Bolgheri in Italy’s Tuscan coast evokes our minds to the famous Super-Tuscans. Powerhouse families and wines have emerged from this region to make their place onto store shelves and personal wine cellars. The Ornellaia estate was established in 1981 by the Frescobaldis, one of the three most ancient families of Italy. The quest for excellence came quickly with the first bottle of Ornellaia coming in 1985. Winemakers for over 700 years, the Frescobaldi family bring together a creative mindset, pursuit of excellence and a deep respect for tradition.  

The Vendemmia d’Artista project features a prominent artist designing a label for each vintage of Ornellaia.  Every 6-pack wooden case will feature one bottle from this project. 

The Ornellaia is pricey, yet collectible and ageable. The second label of Le Serre Nuove is no slouch and the Le Volte holds its own for quality. Add any of these wines to your collection, and you won’t be disappointed.

This “entry level” wine of Ornellaia is a bright, lively wine that will introduce any wine drinker to the beauties of Ornellaia wines as it is instantly drinkable, enjoyable, and versatile. Made with (mostly) Merlot with the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, there is an abundance of cherry, strawberry, tobacco and spice aromas and flavours. Priced for instant consumption but can also be aged and held until 2030.

With its usual deep ruby red colour, Ornellaia 2020 stands out on the nose with ripe red fruits and delicate vanilla and gentle tobacco notes. Upon tasting, the wine reveals itself to be rounded and velvety, making an enjoyable and engaging first impression that entices for a second sip. The tannins are dense yet elegant and the finish proves to be savoury and enduring.

Bolgheri in Italy’s Tuscan coast evokes our minds to the famous Super-Tuscans. Powerhouse families and wines have emerged from this region to make their place onto store shelves and personal wine cellars. The Ornellaia estate was established in 1981 by the Frescobaldis, one of the three most ancient families of Italy. The quest for excellence came quickly with the first bottle of Ornellaia coming in 1985. Winemakers for over 700 years, the Frescobaldi family bring together a creative mindset, pursuit of excellence and a deep respect for tradition.  

The Vendemmia d’Artista project features a prominent artist designing a label for each vintage of Ornellaia.  Every 6-pack wooden case will feature one bottle from this project. 

The Ornellaia is pricey, yet collectible and ageable. The second label of Le Serre Nuove is no slouch and the Le Volte holds its own for quality. Add any of these wines to your collection, and you won’t be disappointed.

Like all famous Bordeaux Chateaux, Super- Tuscans can also lay claim to a “second wine” of their more famous elder sibling. This proud “second vin” to Ornellaia is made from the same grape varieties, under the same sky and always using the same philosophy. Made with 44% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot, the  vintage delivers an aromatic expression of ripe red fruit; smooth and round with an easy to drink elegance, yet still with the ability to age. Drink from now until 2032.

Gulfi is a family-owned winery located in southern Sicily, with grand cru vineyards located in Pachino: 100% Nero d’Avola that grows in sandy soil close to the sea and has adapted to the hot climate. Here, the resulting wines are complex and elegant, and the benchmark for what these wines should taste like. Undoubtedly, one of the world’s greatest wine estates and producers of Nero d’Avola. Although one might think the wines taste the same, each single vineyard or ‘cru’ showcases the great terroir of Pachino and the subtleties of each area.

Maccarj is a dense and powerful wine with a perfumed nose of ripe black cherry, garrigue, iron notes and eucalyptus. The tannins are firm and powerful with lingering flavours of blackberry fruit and juniper along with a meaty, black olive quality, typical of this cru.

Located in Chiaramonte, Sicily where this land is known for growing Nero D’Avola, the grape, also known as Calabrese has found its natural home here on this island. What makes Gulfi special is regional area of Pachino, the coastal, sandy terroir where Nero d’Avola has adapted very well. Only steps from the Mediterranean Sea, these vineyards thrive in the heat and grow grapes that produce world-class wines. The Catania family will tell you this is a “grand cru” and with several single vineyard sites within Pachino, Nero d’Avola can show great nuances.  Ageable and collectible, these are worth having in any wine cellar.

Gulfi is a family-owned winery located in southern Sicily, with grand cru vineyards located in Pachino: 100% Nero d’Avola that grows in sandy soil close to the sea and has adapted to the hot climate. Here, the resulting wines are complex and elegant, and the benchmark for what these wines should taste like. Undoubtedly, one of the world’s greatest wine estates and producers of Nero d’Avola. Although one might think the wines taste the same, each single vineyard or ‘cru’ showcases the great terroir of Pachino and the subtleties of each area. 

Buffaleffj is a 3ha site with a unique soil mix of black clay, white limestone, and red sand. The wine has concentrated black cherry and blackberry notes, roasted eggplant, and spice. Even though the climate here is very hot, the wine maintains its acidity, yet with a velvety palate of blackberries and sour cherries, with mineral and herbal complexity that leads to a long and sumptuous finish.

Sangiovese, aka Brunello is grown all over Italy, but most prevalent in Tuscany. Valdicava wine estate produces some of the highest quality wines in the world by showing different expressions of this opulent grape variety. Located in the valley of Montosoli, to the north of Montalcino, the winery only produces two wines: a Rosso and Brunello, with the single vineyard, Madonna del Piano only produced in the very best vintages. This 2016 has attractive aromas of cherry nib, violet, tomato leaf, walnut, and orange rind. Full bodied with dusty tannins and a long, linear finish. 

Antinori is one of the four oldest winemaking families of Italy. With 26 generations of experience, more than nine estates in Italy, one in the US and one in Chile, they are leaders in quality and their name is sought after the world over.  From ‘Tuesday night pizza wine’ to collectible, ageworthy wines from Chianti Classico and Bolgheri, there is a wine for everyone’s budget in the Antinori portfolio.

From one of the three oldest families of Italy, spanning 26 generations, one of their luxury brands, Solaia is located on the sunniest slope of the Tignanello vineyard. Here, the best grapes of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese, and 10% Cabernet Franc make this aromatic, complex wine with notes of raspberries and mulberries with additional, distinct notes of coffee beans, chocolate, and licorice. The palate is well-balanced and structured with spicy undertones that give way to an exceptionally long. This wine is only produced in exceptional vintages.

One of the original producers that grows Trebbiano Abruzzese, one of the few quality grapes of the Trebbiano group. There is not much of this exported and even fewer bottles of the Montepulciano. Francesco Valentini and his son are the only humans allowed in the cellar as Francesco never wants to introduce foreign microbes or yeasts to interfere with the ageing of the wine. These are some of the most ageable white wines in the world and in fact, could be considered “unicorns” as they are hard to find here in Canada.  Truly collectible.

Along with the 2018 already in house, the 2019 has since arrived and now is the time to pick up a mini vertical of these wines. Highly sought after and with a cult following, these wines are rare. This is a complex and opulent wine, which has become famous for its incredible longevity. The nose is full of ripe yellow fruits and white flowers. The palate is rich, warm and well balanced with beautiful acidity and sapidity.

"Potazzine" refers to colourful and vivacious birds which inhabit the Tuscany countryside. The property is owned by Gigliola Giannetti who created the winery in 1993 upon the birth of her first daughter and further expanded it another 2ha three years later after the birth of her second daughter.  Potazzine is also a term of endearment given to children by parents and grandparents and it was Gigliola’s mother who affectionately gave this nickname to the two girls.  These prestigious wines are made using natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts, long macerations and ageing in Slavonian oak for 40 months resulting in wines with smooth tannins. The nose is fruity and floral with notes of red cherry, and violets, defined by savoury tomato leaf, balsamic and spice notes for a beautifully balanced wine. Drink now or cellar until 2040. 

One of the original producers that grows Trebbiano Abruzzese, one of the few quality grapes of the Trebbiano group. There is not much of this exported and even fewer bottles of the Montepulciano. Francesco Valentini and his son are the only humans allowed in the cellar as Francesco never wants to introduce foreign microbes or yeasts to interfere with the ageing of the wine. These are some of the most ageable white wines in the world and in fact, could be considered “unicorns” as they are hard to find here in Canada.  Truly collectible.

Located in Loreto Aprutino in the province of Pescara, the Valentini winery boasts of a centuries-old winemaking tradition. Francesco Paolo Valentini is a more than well-known figure in the wine world. The winery covers 65 hectares of vineyards dedicated to the production of Trebbiano, Montepulciano and Cerasuolo d' Abruzzo. Annual production is around 50,000 bottles. It is not possible to identify the production method as Organic or Biodynamic since the approach in the vineyard is unique and artisanal. Montepulciano is a powerful and impetuous wine. It is characteristic of bewitching with its important body and intriguing bouqet of aromas.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Review - Rated 96:

The 2020 Masseto now sees new DNA with a touch of Cabernet Franc added to this celebrated Merlot-based icon wine. This is a vintage of enormous richness and density, and everything about the wine is taken up a notch or two (including the bottle glass weight and the 15% alcohol content). But Axel Heinz and his team are well prepared for the hot vintages like 2020, and changes to farming and canopy management ensure even ripening. This wine is always hard to analyze in its youth. It needs many more years to soften and flesh out. Give it time.

Located in Chiaramonte, Sicily where this land is known for growing Nero D’Avola, the grape, also known as Calabrese has found its natural home here on this island. What makes Gulfi special is regional area of Pachino, the coastal, sandy terroir where Nero d’Avola has adapted very well. Only steps from the Mediterranean Sea, these vineyards thrive in the heat and grow grapes that produce world-class wines. The Catania family will tell you this is a “grand cru” and with several single vineyard sites within Pachino, Nero d’Avola can show great nuances.  Ageable and collectible, these are worth having in any wine cellar.

Gulfi is a family-owned winery located in southern Sicily, with grand cru vineyards located in Pachino: 100% Nero d’Avola that grows in sandy soil close to the sea and has adapted to the hot climate. Here, the resulting wines are complex and elegant, and the benchmark for what these wines should taste like. Undoubtedly, one of the world’s greatest wine estates and producers of Nero d’Avola. Although one might think the wines taste the same, each single vineyard or ‘cru’ showcases the great terroir of Pachino and the subtleties of each area.

Baronj has mostly limestone soils that brings out the power and minerality of the wine. Likely the most “easy drinking” of the cru wines, it has a nose of raspberry, blood orange and violet with a vibrant palate of dried cherries, plums, and licorice.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is one of the smallest regions in Italy, yet also one of the mightiest. With a plethora of indigenous grape varieties not grown outside of the region, and even fewer producers that are embracing them, Zidarich is truly one of the best.

There are many “malvasia” named grapes within Italy, with some more quality than others. One of the best Malvasia grapes is Istriana, grown in the Friuli region as well as neighbouring Slovenia. Benjamin Zidarich practices biodynamic viticulture, picking grapes and bottling wine according to the phases of the moon. He will tell you that the grapes are grown by the sun and the earth, and the wine is grown by the moon.  The nose has notes of white peaches, oriental mixed spices, mineral, and stony notes. Maceration on the skins will give the wine slight tannins that overlay crunchy stone fruits, savoury herbs, and crushed stony minerality. 

The Prulke is a white wine that is a blend of 60% Sauvignon, 20% Vitovska, 20% Malvasia Istriana, the last two native grapes of the region. The name Prulke refers to the land where the grapes are grown; directly below Prepotto, the town where Zidarich was born and the location of the winery.

Benjamin Zidarich was born and raised in the Carso area of Friuli Venezia-Giulia. The land is in his blood and his great passion for his home translates into making wines that reflect the terroir. The Prulke is a white wine that is a blend of 60% Sauvignon, 20% Vitovska, 20% Malvasia Istriana, the last two native grapes of the region. The name Prulke refers to the land where the grapes are grown; directly below Prepotto, the town where Zidarich was born and the location of the winery.  The wine is a medium-bodied light orange wine with saltiness and minerality, but also with a bit of oily, silky texture and more expressed citrus and herbal aromas.

Terrano is one of the few red grapes of the Carso region, and much rarer than its Tazzelenghe or Schioppettino counterparts. Yet, the quality is unmistakable as the grape expresses the terroir very well. In fact, the grape name means “red earth” due to the soil it’s grown in. There is a certain Barbera-like quality to the crunchy, earth-tinged red fruits and the bright, zingy acidity of the wine, yet there is more finesse and purity. Fresh herbs and red licorice on the palate add complexity, and the concentration is surprising given its exceedingly modest alcohol level, typically never exceeding 12.5% alcohol. A unique wine, but well suited to the North American palate. 

from the famed Valdicava winery, this single vineyard wine is only produced in the most excellent vintages. 2007 was a stellar year with perfect conditions for ripening of the Sangiovese grape. Beautifully knit together, this wine has deep, concentrated notes of blueberries and blackberries, leather, and tobacco. Deeply textured, yet with smooth tannins, and layers and layers of flavour. This will undoubtedly just get better in the bottle. If drinking now, decant or hold until 2030-2035.

Antinori is one of the four oldest winemaking families of Italy. With 26 generations of experience, more than nine estates in Italy, one in the US and one in Chile, they are leaders in quality and their name is sought after the world over.  From ‘Tuesday night pizza wine’ to collectible, ageworthy wines from Chianti Classico and Bolgheri, there is a wine for everyone’s budget in the Antinori portfolio.

This remarkable wine was made to showcase Bolgheri’s terroir from a single vineyard and single grape variety. 100% Cabernet Franc is rarer, yet this is a vibrant wine that is brawny and muscular with layers of black fruit, spice, leather and tar with full body and richness. This will age for many years to come. Only 1 bottle left for this vintage, so be sure to get your hands on it!