2x 97pt Montepulciano: Do You Know The Difference? Boscarelli Top 100 Alumni + Tre Bicchieri Top 1% of Italy
Dear Artisans,
Let me ask you something.
Have you ever poured a glass of "Montepulciano" expecting a mouthful of dark, inky power... only to get a bright, light-bodied red that tasted like a Tuesday night pizza wine?
Or worse — have you ever bought a $60 bottle for your anniversary, thinking you were treating yourself to something "noble," only to realize you accidentally bought the $15 pizza wine in fancy packaging?
Don't be embarrassed. You fell victim to the Great Italian Identity Crisis.
It's the single most expensive mistake in Italian wine. Sommeliers see it weekly. Importers won't talk about it because it would embarrass half their customers. And most American wine buyers go their entire lives without learning the truth.
Whether you're just starting your wine journey or you've been collecting for decades — this email is for you. The newcomer will finally understand a confusion that has tricked even experienced drinkers. The connoisseur will recognize this is a once-in-a-decade chance to secure two of Italy's most coveted wines from the most acclaimed vintage in recent memory — and at prices we will never see again.
Here it is, in one sentence:
"Montepulciano" refers to two completely different wines from two completely different sides of Italy. One is the name of a town. The other is the name of a grape. They have nothing in common except the word itself.
The Town (Tuscany): Elegant. Earthy. Built for the cellar. Made from Sangiovese. The wine you open for Sunday roasts and 20-year anniversaries.
The Grape (Abruzzo): Rustic. Juicy. Explosive with fruit. Made from the Montepulciano grape. The wine you open for pizza, Tuesday nights, and "let's open something good."
📣 Our challenge to you: Buy a bottle of each. Taste them side by side. Discern the difference for yourself — and never get fooled again.
Here's the secret every Italian sommelier knows but few will tell you:
You don't choose between them. You stock both.
You need the "Noble" sophistication for your Sunday roasts. And you need the "Rustic" joy for your pizza nights. The cellar that has both is the cellar that never disappoints — and below is exactly how to build it, at prices fine-dining guests pay 3x more for.
🍷 Shop All Boscarelli at Artisan.Wine
🍕 Quick Question Before We Continue...
What is your favorite midweek wine when you've ordered Italian takeout?
If your honest answer is "whatever's on the rack at the grocery store" — keep reading. By the end of this email, you'll know exactly what should be sitting next to your pizza box on Wednesday nights.
Spoiler: it's a 92-point Italian wine that costs $26.97 a bottle, and we have it.
⭐ Why 2021 Is The Vintage Critics Are Calling "Generational"
Before we dive into the wines, you need to know why this specific vintage matters so much.
For Tuscany — what the critics are saying:
- The Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano officially rated 2021 a 4.5 out of 5 stars — one of the highest ratings of the past decade.
- Wine Review Online declared "Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has Finally Found Itself with the 2021 Vintage."
- i-WineReview called the 2021 wines "widely regarded as the best of the past decade."
- Decanter's Michaela Morris, in her preview of the 2021 Vino Nobile vintage, specifically singled out Boscarelli for having "coaxed out admirable elegance" — high praise in a challenging year that defeated many lesser producers.
- 2021 Tuscany overall has been called a "generational benchmark" — combining concentration, balance, and precision in a way the region rarely achieves across the board.
For Abruzzo — what the critics are saying:
- The 2021 growing season required producers to be smart — a dry spring and hot summer separated the great estates from the ordinary ones.
- Top Abruzzo producers reported "excellent" grape quality thanks to careful vineyard management — and the wines reflect that selectivity.
- The 2021 La Valentina "Spelt" earned the Tre Bicchieri — Italy's highest wine honor — placing it in the top 1% of all wine produced in Italy that year.
When critics use words like "generational" and "best of the decade," they are telling you something very specific: buy now, drink later, watch the value climb.
🚨 BREAKING: BOSCARELLI IS BACK — AFTER 90 DAYS COMPLETELY SOLD OUT
For the last 90 days, these Boscarelli wines have been sold out across the entire state of California.
Sommeliers were calling us daily trying to purchase from us — because they couldn't get the wine through their own distributors. We had to turn away buyers from Michelin-starred restaurants because we simply had nothing left to sell. We told everyone the same thing: the next vintage will be significantly more expensive.
Then our long-standing relationship with the winery paid off. Because of our history with Boscarelli and the De Ferrari family, we were granted the last remaining allocation in the country — quietly transferred to us from the East Coast.
We are the last shop in California to have these wines. Period.
⚠️ The hard math: Boscarelli produces only ~100,000 bottles per year — for the entire world. They were sold out in California once. Once these last bottles ship, they will be sold out again — and this time, permanently at this price. The next allocation lands at 2026 inflation pricing, assuming we even get one. This is not manufactured scarcity. This is the math of a 100,000-bottle estate with global demand and no more 2021s to ship.
Part I: The "Noble Town"
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Tuscany)
The Region: Tuscany — specifically Cervognano, southeast of Siena, just 22 miles east of Montalcino (home of Brunello).
The Grape: Sangiovese (called Prugnolo Gentile here).
For the wine-curious: Sangiovese is the same noble Italian grape behind Chianti and Brunello. In Montepulciano (the town), it's called Prugnolo Gentile and produces some of the most age-worthy wines in all of Tuscany — at a fraction of Brunello's price.
Producer Spotlight: BOSCARELLI
"The First Family of Montepulciano"
Why they matter: Boscarelli isn't just a winery. It's an institution. They are a Wine Spectator "Top 100" Alumni — having ranked as high as #31 in the world (2016 Riserva) — and one of the rare Italian estates ever featured on the cover of Wine Spectator magazine. For context: tens of thousands of wines compete for the Top 100 every year. Being a multi-time alumnus places Boscarelli among the most consistently great producers Italy has ever known.
The soil that changes everything: Their vineyards in Cervognano sit on rare Alluvial Soils (sand, silt, clay) with exceptional drainage. While neighboring producers wrestle with heavy clay that produces harsh, angular wines, Boscarelli's soil produces wines of almost shocking silkiness and perfume. This is why their bottles get compared to Brunello — it is literally the soil doing the work.
The aging obsession: Italian law requires 24 months of aging for the Riserva. Boscarelli ages theirs up to 32 months in Slavonian oak. They refuse to rush.
True scarcity: Big commercial Tuscan brands pump out millions of bottles. Boscarelli produces ~100,000 bottles total. For the entire world. That is artisanal winemaking, full stop.
Where you'll find them on California wine lists:
- 🍽️ Acquerello, San Francisco (2 Michelin Stars) — Boscarelli sits on the list because it delivers Brunello complexity at half the cost
- 🍽️ Perbacco, San Francisco — a sommelier insider pick on the Italian program
- 🍽️ Quince, San Francisco — the kind of Tuscan estate that earns its placement on Michelin-class wine programs
🍷 2021 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG
A Quadruple 95-Point Wine. From a Top 100 Alumni Producer. In the Most Acclaimed Vintage of the Decade.
For the wine-curious: When four independent critics — Wine Spectator, James Suckling, Decanter, and Wine Enthusiast — all independently score the same wine 95 points, you are looking at something rare. Most great wines get one or two high scores. Four 95s on a single bottle under $60 is almost statistically impossible.
95 Points — Wine Spectator: "This red is firm and savory, featuring black cherry, blackberry, tar, eucalyptus and iron aromas and flavors. There's a fluid nature but also dense, mouthcoating tannins that promise longevity. The complex finish is long and fresh. Best from 2027 through 2045. 1,600 cases made, 150 cases imported." — Bruce Sanderson (Oct 2025)
95 Points — James Suckling: "This restrained and mineral wine has subtle red cherries and elegant violet candies with deep licorice. Crisp and almost sour on the attack yet balanced by supple fruit and velvety, well-crafted tannins. A chewy and tense finish with cherry pits." (Oct 2024)
95 Points — Decanter: "A masterful, multifaceted olfactory gem, offering blackberry, citrus and walnut husk. The sip is adorned with fine tannins and compact substance with a deep, long-lasting and graceful sorbability." — Alessandra Piubello (Feb 2025)
95 Points — Wine Enthusiast: "The nose is balanced between wild cherries, raspberries and violets on one hand, and potting soil, licorice and fresh cracked black pepper on the other. The palate brings more of everything... Acid bubbles around solid, dense tannins." — Danielle Callegari (Sep 2025)
📰 Decanter's Specific Praise for Boscarelli in 2021: In her preview of the challenging 2021 Vino Nobile vintage, Decanter's Michaela Morris singled out Boscarelli for having "coaxed out admirable elegance" — exceptional praise in a year that defeated many lesser producers.
🔮 Could This Make Wine Spectator's 2026 Top 100?
Wine Spectator's Top 100 is selected from wines that score 90+ points, with extra weight given to quality, value, and excitement. This bottle hits all three:
✓ 95 points from Wine Spectator's senior critic (Bruce Sanderson)
✓ An aggressive value proposition ($59.97 retail for a wine of this caliber)
✓ Boscarelli is already a multi-time Top 100 alumnus — the 2016 Riserva ranked #31 in the world
There is a real possibility this 2021 Riserva makes the 2026 Top 100 list. If it does, this $59.97 bottle will instantly become impossible to find — and double or triple in price on the secondary market.
🌡️ Serving Temperature: 62–65°F (17–18°C) — slightly below "room temperature." Pull from the cellar 20 minutes before pouring.
📅 Aging Potential: 19+ years — drink now (decant 2 hours) or cellar through 2045. Like Brunello and Barolo, Vino Nobile Riservas evolve dramatically: tannins soften, primary fruit gives way to leather, dried rose, tobacco, and balsamic complexity. This wine rewards patience — and 2021 is the vintage critics say will age best.
The Pairings:
- 🥩 Food: Wild Boar Ragu with Pappardelle
- 🧀 Cheese: Aged Pecorino Toscano (the salt cuts through the tannins — magic)
- 🌱 Vegan: Truffled Wild Mushroom Polenta
Restaurant Reality Check: Wines of this caliber list at the standard 3x markup. Expect this Riserva — or comparable Top 100 Vino Nobile Riservas — priced between $180 and $210 on the menu at restaurants like Acquerello (SF), Quince (SF), Cotogna (SF), and Perbacco (SF). At our price, you're essentially drinking a Michelin-star bottle for the cost of an appetizer.
🎯 Why a Case Is the Only Smart Move Here
1. Quadruple 95-point scores under $60 are statistically impossible to replicate. When this allocation closes, you cannot get this caliber of wine at this price anywhere.
2. 19 years of aging potential = 19 anniversaries. A case lets you open one bottle every year and watch this wine evolve from vibrant fruit to leather, tobacco, and balsamic complexity. Few experiences in wine match that.
3. The 2026 Top 100 prediction. If this hits the list — and it has a real shot — your $59.97 bottle becomes a $150+ collectible overnight.
4. The producer makes ~100,000 bottles for the world. Demand is global. Supply is finite. We are the last shop in California with this vintage at this price.
60 bottles just arrived • Last shop in California
Elsewhere: $74.00 → Our Price: $59.97
Restaurant Menu: $180–$210 — You Save 67–72%
🔒 Maximum 12 bottles per person
👉 Secure Boscarelli Riserva at Artisan.Wine
🍷 2021 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
The "Everyday Elegance" Boscarelli. Same Pedigree. Same Vintage. Itself a Past Top 100 Wine.
Note: The Boscarelli Vino Nobile (the standard bottling) earned Wine Spectator Top 100 #39 in the world for its 2016 vintage. With critics now scoring the 2021 vintage at 92–94 points and Decanter specifically praising Boscarelli's 2021 work, this vintage has a credible path to repeat that recognition.
94 Points — James Suckling: "Intoxicating violets and roses with bright yet precise black cherries and raspberries are allied to toasty depth. Good attack on the palate with supple fruit and medium body. The ripe, velvety tannins are chalky in the finish, which is polished and refreshing." (Oct 2024)
92 Points — Vinous Media: "The 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a total pleasure to the senses, with a perfumed bouquet of wilted violet and lavender tones, a dusting of spices and dried strawberry scents. This is cool-toned and fresh, with pretty wild berry fruits and crunchy mineral notes elevated by a tinge of sour citrus." — Eric Guido (Feb 2025)
92 Points — Wine Spectator: "This red delivers purity, boasting aromas and flavors of cherry, pomegranate, earth and iron, while also staying lively, supported by a dense matrix of tannins. Balanced, with a finish of bitter almond. Best from 2027 through 2042." — Bruce Sanderson (Oct 2024)
92 Points — Decanter: "Aromas are shy and discreet, taking time to reveal pretty scents of cherry blossom and plum. This midweight contender boasts ample freshness, its bright acidity and elegant sandy tannins supporting a core of ripe red cherry and blood orange." — Michaela Morris (Feb 2024)
🌡️ Serving Temperature: 60–64°F (16–18°C). Decant 1 hour for current vintages.
📅 Aging Potential: 16+ years — drink now through 2042.
The Pairings:
- 🥩 Food: Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Grilled T-Bone Steak)
- 🧀 Cheese: Parmigiano-Reggiano (24 Month)
- 🌱 Vegan: Grilled Eggplant Parmigiana
Restaurant Reality Check: Lists at $120–$140 at Italian fine-dining programs like Acquerello (SF), Perbacco (SF), and Cotogna (SF).
🎯 Why a Case of This Is a No-Brainer
1. Past Top 100 wine, same producer, equally acclaimed vintage. If history rhymes, this bottle is going to be hunted by collectors within 24 months.
2. The "Everyday Boscarelli." The Riserva is for special occasions. This is the bottle you open whenever you want Tuscan elegance without the 2-hour decant.
3. At $39.97, you're paying less than the appetizer at the restaurant pouring this exact bottle. That's not value — that's an opportunity arbitrage.
60 bottles arriving next week • Last shop in California
Elsewhere: $55.00 → Our Price: $39.97
Restaurant Menu: $120–$140 — You Save 67–71%
🔒 Maximum 12 bottles per person
👉 Secure Boscarelli Vino Nobile at Artisan.Wine
🍷 2021 Boscarelli "Il Nocio" Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG
The Pinnacle of Boscarelli. A Single 4-Hectare Vineyard. 100% Prugnolo Gentile.
For the wine-curious: The Riserva above is Boscarelli's "best of estate" blend. Il Nocio is something different entirely — a single 4-hectare vineyard ("Vigna del Nocio") with distinct alluvial soils, planted exclusively to 100% pure Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), with only ~5,000 bottles produced per year for the entire world. Only 100 cases imported to the United States. This is Boscarelli's grand cuvée — the wine they make when they want to show what their oldest vineyard can do on its own.
97 Points — James Suckling: "A dark, austere wine with super-youthful style and vibrant complexity. Pure black cherries on the nose are allied with earthy minerality. Full-bodied with firm and velvety tannins, a very juicy and supple palate, concentrated fruit and a crisp finish. The aftertaste is tight and thick yet ripe. Best after 2025." (Oct 2024)
97 Points — Wine Spectator: "Macerated cherry, strawberry, pomegranate and sweet spice flavors are allied to a silky texture in this sleek, powerful red. Underscored by muscular tannins, with ample fruit for balance. The superb, complex aftertaste picks up mineral and wild herb elements. Still youthful, this appears to be a long-distance runner. Best from 2027 through 2045. 600 cases made, 100 cases imported." — Bruce Sanderson (Oct 2025)
94 Points — Wine Enthusiast: "The nose is layered with sweet and tart berries, dark chocolate, iron-rich tilled soil and anise, while the palate is bright and juicy with plenty more fresh berries, and also brings explosive acid, salt and a peppery heat that blazes past tightly coiled tannins all the way through the finish." — Danielle Callegari (Jul 2025)
🏆 Two Independent 97s. When James Suckling AND Wine Spectator independently award the same wine 97 points, you are looking at one of the highest-rated Vino Nobile releases of the modern era. Wine Spectator's Bruce Sanderson calls this "a long-distance runner" with a drinking window through 2045. The Vigna del Nocio sits on alluvial soils with distinct sandy and clayey areas; Boscarelli has been making this single-vineyard selection since 1991. Aged 18–24 months in 5–10hl Slavonian and French oak, then nearly a year in bottle before release.
🌡️ Serving Temperature: 62–65°F (17–18°C). Decant 2–3 hours for the current release — Il Nocio is built tight and rewards air.
📅 Aging Potential: 20+ years — drinking window 2027 through 2045 per Wine Spectator. Boscarelli recommends optimal maturity from the fifth year after harvest. This is a cellar wine in the truest sense.
The Pairings:
- 🥩 Food: Bistecca alla Fiorentina with porcini, or dry-aged ribeye
- 🧀 Cheese: Aged Pecorino Toscano Stagionato (24+ months)
- 🌱 Vegan: Black truffle risotto with wild mushroom
Restaurant Reality Check: Single-vineyard cuvées of this caliber list at the standard 3x markup. Expect Il Nocio — or comparable single-vineyard Vino Nobile flagships — priced between $425 and $500 on the menu at Acquerello (SF), Quince (SF), and Spruce (SF). At our price, you are buying restaurant prestige at retail cost.
🎯 Why You Want 3 or 6 Bottles of Il Nocio
1. Two independent 97s under $150 is statistically rare. Most wines that hit 97 from both James Suckling and Wine Spectator are $200–$400 bottles. This is one of the great current values in serious Italian wine.
2. 5,000 bottles per year for the world. 100 cases imported to the US. You will not see this wine on California shelves at this price after this allocation closes. The next release lands at 2026 inflation pricing.
3. 20 years of aging potential = 20 anniversaries. Buy 3 — open one in 2030, one in 2035, one in 2045. You'll watch the same wine evolve across two decades.
4. The Riserva is the "best of estate" blend. This is the single-vineyard cuvée. Owning both is owning the entire Boscarelli pyramid.
Limited national allocation • 100 cases imported to the US
Elsewhere: $175.00 → Our Price: $149.97
Restaurant Menu: $425–$500 — You Save 65–70%
🔒 Maximum 6 bottles per person
👉 Secure Boscarelli Il Nocio at Artisan.Wine
🍷 2016 Boscarelli Vin Santo di Montepulciano "Familiae" DOCG (375mL)
Liquid Gold. Tuscan hospitality in a bottle.
95 Points — Decanter: "Beautifully balanced, precise and fresh nose with peach, mango and vanilla pod. Honeyed sweetness on the palate is supported by a grapey acidity, which gives length and energy to the finish, with a return of orange zest and almond paste. Classy, impeccably crafted in the modern style."
🌡️ Serving Temperature: 50–55°F (10–13°C) — chilled, but not ice cold. The cool keeps the honeyed sweetness in balance.
📅 Aging Potential: Will last virtually forever — Vin Santo can age 50+ years.
Vin Santo is the traditional "welcome" of Tuscan hospitality. These bottles represent years of labor — grapes dried on straw mats, slow fermentation, half a decade in tiny caratelli casks. The most labor-intensive wine in Italy.
The Pairings:
- 🍪 Food: Cantucci (Almond Biscotti) for dipping — the classic ritual
- 🧀 Cheese: Gorgonzola Dolce (the sweet/salty contrast is mind-blowing)
- 🌱 Vegan: Caramelized Figs with Walnuts
Restaurant Reality Check: Half-bottles of this caliber list at $175–$225 at California fine dining like Acquerello and Quince.
🎯 Why a Case of Vin Santo Matters
This is the bottle you bring out at the end of dinner that makes the night unforgettable. It will outlive you in the cellar. One bottle for every Christmas, birthday, anniversary, and "I finally finished the project" you'll have over the next decade. Three or six bottles is not extravagant — it's smart entertaining hardware.
24 bottles arriving next week • Last shop in California
Elsewhere: $85.00 → Our Price: $74.97
Restaurant Menu: $175–$225 — You Save 57–67%
🔒 Maximum 12 bottles per person
👉 Secure Boscarelli Vin Santo at Artisan.WinePart II: The "Rustic Grape"
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Abruzzo)
The Region: Abruzzo — rugged mountains on Italy's east coast.
The Grape: Montepulciano. (Yes, here it's the grape name. The confusion lives on.)
🏆 First — Let's Talk About the Tre Bicchieri Award
If you've never heard the phrase "Tre Bicchieri" before, today your wine knowledge levels up.
Tre Bicchieri (literally "Three Glasses") is the highest wine award in Italy, given annually by Gambero Rosso — the country's authoritative wine and food publication, founded in 1986. Think of it as Italy's equivalent of the Wine Spectator Top 100 — but with significantly more rigorous criteria.
Here's how it works:
- Each year, Gambero Rosso's panels blind-taste over 22,000–25,000 wines. The judgment is collective, not the opinion of any single critic.
- Of those tens of thousands of wines, fewer than 1% receive the Tre Bicchieri.
- For the 2026 guide, 2,300 finalist labels were tasted in Rome — and just 508 received the highest recognition.
- Wines are evaluated on typicity, pleasantness, complexity, integrity, clarity, stylistic coherence, and aging potential.
- In Italy, Tre Bicchieri is described as "the most coveted accolade in the Italian wine industry."
Why this matters for you:
A Wine Spectator Top 100 wine is a marketing event. A Tre Bicchieri is a peer review. It's other Italian winemakers, sommeliers, and master tasters — the people who make and sell the wine — declaring this is among the very best in Italy. A single critic can be flattered. A blind panel of 70+ cannot.
When you see "Tre Bicchieri" on a label, you are looking at the top 1% of all wine produced in Italy that year.
Producer Spotlight: LA VALENTINA
Tre Bicchieri Winner & Guardian of Authentic Abruzzo
Why they matter: Founded in 1990 in Spoltore, on the Adriatic coast near Pescara, La Valentina is run by the Di Properzio brothers (Sabatino, Andrea, Roberto). While neighboring producers tried to "internationalize" their wines with French oak and overripe fruit, the Di Properzios doubled down on indigenous grapes, sustainable vineyards, and traditional technique.
The Spelt vineyard is their crown jewel — 15 hectares of vines, some over 40 years old, planted on hillsides where sea breezes from the Adriatic meet cooler mountain air from the Apennines. This terroir doesn't exist anywhere else on earth. The name "Spelt" honors faro — the ancient grain that once grew where the vineyards now stand.
🍷 2021 La Valentina "Spelt" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva DOC
The wine that defines what Montepulciano d'Abruzzo can be at its highest level.
For the wine-curious: Of the more than 22,000 wines blind-tasted by Gambero Rosso for the 2026 Vini d'Italia guide, only 508 received the Tre Bicchieri — under 1%. This is one of them. In the entire history of this award, only a handful of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines have ever earned it.
This is what happens when patience and obsession meet a 40-year-old vineyard. Aged 16+ months in a combination of large Slavonian oak botti, barriques, and tonneaux — then refined further in 25hl Slavonian casks, then nearly a year in bottle before release. 18 months of wood total. Nothing rushed.
Tasting Notes: Deep ruby with a purple hue. The nose opens with wild rose, violet, crisp red currant, and licorice — then evolves into Mediterranean herbs, raspberry, cassis, and dark cocoa. The palate is voluptuous and velvety, with polished tannins, vertical acidity, and a remarkably long finish. Critics describe "silky smoothness" with "an elegant wave of ripe red and blue fruits" and "clove and dark chocolate notes."
🌡️ Serving Temperature: 62–65°F (17–18°C). Decant for 60–90 minutes before serving — this Riserva is built tightly and opens beautifully with air.
📅 Aging Potential: 10–14 years — drink now or cellar through 2035. Top Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riservas evolve from primary fruit (cherry, plum) into secondary complexity (leather, tobacco, balsamic, dark chocolate) over a decade in bottle. The Tre Bicchieri panel rated this wine specifically for its aging potential.
The Pairings:
- 🥩 Food: Roast lamb chops, grilled steak, or pasta with ragù
- 🧀 Cheese: Aged Pecorino di Farindola (rare Abruzzese sheep's milk — or substitute aged Manchego)
- 🌱 Vegan: Slow-braised lentils with rosemary, smoked paprika, and roasted carrots
Restaurant Reality Check — Where Tre Bicchieri Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Lives in California: on tasting menus at serious Italian restaurants — SPQR (San Francisco), Cotogna (San Francisco), Quince (San Francisco), plus comparable programs at Marea (NYC) and Spiaggia-alumni restaurants in Chicago. Anywhere a sommelier curates Italy with intention. Expect this caliber of Tre Bicchieri Riserva priced at $110–$135.
🎯 Why a Case of This Is the Smartest Wine Purchase You Make in 2026
1. The ONLY Tre Bicchieri wine in this entire email. Top 1% of all Italian wine in 2021. A peer-reviewed honor, not a single critic's opinion.
2. National wholesale prices have already moved. Our pricing reflects the old contract. When this allocation ends, the price changes.
3. The Tre Bicchieri panel rated this specifically for aging potential. A case = a decade of evolution. Cellar 8, drink 4 over the next 5 years.
4. At $31.97 for a Top-1%-of-Italy wine, this is the single greatest value in this email. If you're new to wine, this is your education. If you're a connoisseur, this is your steal.
🏆 Tre Bicchieri 2026 — Lowest price in California
Elsewhere: $48.00 → Our Price: $31.97
Restaurant Menu: $110–$135 — You Save 68–74%
🔒 Maximum 12 bottles per person
👉 Secure La Valentina Spelt at Artisan.Wine
🍷 2023 Cataldi Madonna Montepulciano d'Abruzzo "Malandrino"
🍕 The Answer to "What Should I Drink With Italian Takeout on a Wednesday?"
Remember the question we asked you earlier — what is your favorite midweek wine for Italian takeout? This is the answer. Cataldi Madonna is the producer credited with saving the reputation of Abruzzo wine. They refuse to use "international" styles. The Malandrino is fermented in concrete and stainless steel — no oak. Pure, explosive Montepulciano fruit, no cosmetics. Honest, raw, absolutely delicious.
92 Points — Vinous: "The 2023 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Malandrino entices with its mineral-drenched bouquet of crushed rock and smoke giving way to herbal-tinged blackberry. It sweeps across the palate with silken textures and ripe red and hints of blue fruits as a wave of cool-toned acidity maintains lovely energy. Long and potent, this leaves a subtle coating of fine tannins and nuances of licorice as it tapers off." — Eric Guido (May 2025)
91 Points — Wine Enthusiast: "On the nose, aromas of cherries are lifted by undertones of red plum and strawberry, with a current of wet slate for balance. The fruit stays ripe and dense on the palate, but a nutty, herbaceous bite adds an elegance to the refreshing feel."
🌡️ Serving Temperature: 58–62°F (14–16°C) — slightly cool to keep the fruit fresh and vibrant.
📅 Drinking Window: Drink now through 2030 — while it's fresh and vibrant.
Where you'll find it: Montesacro Pinseria (San Francisco) pours rustic reds like this by the carafe because nothing pairs better with Roman street food.
The Pairings:
- 🍕 Food: Abruzzo-style pizza with Ventricina (spicy salami) — or honestly, any pizza
- 🧀 Cheese: Aged Provolone or Caciocavallo
- 🌱 Vegan: Lentil stew with rosemary and tomato confit
Restaurant Reality Check: Lists at $70–$85 at Italian spots like Montesacro (SF) and Cotogna (SF).
🎯 Why a Case of THIS Is the Most Practical Buy in the Email
Be honest with yourself: how many times a month do you order Italian takeout? Pizza, pasta, calzone — at least 3–4 times, probably more.
A case is a year's worth of "Wednesday-night-suddenly-feels-like-Sunday-dinner" upgrades for $323.64 ($26.97 × 12). That's $27 a week — less than what you'd pay for the worst glass of house wine at any decent restaurant.
A 92-point gem from a legendary producer for the price of a grocery-store bottle. This is the smartest "everyday wine" upgrade you can make all year.
Lowest price in California
Elsewhere: $35.00 → Our Price: $26.97
Restaurant Menu: $70–$85 — You Save 61–68%
🔒 Maximum 12 bottles per person
👉 Secure Cataldi Madonna at Artisan.Wine🍷 The Side-By-Side Tasting Challenge
Here's our challenge to you, Artisan — and it's the fastest way to actually learn wine instead of just reading about it:
Order one bottle of the 2021 Boscarelli Vino Nobile (the Tuscan, Sangiovese-based "Noble Town" wine) and one bottle of the 2021 La Valentina Spelt Tre Bicchieri (the Abruzzo, Montepulciano-grape "Rustic" wine).
Open them on the same night. Pour them side by side. Taste them blind if you can.
In one evening, you will physically understand the difference between these two wines that have confused American buyers for 30 years. You'll never get tricked again at a restaurant. You'll know exactly what you're ordering, why, and what it should cost.
$71.94 for the most efficient wine education you'll ever buy.
👉 Accept the Challenge — Order at Artisan.Wine
🍷 The Glass Matters More Than You Think
"The right glass turned my $20 Pinot into a $50 Pinot." — Wine Folly
Here's a truth most wine lovers learn too late: a great wine in the wrong glass is a tragedy. A Tre Bicchieri La Valentina Spelt or a quadruple-95 Boscarelli Riserva poured into a stubby tumbler is like watching the Mona Lisa through a screen door — all the genius is there, but you can't actually see it.
That's why we exclusively recommend — and stock — the Gabriel-Glas StandArt, the universal wine glass designed by Swiss wine critic René Gabriel (affectionately called "The Pope of Wine").
Why this is THE glass for everything in this email:
- 🌹 The "Unfurling Rose" shape — the 95mm bowl base tapering to a 66mm rim is engineered to concentrate aromas like a built-in decanter.
- 💎 Lead-free Austrian crystal, blown as a single seamless piece. Laser-cut, diamond-polished rim.
- 🌬️ Aeration equivalent to instant decanting — perfect for opening up the Boscarelli Riserva or the Spelt without a decanter.
- ♻️ Dishwasher safe. EU-tested for clarity after 1,000 wash cycles.
- 🍷 One glass for everything — Vino Nobile, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Vin Santo, Champagne, whites.
"Gabriel-Glas has become my go-to all-purpose glassware. The StandArt combines durability, function and beauty all in one glass." — Debbie Zachareas, Owner, Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, San Francisco
The Insider's Move: If you're investing in a case of Tre Bicchieri Spelt or quadruple-95 Boscarelli Riserva, do not pour it into the wedding-gift goblets sitting in your cabinet. Invest in the right glass once, and finally taste what these wines actually offer.
Gabriel-Glas StandArt — Universal Crystal Wine Glass
The one glass that flatters every wine in this email.
👉 Shop Gabriel-Glas at Artisan.Wine🍷 Side-by-Side: Tuscany vs. Abruzzo
Save this. Frame it. Never get duped again.
| Vino Nobile (Tuscany) | Montepulciano d'Abruzzo | |
|---|---|---|
| "Montepulciano" refers to | The town | The grape |
| Actual grape | Sangiovese | Montepulciano |
| Body | Medium, elegant, structured | Medium-full, fruit-forward |
| Flavor profile | Black cherry, tar, violet, leather, earth | Wild berry, plum, licorice, herbs, smoke |
| Tannins | Firm, fine, structured | Softer, rounder, juicier |
| Serving temp | 62–65°F (17–18°C) | 60–65°F (16–18°C) |
| Aging potential | 15–25+ years for Riservas | 10–15 years for top Riservas |
| Pairs with | Sunday roast, wild boar, aged cheeses | Pizza, ragù, grilled meats |
| The occasion | Anniversary dinner | Friday night with friends |
| Cellar role | Long-term investment | Drink-now joy machine |
The honest truth: Most Americans buy "Montepulciano d'Abruzzo" thinking they're buying the noble Tuscan wine. They get a juicy, fruity, $15 pizza wine instead — and feel duped. But the joke's on them: the Abruzzo Montepulciano isn't a worse wine. It's just a different wine. Both are wonderful. You just need to know which is which. After today, you do.
🎯 The Insider's Strategy: Build Your Perfect Italian Cellar This Week
For the wine-curious (just starting out):
Order 6 bottles of the La Valentina Spelt Tre Bicchieri ($31.97) + 6 bottles of the Cataldi Madonna Malandrino ($26.97). It's the most affordable, most educational entry into serious Italian wine. Pair with a 4-pack of Gabriel-Glas StandArt and you have everything you need to taste like a sommelier this year.
For the experienced enthusiast:
Take the Tasting Challenge: 1 Boscarelli Vino Nobile + 1 La Valentina Spelt for side-by-side blind tasting. Then add 6 of the Boscarelli Riserva (the quadruple-95 from a Top 100 Alumni producer). You're stocked for 20 years of memorable dinners.
For the serious collector — maximize the allocation:
12 Boscarelli Riserva (max) + 12 Spelt (max) + 6 Boscarelli Vino Nobile + 6 Cataldi Malandrino + 3 Boscarelli Vin Santo + 6 Gabriel-Glas StandArt. You now own one of the most acclaimed Italian vintages in a generation, anchored by two of the rarest awards in the wine world (Top 100 + Tre Bicchieri), at prices the market will not see again.
🍷 Build Your Cellar at Artisan.Wine
⏰ Why This Cannot Wait
- Boscarelli has been sold out across California for 90 days. Our long-standing winery relationship secured the last allocation in the country — transferred from the East Coast. 60 bottles per SKU arriving next week. We are the last shop in California.
- The La Valentina Spelt is Tre Bicchieri 2026 — top 1% of all Italian wine. National demand has spiked. Wholesale prices have already moved. Our pricing reflects the old contract.
- 2021 is a generational vintage — rated 4.5/5 by the official Consorzio, called "the best of the decade" by leading critics, and a "generational benchmark" across Tuscany.
- The Boscarelli Riserva has a credible path to Wine Spectator's 2026 Top 100. If that happens, this $59.97 bottle becomes a $150+ collectible overnight. The risk-reward here is asymmetric — you're paying retail today for what may become a Top 100 collectible by year-end.
- The wines will sell out again — permanently at this price. Boscarelli makes only ~100,000 bottles per year for the entire world. When this allocation ends, we cannot reorder at this cost.
- Maximum 12 bottles per person, per SKU. We want every loyal Artisan to get a fair shot before resellers clean us out.
Get In Touch!
💬 Chat: artisan.wine/?chat
📧 Email: sales@artisan.wine
📱 Text: 650-880-3553
☎️ Phone: 650-880-3553
Salute,
The Artisan Wine Team
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