Goliath | 18 Liters

This garnet-red sparkling Vino Nobile delights us with its fragrant aroma of prunes and a hint of cinnamon and cloves. On the palate it has a lot of fruit, fine, sweet melting in the long finish. An authentic and pleasantly elegant organic wine from the heart of the Montepulciano region. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby red with a delicately brightening rim. In the nose not quite clearly defined, some geranium, raspberry, then again spicy and varnished tones. On the palate juicy with crisp acidity, spreads widely, full of tension, good pressure in the finish." Falstaff

"Red-berry, rose and crushed herb aromas mingle with scents of dark spice and a whiff of leather on this elegant, understated red. Vibrant and linear, the medium-bodied palate shows energy and finesse, delivering raspberry, strawberry compote and star anise set against bright acidity. It closes on mineral note evoking rusty iron while taut, fine-grained tannins provide a polished framework." Wine Enthusiast

"A rich, round red, sporting cherry, plum, earth and mineral flavors, backed by a vibrant structure. The tannins are assertive, yet folded into the overall body and texture. Shows fine length and harmony." Wine Spectator

"Salcheto was acquired by the Lavinia wine group in 2003, however it's still managed by Michele Manelli, who was one of the previous owners. He has been instrumental in establishing this winery as a model for sustainability and biodiversity. The wines are made without added sulphites and this is as clean as a whistle. It seduces with earthy nuances and fresh-cut flowers. Tangy cherry, red currants and blood orange peel skip across the palate, driven by brisk acidity and accompanied by fine, grainy tannins which provide a secure grip." Decanter

Perfect Supertuscan, warmth and freshness, elegance and harmony in harmony! Sweet scent of highly ripe cherries and berries with beautiful floral notes. Also in the mouth ripe and with a lot of fruit charm, spicy and pleasant acidity. The Saffredi has bite and a nice length with ripe tannin. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich, sparkling ruby violet. Impressive, rich nose, smells of ripe, dark blackberries, currants, in addition some fresh figs and noble dark chocolate. Rich, dense tannin, in the attack and course much present, ripe fruit, long aftertaste." Falstaff

"Impeccably lifted and gracious on the palate, the 2011 Saffredi lifts from the glass with expressive floral notes and beautifully articulated fruit. Overall, the 2011 is an elegant, restrained Saffredi that emphasizes finesse over power, although there is plenty of vintage 2011 sexiness. More importantly, the 2011 is a big step up from the 2010. Sage, rosemary and tobacco are some of the many notes that add complexity as the wine continues to open up in the glass." Antonio Galloni

"I love the aromas of black truffles, rosemary, dark fruits, rose petals and stones. It's shows so many characteristics of Tuscany on the nose. Full body with super-fine tannins and a long finish. Tannins and all in place. Wonderful texture." James Suckling

"The 2011 Saffredi is Maremma world class!" René Gabriel (20 points)

"The 2011 Saffredi opens to thick, dark extraction and large scale aromatic intensity. This was a warm vintage and you can feel the softness in the ripe cherry and blackberry flavors offered by the Merlot. The Cabernet component is also evident thanks to pressed rose and grilled Mediterranean herb. Saffredi is a wine built for long cellar aging, yet this vintage can also be readily consumed in the near term." Robert Parker

Floral nose with a lot of red, warm fruit and delicate herbal notes. On the palate it is smooth and elegant with a wonderful depth and structure. Then again herbs, in addition violets, some plum and a touch of tar and leather. Saffredi literally sneaks up on him until he then goes into a very long and harmonious finish with an impressive presence and elegance. One of the great Italian wines from an equally great Tuscany vintage! SUPERIORE.DE

"From the dream year. Cool, very precisely woven bouquet with dense aromas of red and black fruits, wonderfully floral with violets and lavender, along with spicy and ethereal notes of Mediterranean kitchen herbs, leather, chocolate and liquorice. On the palate, it is just as powerful and loaded with dense, blackberry fruit, but with linear discipline, as it remains powerful and gripping until the long final, which again offers the full range of aromas". Weinwisser

"Deep ruby with a fine violet hue. Intense and dense nose, shows notes of pickled blackberries, plums and cassis, lots of cardamom. On the palate it shows a lot of ripe berry fruit, round and smooth, lots of blackberry and blackcurrant, present, well integrated tannin, very long and persistent. Falstaff

"A generally uneventful growing season led to good ripening at a measured pace. It's a radiant, deep colour with an elegant, fresh nose of floral and patisserie aromas leading to a palate which has the same elegant cast and freshness, but it’s also concentrated and sweet-fruited, with lively, intense black fruit and notes of forest-floor, fresh bay leaf and spicy sandalwood. It has a very good future, underpinned by fine, persistent tannins." Decanter

"One of the highlights in this range, the 2016 Saffredi is a hugely promising wine marked by a beguiling combination of vertical structure, energy and concentration. Black cherry, lavender, spice, plum, sage and lavender all pulse with remarkable energy. Massive and yet remarkably vivid for such an intense wine, the 2016 is shaping up to be a real jewel of a wine." Vinous

"This vintage is compact, firm and precise, with lovely floral aromas on the bouquet in front of blackberry and plum. Long oak toasting gives the wine tasty notes of spice and cinnamon and rounds the bouquet off nicely. The mouthfeel is soft and velvety. This is a complex, integrated and absolutely beautiful wine." Robert Parker

"Incredible aromas of dark berries, lavender, rosemary, licorice and dried flowers. Spice. Full body and fantastic tannin texture with great length. Goes on for minutes. Muscular yet wonderfully formed and refined. A glorious Saffredi." James Suckling (Platz 12 - TOP-Weine Italien 2018)

Its original vineyard of the same name has long been regarded as one of the best sites in the Castellina zone. From equal parts of Merlot and Sangiovese comes this excellent, very dense wine with ripe fruit aromas and sweet vanilla hints. SUPERIORE.DE

"Beautiful aromas of violets, berries and currants. Dried flowers, too. Full body, such intense fruit and acidity. Vivid and complex. Wild raspberry. Tight and dense. A triumph for Siepi. Half sangivoese and merlot. Better in 2022 but hard to not drink now." James Suckling

"This is a delightful 50-50 blend of Sangiovese and Merlot with a bold and contemporary personality. The 2015 Siepi is a consistent product year in and year out. The wine faithfully delivers a New World interpretation with an all-Tuscan soul. You get Italy-centric aromas of Mediterranean herb and rosemary backed by plump black cherry, sweet tobacco, clove and cinnamon. The oak influences are evident vis-à-vis the wine's structure and power. The mouthfeel is layered and textured. It is ready to drink now, but the bottle could also be put aside for the next 10 years. The Siepi vineyard is located on a well-exposed plateau some 260 meters above sea level." Robert Parker

"This has depth and complexity, featuring black cherry, plum, leather, spice and mineral flavors. The dense texture exudes refined tannins as this stays fresh through the long, saturated finish. Fruit, spice and tobacco elements linger." Wine Spectator

Sparkling, intense ruby violet. In the nose with notes of ripe elderberries and plums, underlaid with fine sandalwood. Juicy and full-bodied in the base and course, shows an enormously opulent and crunchy berry fruit, grippy, fine-meshed tannin, very long aftertaste, in the finale decent of tobacco, straightforward and clear. Dream vintage! SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, rich ruby with a violet core. Compact nose with rich notes of ripe blackberries and blueberries, plus plenty of cinnamon and cloves, almost Christmassy. Juicy, much clear, ripe berry fruit, well integrated tannin with beautiful drive, in the aftertaste still subtle wood notes noticeable." Falstaff

"The 2016 Siepi, the estate's Sangiovese/Merlot blend, is a big, rich wine. In 2016, the Merlot is especially prominent. Black cherry jam, torrefaction, spice, leather, menthol and new French oak are all pushed forward. Time in the glass brings out a good bit of aromatic freshness to balance things out. Readers should expect a potent, seriously concentrated wine. Vinous"

"A blend of Merlot and Sangiovese in equal parts, the 2016 Siepi is a luscious and soft wine that oozes forth with dark berry intensity. The fruit is compact and dense. This wine performs beautifully in terms of aromas, but the mouthfeel is especially fine-tuned and elegant in this classic vintage. Dark fruit is followed by spice, tar, rose bud and sharp mineral nuances that recall the gravel and limestone-rich soils of Chianti Classico. This is perhaps the best vintage of Siepi I have tasted thus far." Robert Parker

"What a beautiful nose of elderberries, freshly picked blackcurrants, citrus, herbs, licorice and crushed stones, amidst a backdrop of coffee beans, cedar and vanilla. Full-bodied and very subtle and refined with tightly wound tannins and an impressive balance of fruit and acidity. Long, grainy and elegant on the finish. A masterpiece." James Suckling

 

He's never been better. Galatrona is a pure Merlot of the extra class. With the 2016 edition, owner Luca Sanjust achieved an absolute masterpiece. Black-red ruby in the glass. In the bouquet black berries, fine wood spice and some leather. Very generous fruit aromas and extremely complex on the palate, it glides elegantly into the depths until it is caught by a finely woven tannin and merges into a long and finesse rich finish. A wine that doesn't have to hide behind Masseto & Co., on the contrary it has been Italy's Merlot benchmark for years. SUPERIORE.DE

"Powerful, sparkling ruby violet. Very clear and catchy nose, full of blackberries, dark currants and ripe blueberries, with fine resinous components and tobacco. Fresh and with a lot of juicy, ripe berry fruit at the base, then opens with a lot of fine-meshed, dense tannin, salty and very long." Falstaff

"This is full of enticing blackberry, blueberry and plum flavors, with a spine of acidity, iron accents and beefy tannins. Long and well-proportioned, this needs time to integrate. Tobacco and spice hints detail the finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 Galatrona (Merlot) is fabulous. Powerful, dense and layered, the 2016 brings together serious fruit intensity and energy, as is so typical of this important Tuscan vintage. A whole range of floral and spice notes develop in the glass, adding further shades of nuance. I have long felt Galatrona is released too early. The 2016 is a perfect example of that. Opening a bottle now is a crime." Antonio Galloni

"The aromas of dried flowers, stones, dark tea leaves, hot tile, and dark berries. Full-bodied, yet tight and linear. Wonderful drive and depth. An extremely long and focused finish. A great wine." James Suckling

"The 2016 Galatrona is indeed a masterpiece to behold. This wine offers thick layering and deep intensity with aromas that offer an incredible range, starting off with luscious dark chocolate on one side and ending with fragrant white truffle on the far end of its long aromatic trajectory. You get plummy fruit, spice, sweet tobacco and tilled earth packed tight in between. This full-bodied Merlot is softly textured and succulent with long-lasting flavor intensity on the close. Petrolo's Merlot is planted in a ten-hectare parcel distinguished by thick clay soils. I have been watching Galatrona's evolution for years and have tasted the wine on occasion in various vertical tastings. This is my favorite vintage made thus far." Robert Parker