Passopisciaro is a small area (the name of a town) on Mt.Etna's north face on the property of the late Andrea Franchetti. Soils from this active volcano provides resulting wine with a vein of minerality that speaks of the terroir of this prestigious region. Rampante sits at 1000m asl and produces one of the finest, most aromatic of the volcano wines due to the sandy content in the soil. Dried flowers, smoke, sour cherries, and exotic spices dominate. It is the winery's most rarified and ethereal expression of Nerello Mascalese. Stunning.

We don’t often think about Nebbiolo outside of Barolo or Barbaresco, but the northern region of Gattinara is a quality region growing points-worthy Spanna, as it is known here. Elegant with aromas and flavours of dried roses, raspberry jam and hints of toasted nuts and vanilla. If you’ve never tried Nebbiolo from Northern Piemonte, this is a good place to start. 

For lovers of Nebbiolo (Barolo and Barbaresco) try Etna Rosso. Made with Nerello Mascalese grown on the slopes of Mt. Etna in Sicily, these wines are light in colour with the sensual aromas of cherries, cinnamon, dust and Italian herbs, but with those same high tannins and acidity Nebbiolo is known for.

Mazzolino Pinot Noir Oltrepo Pavese DOC  is a medium-bodied red wine with a ruby red color and an elegant bouquet of red fruits, cherries, and spices. On the palate, it is smooth and balanced with a long finish. The grapes are carefully selected and harvested by hand before being fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged in oak barrels for 12 months before being bottled. This Pinot Noir pairs well with roasted meats, game, and aged cheeses.

Vitovska is a native grape only found in the Friuli Venezia-Giulia region in northeast Italy. And within the region, it is only grown in Friuli Carso where it loves the iron rich soils which produce wines of incredible minerality.

Born in Prepotto, Benjamin Zidarich's Zidarich winery fully represents the love for the Carso. The result is his wines, strongly based on the characteristics of the vine and the territory. Zidarich pay the utmost attention to the balance of the development of the vines, with maximum respect for naturalness as well as its natural wines. Vitovska is a white grape indigenous to Carso and grows nowhere else in Italy. This could be considered an "orange wine" due to skin contact during fermentation. This is a white wine with tannins and has a "grip" of oranges, rose petal and crushed rock. Lovely structure with a saline tang on the finish. A rare, unique wine indeed.

Wine Enthusiast: Floral aromas of Spanish broom mingle with wild herbs, white stone fruit and citrus on this 100% Chardonnay, grown on the slopes of Mount Etna. It has mineral-driven tension, offering ripe yellow apple, pear and grapefruit alongside bright acidity and mineral notes recalling oyster shell. - Kerin O'Keefe

Maculan Vespaiolo is a white wine made from Vespaiola- a grape variety named after "Vespa", meaning wasps, for the creatures love of the sweet nectar of the grapes. Maculan is a three generation family owned winery located in Breganze in northern Italy. The wine boasts fresh aromatics of stone fruit, honey and orange blossom. One might think this wine will be sweet, but itis dry with a lovely balance between its full-bodied mouthfeel and crisp acidity. Serve with roasted vegetables or fish dishes

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.

The Derthona of Vigneti Massa is produced exclusively from white grapes that have always been cultivated in the Apennine and pre-Apennine hills of the "marca Obertenga"; with phylloxera has risked extinction, now it is regaining the ancient spaces: from 4 hectares in 2000 to the current 150 hectares cultivated by over forty producers. The Derthona comes from a cold maceration of about 40/45 hours, with subsequent fermentation for about 12 months in stainless steel tanks and periodic "batonnage" of the lees for about 12 months

Made with grapes grown following biodynamic principles and fermented with wild yeasts, this earthy rosato has aromas of sunbaked soil, eucalyptus and ripe berries. The dry, savory palate is equally earthy, doling out strawberry compote, ripe red cherry, baking spice and black olive alongside tangy acidity. It's loaded with personality. Kerin O'Keefe

Surrounded by three seas, father and son Nini and Michele work side by side on the Salento Peninsula, the sun-drenched heel of the Italian boot. As they could achieve ripe fruit in their sleep, the family’s real artform lies in control – watching, waiting, and harvesting before grapes overripen, allowing them instead to showcase Puglia’s spectacular terroir.

Colour: Straw yellow with greenish hues
Nose: Lime leaf, tangerine, and mint oil
Palate: Tangyandbold, with layers of warm citrus
Finish: Refreshing, fun medium finish

The 2008 vintage of Roberto Voerzio La Serra Barolo is known for its complex aroma, with scents of rose petals, dried cherries, leather, and spices. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and rich, with flavors of ripe red fruit, licorice, and tobacco, balanced by firm tannins and good acidity. The wine is typically aged for several years in oak barrels before release, which contributes to its structure and complexity.

Clean mineral notes, spice, dried flowers, menthol and graphite all run through this potent yet super-refined Barbera that cries for cold weather and bold, lusty food on the table. When I think about what Asti Barbera should be, the Bionzo often comes to mind."

Attractive, sensual, balanced. A soft and persuasive Barbaresco. Velvety tannins and great body define this wine, that ends with a fruity finish and floral note.

Mocha and dark chocolate with dark spice on this robust Italian red wine made from the Appassimento method of drying the grapes for great concentration of flavour. Pair with grilled meats. Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico food pairings: pasta with a tomato sauce, roasted venison, beef and veggie stew, leg of lamb.

A firm, fine-grained red with plum, mahogany, iron and bark on the nose and palate. It's full-bodied with a dusty texture from the tannins. Flavorful finish. Needs time to soften, but a beautiful young Barolo.

92/100, Wine Enthusiast: "This wine offers a full, bright bouquet that is packed with notes of cherry, chocolate, exotic spice, leather, rum cake and a touch of cinnamon. The palate shows smooth, fine tannins and a long, fruit-driven finish."

Mature plum, vanilla, toast and toasted oak sensations lead the nose. The palate opens with juicy black cherry and plum layered with coffee, dense chocolate and bitter espresso that slightly diminish the impact of its Nebbiolo pedigree and purity. It's already accessible but should also age well.- Wine Enthusiast

The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from the Asinone vineyard is the flagship wine of Poliziano. After years of continual experimentation, this particular vineyard was identified as the one with the best quality potential. Asinone is well ventilated and has poor soil that gives the Sangiovese just the right vigor. Though Vino Nobile requires only 70% Sangiovese in the blend, this wine uses 95% to showcase the excellence of the Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese) from this vineyard.

Wine Advocate-Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy- "This wine offers a unusual bouquest of candied cherry and cola aromas that are distinct to this wine. There is a savory side to the wine, with cedar and baking clove, its center of gravity defers to that candied cherry or creme de cassis characteristic."

Feudo Montoni Inzolia dei Fornelli is a highly expressive, certified organic white wine from Sicily. The "Fornelli" cru takes its name from ancient clay kilns on the historic estate. It offers aromas of yellow melon, pear, and chamomile, leading to a crisp, mineral palate with a long, fresh finish.

The Vinchio Vaglio Vigne Vecchie 50 Barbera d'Asti is a vibrant, ruby-red 100% Barbera crafted from vines over 50 years old. Aged exclusively in stainless steel and cement, this fruit-forward wine offers bright acidity, ripe plum and cherry flavors, and a long, savory finish.

Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Bianco is an organic, biodynamic, and low-intervention white wine from Sicily, typically blending 40% Albanello and 60% Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria). It is fermented with native yeasts in concrete, offering a crisp, aromatic profile with notes of peach, citrus, Mediterranean herbs, and a distinct salty/mineral finish.

The Giribaldi Langhe DOC Merlot is a 100% Merlot, organic red wine from Rodello, Piedmont, offering red fruit, dark cherry, tobacco, and vanilla notes with a warm, full palate and hints of liquorice, ideal with red meats, game, and hard cheeses, served at 16-18°C. Produced by the family-owned Giribaldi estate, it's a taste of the rich Langhe terroir, showcasing elegance and balance.

Vintage 2011/2012/2013/2014/2018/2019

The MONTECCHIESI PREZIOSATERRA SANGIOVESE is a dry, medium- to full-bodied Tuscan red wine from Italy, characterized by its intense ruby color, and a fragrant bouquet of ripe sour cherries and raspberries, with hints of plum, spice, and sometimes earthy notes. On the palate, it offers a well-rounded, full-flavored experience with firm tannins and a long, tasty finish, making it an excellent pairing for roasts, grilled meats, game dishes, and aged cheeses.

The nose on this fresh Valpolicella is driven by pretty and upfront fresh floral notes followed by zippy red-berry fruit notes and hints of tobacco. The palate is lifted with fresh cherries, mixed herbs and underbrush—all well balanced—giving the wine an easiness about it yet a complexity that keeps you coming back.

This red shows a mild concentration of menthol, tobacco and ripe red cherry on the nose. The medium-bodied palate is more generous in nature, with pleasantly plump berry fruit studded with herbs, all balanced by bright acidity and hefty tannins. Alexander Peartree

At 600 meters above sea level, on the volcanic soils of Mount Calvarina, in the area of Lessini Durello and Soave DOC, the family has been producing wine for three generations, in an optical of synergy and harmony with nature, with the aim of interpreting and enhancing the native varieties of this area, creating a product that preserves tradition. This Soave, made with 100% garganega shows very pleasant mineral and savoury notes, which alternate with fruity-citrus hints and aromatic herbs. It is a wine with a fresh and enveloping drinkability, perfect for aperitifs and paired with fish-based dishes.

This wine exudes freshness both on the nose and palate, with an abundance of crisp apple and pear flavors taking the spotlight. While it may not exhibit a wide range of complexities, its balance, intensity, and immediate drinkability more than compensate for this.

The nose is a light lunch on a rocky beach, where the dusty stones contrast with the sanguinity of bresaola and the richness of sweet chili jam. The jam spreads onto the palate, but the meatiness doesn't go anywhere either, before a crackle of black pepper sets up a lingering finish.

This Sangiovese wine brings out the grape's most profound spectrum of aromas. The selection process begins directly in the vineyard, where only the finest bunches are chosen. These are then subjected to an extended drying process and meticulous vinification, resulting in a Sangiovese that is rich, bold, and brimming with flavors.

Nose: Intense aromas of ripe red berries, cherries, and plums, with hints of dried herbs and spices.

Taste: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of blackberries, black cherries, and dark chocolate. Subtle notes of tobacco and leather add complexity.

Palate: Well-structured with velvety tannins and a long, persistent finish. Balanced acidity and a touch of minerality contribute to the overall elegance of the wine.

Nose: Intense aromas of ripe blackberries, dried cherries, and plums, with hints of tobacco and leather.

Taste: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of dark chocolate, blackcurrants, and figs, complemented by notes of vanilla and spices.

Palate: Velvety smooth tannins, well-balanced acidity, and a long, lingering finish of dried fruits and toasted oak.

Meat, soil and cherries create a rich nose, with softer cedar, vanilla and coconut peeking through. The palate has more cherries, plus plums, chocolate and a velvety texture reinforced by polished tannins. An acidic bite precedes a long, slightly bitter finish.

Made entirely from Sangiovese, this opens with enticing aromas of iris, black-skinned berry and Mediterranean herb. The structured, savory palate offers juicy wild cherry, star anise and black pepper alongside fine-grained tannins. Kerin O’Keefe

Intense Ruby ​​red color with purple reflections, elegant and persistent perfume characterized by hints of cherry. On the palate it is dry, full and harmonious.

- 3 btl - Colore 2020 JS : 98/100
- 1 btl - Balocchi Di Colore n°8 - 100% Canaiolo JS : 95/100
- 1 btl - Balocchi Di Colore n°1 - 100% Sangiovese JS : 96/100
- 1 btl - Balocchi Di Colore n°3 - 100% Colorino JS : 98/100