocolate and a smoky, peppery spiciness like pimentòn on the nose moves onto a palate of mixed berries topped with chocolate mousse and finishing with a return to the spicy heat on the back of the nose.

Deep purple and dark as night in the glass. The 2021 Primitivo Torcicoda opens with an
earthy blend of black currants, flowery underbrush and rubbed sage. It’s soft and
enveloping with ripe wild berry fruits and sweet spices that slowly saturate. This leaves a
staining of licorice and savory herbs to linger as a bump of residual acidity maintains a
lovely freshness. The balance here is something to behold, especially considering its 15.5%
abv.

A bright, mouthwatering rosé, showing nice purity and focus to the flavors of watermelon, white cherry and blood orange fruit, with accents of white blossoms, thyme and ground ginger. Reveals a stony, mineral base note on the finish. Negroamaro, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now. 500 cases imported.

The warm, fresh, salty and grapefruit-forward nose is like a Greyhound with a salty rim on a summer day by the pool. The palate runs with that fantastic blend of salt and citrus, while wild strawberries and cherries add juiciness, and a sandy element recalls an ocean sunset to create a sense of wistfulness on the citrusy finish.

Delightfully approachable on the nose right away, with warm mocha notes and cool graphite aromas against Bing and black cherries. The palate is equally outrageously delicious and easy to love even in its unbridled youth, with more cherries, blackberries, raspberries and chocolate inside a framework of tannins made to measure and acid built like an invisible force field.

A torrent of blackberries, blueberries and currants jump off the nose before giving way to soil and wild fennel. On the palate berries remain as exuberant as they were on the nose, equally balanced by wild herbs and pepper, with a spicy heat that feels like the peel of an orange set on fire over a glass of amaro. Tannins are taut and smooth and give the sensation of actually being able to bite into the wine. Hard to argue with this one.

First made in 1971, this legendary Italian wine now celebrates its 50th birthday. Happy Birthday, Tignanello! The Marchesi Antinori 2021 Tignanello (made with 79% Sangiovese, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc) pulls on all the heartstrings. To be released in May, the wine shows a quintessentially pretty taste profile with tart fruit flavors, redcurrant, tea leaf, heritage rose, crushed white pepper, licorice, nutmeg, clove and chopped mint. It opens slowly to reveal more richness and exuberance with time, becoming downright voluptuous and heady a short while later. The through line, however, remains the bright freshness and minerality of Sangiovese. Compared to the 2018 vintage (which I also loved), this vintage has more overall fruit weight and volume.

The 2021 Tignanello is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel and then just after bottling. Silky and polished, with exceptional finesse, the 2021 has all the pedigree to become a modern benchmark for Tignanello and Italian wine more broadly. Bright dark red fruit, blood orange, spice, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco all soar out of the glass, framed by a discreet touch of French oak that adds raciness. In some vintages, the elements are discernible. In 2021, it is the total harmony of the wine that makes the strongest and deepest impression. The 2021 spent 17 months in wood, three months in neutral oak during the malolactic fermentation and then 14 months (50% new) for the rest of its aging. Superb.

The currants and spices are very pretty, with some hazelnut undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very structured for a Tignanello, with medium chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very polished and curated with a deft winemaking hand coming through. Needs three or four years to soften, but it’s all there.

All said and done, the Marchesi Antinori 2021 Solaia is a monument to perfect winemaking. This coiffed supermodel does not show a single hair follicle out of place. However, it doesn’t quite have the same sex appeal of the Tignanello. In my conversations with Estate Manager Renzo Cotarella during this tasting, it was expressed this way: “Tignanello is unexpected. Solaia is expected.” Whereas Tignanello is a wine of vertical lift and energy, Solaia is a wine of lasting power. The wine offers generous depth and layering with soft tannins and some of the spicy pink peppercorn you get from the 9% Cabernet Franc (added to 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Sangiovese). The finish is extremely velvety and soft, but I notice that the flavors seem to become sweeter and riper the longer this wine stays in the glass. This newest release will hit the market in September.

Antinori’s 2021 Solaia is another wine that captures all of the potential I sensed when I tasted it some months ago. More than anything else, the 2021 is a fine example of the style Antinori favors these days, an approach that favors finesse more than opulence. Dark plum, mocha, licorice, chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol build effortlessly in the glass. Oak and tannin are impeccably balanced. The 2021 spent 18 months in wood, three months in once-used barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 15 months in 100% new barrels for the rest of its aging.

This is a beautifully curated Solaia with blackcurrants and raspberries plus lavender and violet undertones. Graphite highlights it all. Just some new wood coming through. It’s full-bodied with fine velvety tannins that run the length of the wine, caressing the palate. Give this three or four years to come around. Best after 2027.

This is one of the big surprises of this tasting and ultimately represents one of the best buys in the entire extended Marchesi Antinori portfolio. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Antinori shares the DNA of Tignanello. It is Sangiovese kissed with small parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Of course, the wine is more accessible and open compared to Tignanello, and spiritually, this wine is a Chianti Classico. By that I mean that the elegant minerality of these soils and the sunny flavors of its environs are the determining characteristics. You get wildflower, iris, tart fruit and plum. The wine’s enhanced mineral character, with dusty white rock, is what adds lasting complexity and depth.

The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori is particularly strong this year. Red cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate infuse the 2021 with notable depth. French oak is better integrated than in the past. There’s less extraction today and quite a bit more finesse. This is a terrific showing from Antinori.

The 2020 Tignanello is so primary, so intensely fruit-driven, that it almost tastes like a barrel sample. A burst of red Sangiovese fruit opens first, followed by hints of blood orange, cinnamon, spice, dried flowers and mocha later. Time in the glass brings out richness that today’s warmer seasons are giving to our Sangioveses,” Antinori CEO Renzo Cotarella told me.

Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision. 68% sangiovese with the rest in cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Drinkable but better in three or four years.

Dripping with black currant, blackberry, black cherry, iron and toasty oak flavors, this red is suave and polished. Features flashes of tobacco and wild herbs that add even more detail as this builds to a long, kaleidoscopic finish. Presents civilized tannins that are well-integrated and provide structure.

Inky dark in appearance, the 2020 Solaia is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. This vintage unfolds to exuberant richness and thick layers of blackberry and plum. The tannins are sweet and expertly crafted, adding both depth and fruit weight. The 2020 vintage is quite bold, and it plays its best cards in terms of texture and mouthfeel. It’s a bigger, more accessible wine compared to the last two vintages on the market. Spice, toasted coffee bean and more dark fruit color this full-bodied Tuscan red.

The 2020 Solaia is an infant. I expected a more exuberant wine, but the 2020 is built
along more classic lines. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense, smoke, pencil shavings and
spice all open effortlessly. As always, Solaia is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, but it is
a Cabernet that is distinctly Italian, with plenty of Tuscan acid and structure driving
through the mid-palate and into the finish. The 2020 is a terrific example of the recent
stylistic shift at Antinori. In the past, richness and opulence were qualities of a vintage
that would have been amplified in the vineyard and cellar. Today, the aim is to capture a
more balanced expression of these kinds of vintages, and that very much comes through.

Subtle and beautiful on the nose with currants, flowers and light sage aromas that follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Extremely polished and poised. Classy. Best after 2028.

Laced with pure cherry, strawberry, graphite and tobacco aromas and flavors, this red is beautifully supported by a backbone of vibrant acidity and taut, refined tannins. Everything is framed by vanilla and toasty oak in the best sense, revealing harmony, with a long, orange-tinged finish and, yes, even drinkability at this stage. Best to give this a few more years in the bottle. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2045. From Italy.

A deep, dense red, drenched with blackberry, pomegranate, plum and sweet spice flavors. Iron, tobacco and wild herb elements peek through as this plays out on the finish under a strong grip of tannins. Shows terrific balance and length now, yet this will only improve after a few more years in the bottle. Superb. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2047. From Italy.

This ripe style is fresh and harmonious, delivering plum, cherry and boysenberry fruit, with accents of earth, iron and eucalyptus. Supple in texture, with a beautifully integrated structure and long, complex aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2043.

The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori is particularly strong this year. Red
cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate infuse the 2021 with notable depth. French
oak is better integrated than in the past. There’s less extraction today and quite a bit
more finesse. This is a terrific showing from Antinori.

Lively aromas and inviting flavors of mixed tropical fruits, wild grasses and wet stones make this wine mouthwatering and inviting through a lengthy finish.

Aromas of toast and butter are greeted by flavors of sweet lemon, ripe pineapple and a finish of warming spices. This generous and energetic Chardonnay coats the palate through a persistent finish.

Graceful yet full-bodied, this lightly oaked wine gains more complexity with each sip. Aromas of pear syrup, almonds and light butter lead to nicely concentrated pears, golden apples and subtle oak spices. Drink or hold.

There’s an appealing firmness here, with notes of citrus pith and a chalky note of minerality, along with an intense core of lemon, apple, melon and pear notes, along with dried ginger and shortbread notes. Drink now. 500 cases made.

Plenty of tropical influence here with notes of apples, pineapple, pomelo and fresh herbs. It’s medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Ample with good volume and a succulent core of white peaches on the palate. Textured and in control. Drink or hold.

This seamless blend of oak spices, cherry-plum fruitiness and silky tannins makes for an irresistible wine. A Napa classic and collectible, it is big and mouthfilling but so well polished that it’s tempting to drink young.

Aromas of ripe black and blue fruit with hints of toast, ground spices, cherry chocolate and walnut. Full-bodied, spiced and toasty with firm, compact and long-lasting tannins. It has a bed of dark fruit flavors with dark spices and earthy undertones and a lingering, velvety finish. Try from 2026.

Pretty great wine. Winemaker Marcus Notaro and viticulturist Kirk Grace started the 2020 harvest for Cask 23 on the 12th of September; Notaro says they had brought in all their cabernet from Fay and S.L.V., the estate vineyards that provide this blend, just as the Glass Fire broke out (it started in Deer Park, near St. Helena, on September 27). Notaro believes the haze from distant fires earlier in the season did not impact the fruit, but the heat spikes of August did, accelerating ripeness. He credits what the team learned from the late season heat of 2015 and 2017 for their success with 2020, managing the vines through irrigation and “physically lowering the wires on the hot side of the canopy to shade the clusters from getting overheated.” His 2020 Cask 23 feels grounded in its alluvial depths (the Fay Vineyard, on an ancient river bed, makes up 53 percent of the blend). The wine’s blue fruit is round and stony, resinous and generous with black frills at the edges, filigree from the heat that adds detail without touching the core of fruit. That fruit presents a pure, completely clean face to the wine. This vintage will take a decade or more to show at its peak.

Notes of blackberries and blackcurrants with dark chocolate, tobacco leaf, spice box and nut shell. Full-bodied with an array of finely polished, silky tannins and seamless, sleek texture. Compact and a little tight in the middle, yet refined with a deep dark fruit backbone. Long and smooth. Try after 2025.