SIP: Aged Tour of Italy's Iconic Classics (4 Bottles - $80 OFF)


This SIP edition offers a wonderful learning opportunity, giving you the chance to taste and explore four perfectly-aged iconic classics of Italy!

***Should a wine in this package become unavailable, we will provide another gem of equivalent quality and value***
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Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012
Original Price: $59.97
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Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012
(Tuscany, Italy) - [WS 93] [JS 91]

About the Winery: 
In 2007, Marilisa Allegrini (of the Veneto's esteemed Allegrini winery!) and Leonardo LoCascio (head of US importer Winebow) purchased the property, and brought in winemaker Nicola Biasi to build on San Polo's already considerable reputation and impressive levels of quality: Poggio San Polo's Brunello di Montalcino have consistently achieved outstanding ratings since the 1997 vintage.

The vineyards at San Polo were planted between 1990 and 2000 with the goal of making the highest quality Brunello di Montalcino. With an altitude of 1350 feet above sea level, their southern facing vineyard receives optimal sun exposure and is the highest in Montalcino. The vineyard also has natural terraces facing the stunning Sant'Antimo Valley and is entirely dedicated to Brunello di Montalcino.


Notes from the Winemaker:

Our Brunello from San Polo has a lengthy ageing potential and can further improve with extended bottle ageing. This is due both to the characteristics of the soils on which the grapes are grown - the calcareous content provides ideal conditions for Sangiovese - and the position of the vineyards on the beautiful hills at San Polo.

Tasting Notes:
Intense and bright ruby red with garnet highlights, this wine reveals typical aromas of violets and small red berries. There is a distinctive aroma of woodland undergrowth, aromatic wood and a light note of vanilla and preserved fruit, followed by subtle nuances of coffee. The nose is intense, persistent, broad and ethereal.


Ratings & Reviews



93 Points - Wine Spectator:
Elegant and approachable, this Brunello offers charming berry and cherry flavors, accented by tea, tobacco and spice. Firms up as the dense tannins flex on the finish. Best from 2020 through 2033. 4,166 cases made.


91 Points - James Suckling:
"Lots of cherries and dried fruits with hints of orange peel on the nose. Full body, round and velvety tannins and a juicy finish. So much fruit and richness. Shows the warmth of the vintage. Drink or hold." (February 19, 2017)

90 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"You can see from the Poggio San Polo 2012 Brunello di Montalcino that this vintage produced wines of gorgeous color intensity and appearance. It shows a saturated ruby color with garnet highlights that is very characteristic of Sangiovese from this warm growing season. This expression is aged in large barrel and tonneaux for two years. The bouquet delivers dark fruit aromas, leather and spice. However, the mouthfeel takes a simple and more direct approach with less overall depth and complexity." - Monica Larner (Feb 2017)

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"Underbrush, toast, dark-skinned berry and eucalyptus aromas lead the way. Firmly structured and elegant, the palate offers dried cherry, cranberry and star anise framed in fine-grained tannins. A coffee note wraps up the finish." - Kerin O’Keefe (5/1/2017)

89 Points - Vinous Media:
"Bright red. Crisp and bright aromas and flavours of red berries and gunflint. Supple on entry with flavors of red fruit and botanical herbs, then tight and vinous on the back with the acidity and tough tannins rising sharply. Cellaring might help soften this Brunello a tad." - Ian D'Agata (Mar 2017)


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Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva "Muncagota" DOCG 2014
Original Price: $99.97
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Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva "Muncagota" DOCG 2014
(Piedmont, Italy) - [WA 94] [VM 94] [WE 93] [WS 93]

About the Winery:

Produttori del Barbaresco is a legendary cooperative founded in the late nineteenth century and is the benchmark for the region's gorgeous wines. 

Here's what Wine Advocate's Monica Larner had to say about this winery:
"This important estate has been making the cru selections since 1978 and the house philosophy is to make them all, or not make them at all. General Manager Aldo Vacca says the co-operative counts 54 members, of which four joined the group within the past three years. Produttori del Barbaresco counts a total of 100 hectares (for an average annual bottle production of 500,000). Each individual farm is very small in size.


The cooperative's access to many small vineyards allows Produttori del Barbaresco to take advantage of the best grapes at the best prices.

About the Wine:
This 9.8 acre vineyard is on a ridge further from the Tanaro river. This ridge has more compact soil and higher calcium levels that create bigger tannins in the wine then some of the other Produttori del Barbaresco single vineyard wines. The cooler climate and higher elevation of Muncagota give the wine a unique floral and mineral character. The first vintage was produced in 1967.

2007 is the first vintage under the Muncagota name.

Tasting Notes
Color: Ruby red
Bouquet: Red fruit notes with delicate floral hints
Flavor: Elegant and full-bodied with a firm tannic finish
Pairings: Pairs well with fresh egg pastas, risottos, white meats, red meats, venison and cheeses

Vinification: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks at 85°F with maceration on the skins for 28 days; complete malolactic fermentation

Aging Process: 36 months in large, oak casks and bottle refined for eight months before release

Technical Data:
Varietals: 100% Nebbiolo
Vineyard Location: Single vineyard Muncagota
Orientation: Southeast
Elevation: 980 ft
Trellising: Guyot single cane
Yield/Acre: 27 ql
Soil: Calcareous limestone



 

Ratings & Reviews


94 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is another of the overachievers in this range. White pepper, bright red cherry, floral notes and mint cut through the fruit in this beautifully vivid, crystalline Barbaresco. There is a level of energy, drive and overall nuance in the 2014 I don't recall having seen in the past. The 2014 is a terrific Muncagota." - Antonio Galloni (Oct 2018)

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:

The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is beautifully polished and bright, with dark berry fruit, ripe cherry, crushed stone and pressed flowers. The wine is compact and firm, and you feel the tannins and power in the mouth. The Muncagota remains slightly more closed in terms of the bouquet, but this will open up with some time.

 



93 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"Elegantly structured, this vibrant wine opens with aromas of underbrush, rose petal, red woodland berry and a whiff of new leather. The graceful palate boasts great energy and is delicately delicious, delivering juicy red cherry, pomegranate, star anise and white pepper. Polished tannins show some grip on the lingering finish. Drink 2020–2029." - Kerin O’Keefe (6/1/2019)

93 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Lean and taut, this reveals mint, menthol, licorice, orange peel and subtle cherry flavors, all underscored by assertive tannins and lively acidity. An austere style, this will need time to come around. Best from 2023 through 2042." - BS (June 12, 2019)

 


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Ca' Rome' Barolo 'Rapet' DOCG 2010
Original Price: $79.97
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Ca' Rome' Barolo 'Rapet' DOCG 2010
(Piedmont, Italy) - [WA 93] [VM 92]

Notes from the Winemaker:

Single-vineyard from the Serralunga cru, renowned for its structure. Ideally incarnates the breeding and magnitude of its category: full-bodied, complex, utterly classic. In top vintages, can be cellared as long as 15-25 years.


Vineyard location and soil: Vineyard located in Serralunga d’Alba, with southwestern exposure. The soils go back to the Helvetian period. Compact calcareous clay alternates with sandy layers.


Altitude: 350-371 meters (1,150-1,217 feet)above sea level


Tasting notes: Intense garnet red with ruby reflections. Fruity aromas with floral and spicy notes. Intense flavor with opulent and enveloping tannins and a long finish. Because of its structure and body, it pairs well with meat, game and cheese. Serve at a temperature of 17 °C (62.6 °F).


Vinification: Maceration lasts about 20 days at a maximum temperature of 30 °C (86 °F). Malolactic fermentation ends before winter is over.


Aged: 24 months partly in 25-hl Slavonian oak barrels and partly in French barrique. Further aged in bottle for at least 12 months.

Ratings & Reviews



92 Points - Antonio Galloni Vinous:
"Ca’ Rome’s 2010 Barolo Rapèt is floral, delicate and quite accessible for the year. Sweet red berries, tobacco, anise and savory herbs develop in the glass over time in a medium-bodied, fragrant Barolo with tons of near-term appeal. Today, the 2010 impresses for its punchy, bright fruit and terrific overall balance. Drink between 2016-2030." -Antonio Galloni (January 2014)

93 Points -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The full bodied 2010 Barolo Rapet shows an impressive degree of layering and aromatic dimension with sweet cherry and exotic spice followed by dried herb, rosemary and rosebud. There's a significant mineral contribution as well with rusty notes of wet soil and terracotta. The tannins show a spot of firm astringency that is common in the wines of Serralunga d'Alba. Drink: 2017-2028." -Monica Larner (July 2014)


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Il Borro Polissena Toscana IGT Rosso 2013
Original Price: $69.97
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Il Borro Polissena Toscana IGT Rosso 2013
(Tuscany, Italy) - [WS 92] [JS 92]

About the winery:

Winery owner Salvatore Ferragamo, heir of the storied Ferragamo fashion empire, replanted the family's Il Borro vineyard in 1999 and has been releasing Tuscan wines ever since. The winery has been certified organic since 2015.

Notes from the Winemaker:
Polissena is an act of love, an homage to Tuscany, and to one of its typical grape varieties: Sangiovese. The grape has a strong backbone but is refined and balanced. It is captivating but modest and never invasive.

The vineyard from which this wine is produced, Politi, has a density of 4.500 plants per hectare. It is the highest vineyard in the “Il Borro” Estate at approximately 350 metres above sea level. The soil is Schistose which drains very well. At the end of August the plants are pruned leaving around 1 kg of grapes on each vine. The yield per hectare is 4,500 kg, equivalent to around 3,000 litres of wine. The grapes are harvested, de-stemmed and sorted by hand and then pressed and gravity-fed into vinification tanks.


Ratings & Reviews



92 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"A bright beam of cherry runs through this elegant red. Leather, licorice and tobacco notes add interest as this builds to a lingering aftertaste. Balanced, with sweet, ripe fruit, as well as a savory element. Drink now through 2027. 1,500 cases made." – BS (Oct 2017)

92 Points - James Suckling:
"Alluring berry and dried meat character with hints of cedar. Full body, spicy and earth. Decadent finish. Velvety texture. Drink or hold." (Apr 2017)