Catalog

Small estate but the most representative of all Tuscany: because Gianni Brunelli gathers two complementary terroirs (2 ha on clay in the north of the appellation, 4.5 ha on schist and limestone in the south), because it is 100% sangiovese, because it is advised by the local oenologist Paolo Vagaggini (like a third of the Tuscan properties). Here, they don't produce a whole host of wines, but only a Rosso and two Brunellos, the classic and (only in great vintages) the Riserva.

As Mr. Guido (Vinous) wrote in November 2021 "Gianni Brunelli, a producer who continues to prove that Brunello di Montalcino is a world-class vineyard".

The story of Luca d'Attoma in Tuscany is the same as that of Stéphane Derenoncourt in Bordeaux. First of all, Luca d'Attoma is one of the most famous oenologists in Italy for having worked since 1991 as a consultant in mythical fields such as Tua Rita or Macchiole. In 2000, he decided to create his own vineyard, Duemani, which quickly became a cult in Tuscany (first Italian wine rated 100/100 by Robert Parker). The 7 ha cover a natural amphitheatre 9 km from the Mediterranean, facing west, with very low fertility soil (clay and stone). Integral biodynamic cultivation (Demeter).

Altrovino, 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot, matured in vats. Black fruit oriented, a luxurious and extroverted wine.

The story of Luca d'Attoma in Tuscany is similar to that of Stéphane Derenoncourt in Bordeaux. First of all, Luca d'Attoma is one of the most famous oenologists in Italy, having worked since 1991 as a consultant in mythical estates such as Tua Rita or Macchiole. In 2000, he decided to create his own vineyard, Duemani, which quickly became a cult in Tuscany (first Italian wine rated 100/100 by Robert Parker). The 7 hectares cover a natural amphitheater 9 km from the Mediterranean, facing west, with soil (clay and stone) very low fertility. The vineyard is fully biodynamic (Demeter).

Suisassi, 100% Syrah, aged in French oak barrels (70% new). An energetic Syrah, at once firm, soft and fresh, in a ripe and rich expression.

The 2016 and 2018 vintages were scored identically by A. Galloni (Vinous): 95/100 for Duemani and 96/100 for Suisassi.

The story of Luca d'Attoma in Tuscany is similar to that of Stéphane Derenoncourt in Bordeaux. First of all, Luca d'Attoma is one of the most famous oenologists in Italy, having worked since 1991 as a consultant in mythical estates such as Tua Rita or Macchiole. In 2000, he decided to create his own vineyard, Duemani, which quickly became a cult in Tuscany (first Italian wine rated 100/100 by Robert Parker). The 7 hectares cover a natural amphitheater 9 km from the Mediterranean, facing west, with soil (clay and stone) very low fertility. The vineyard is fully biodynamic (Demeter).

Suisassi, 100% Syrah, aged in French oak barrels (70% new). An energetic Syrah, at once firm, soft and fresh, in a ripe and rich expression.

The 2016 and 2018 vintages were scored identically by A. Galloni (Vinous): 95/100 for Duemani and 96/100 for Suisassi.

The story of Luca d'Attoma in Tuscany is similar to that of Stéphane Derenoncourt in Bordeaux. First of all, Luca d'Attoma is one of the most famous oenologists in Italy, having worked since 1991 as a consultant in mythical estates such as Tua Rita or Macchiole. In 2000, he decided to create his own vineyard, Duemani, which quickly became a cult in Tuscany (first Italian wine rated 100/100 by Robert Parker). The 7 hectares cover a natural amphitheater 9 km from the Mediterranean, facing west, with soil (clay and stone) very low fertility. The vineyard is fully biodynamic (Demeter).

Duemani, 100% Cabernet Franc, aged in barrels (50% new). This is the great wine of the estate, refined, deep, with an elegant tannic structure and built for aging.

The 2016 and 2018 vintages were scored identically by A. Galloni (Vinous): 95/100 for Duemani and 96/100 for Suisassi.

In the 1920s, the Marquis Incisa della Rochetta wanted to create a "noble" wine, i.e., one that was close to the taste of Bordeaux wines. On his estate of Tenuta San Guido, located in Maremma (coastal Tuscany), he had Cabernet Sauvignon (85% today) planted, convinced by their racy tannic structure and their durability. The climate, cooled by the sea breeze from the Mediterranean 5 km away and by the altitude (100 to 400 m), is particularly conducive to a slow maturation of the Cabernet berries.

All the wines of Tenuta San Guido are built around Cabernet Sauvignon as the main grape variety, combined with another minority variety. Sassicaia, a pioneer in the super-Tuscan movement that followed, gained international recognition in 1971 and has never lost it since.

The Difese, the Tenuta's entry-level wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, is fresh and velvety on the palate with discreet tannins. Average length but really tasty.

In the 1920s, the Marquis Incisa della Rochetta wanted to create a "noble" wine, i.e., one that was close to the taste of Bordeaux wines. On his estate of Tenuta San Guido, located in Maremma (coastal Tuscany), he had Cabernet Sauvignon (85% today) planted, convinced by their racy tannic structure and their durability. The climate, cooled by the sea breeze from the Mediterranean 5 km away and by the altitude (100 to 400 m), is particularly conducive to a slow maturation of the Cabernet berries.

All the wines of Tenuta San Guido are built around Cabernet Sauvignon as the main grape variety, combined with another minority variety. Sassicaia, a pioneer in the super-Tuscan movement that followed, gained international recognition in 1971 and has never lost it since.

Guidalberto, a step above Difese, is a Cabernet-Sauvignon/Merlot blend with a Medoc-like profile, elegant and distinguished while remaining greedy.

In the 1920s, the Marquis Incisa della Rochetta wanted to create a "noble" wine, i.e., one that was close to the taste of Bordeaux wines. On his estate of Tenuta San Guido, located in Maremma (coastal Tuscany), he had Cabernet Sauvignon (85% today) planted, convinced by their racy tannic structure and their durability. The climate, cooled by the sea breeze from the Mediterranean 5 km away and by the altitude (100 to 400 m), is particularly conducive to a slow maturation of the Cabernet berries.

All the wines of Tenuta San Guido are built around Cabernet Sauvignon as the main grape variety, combined with another minority variety. Sassicaia, a pioneer in the super-Tuscan movement that followed, gained international recognition in 1971 and has never lost it since.

Sassicaia, the Tuscan star, a Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend, is a unique wine. No extravagance but a perfect balance between aromatic complexity (blackberry, blueberry, balsamic notes), superlative finesse and controlled power. All in delicacy, a wine of great class!

Marco de Grazia is passionate about the vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna, which he calls "Mediterranean Burgundy". Nowhere else is there such geological diversity, the subsoil being a yarrow made up of innumerable lava flows, each with its own mineral composition. Moreover, because of the altitude, the grapes benefit from a slow and progressive "northern" maturity, combining fruitiness, freshness, richness and power.

In 2002, he created the Domain of Terre Nere in the northeast of Etna, between 600 m and 1000 m altitude, organically cultivated and planted with old vines more than 50 years old: carricante for the whites and nerello (mascalese and cappuccio) for the reds. The analogy with Burgundy continues as Mr. de Grazia harvests, vinifies and bottles each parcel separately like a Burgundian climate.

Calderara Sottana white, 100% carricante aged from 15 to 60 years, is a lively, mineral and fat wine, with aromas of grapefruit, orange blossom and aniseed. Classified by Mr. de Grazia as a Premier Cru, an absolutely remarkable white proving once again that the Mediterranean islands, whether French, Italian or Greek, are ideal for making some of the best dry whites in the world.

Marco de Grazia is passionate about the vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna, which he calls "Mediterranean Burgundy". Nowhere else is there such geological diversity, the subsoil being a yarrow made up of innumerable lava flows, each with its own mineral composition. Moreover, because of the altitude, the grapes benefit from a slow and progressive "northern" maturity, combining fruitiness, freshness, richness and power.

In 2002, he created the Domain of Terre Nere in the northeast of Etna, between 600 m and 1000 m altitude, organically cultivated and planted with old vines more than 50 years old: carricante for the whites and nerello (mascalese and cappuccio) for the reds. The analogy with Burgundy continues as Mr. de Grazia harvests, vinifies and bottles each parcel separately like a Burgundian climate.

Feudo di Mezzo, 100% nerello aged over 50 years, a wine the estate considers a Premier Cru, is charming and mouthwatering, carried by deep, spicy flesh. Rated 90+ for its 2017 by Ian d'Agata (Vinous).

Marco de Grazia is passionate about the vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna, which he calls "Mediterranean Burgundy". Nowhere else is there such geological diversity, the subsoil being a yarrow made up of innumerable lava flows, each with its own mineral composition. Moreover, because of the altitude, the grapes benefit from a slow and progressive "northern" maturity, combining fruitiness, freshness, richness and power.

In 2002, he created the Domain of Terre Nere in the northeast of Etna, between 600 m and 1000 m altitude, organically cultivated and planted with old vines more than 50 years old: carricante for the whites and nerello (mascalese and cappuccio) for the reds. The analogy with Burgundy continues as Mr. de Grazia harvests, vinifies and bottles each parcel separately like a Burgundian climate.

Feudo di Mezzo, 100% nerello aged over 50 years, a wine the estate considers a Premier Cru, is charming and mouthwatering, carried by deep, spicy flesh. Rated 90+ for its 2017 by Ian d'Agata (Vinous).

Marco de Grazia is passionate about the vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna, which he calls "Mediterranean Burgundy". Nowhere else is there such geological diversity, the subsoil being a yarrow made up of innumerable lava flows, each with its own mineral composition. Moreover, because of the altitude, the grapes benefit from a slow and progressive "northern" maturity, combining fruitiness, freshness, richness and power.

In 2002, he created the Domain of Terre Nere in the northeast of Etna, between 600 m and 1000 m altitude, organically cultivated and planted with old vines more than 50 years old: carricante for the whites and nerello (mascalese and cappuccio) for the reds. The analogy with Burgundy continues as Mr. de Grazia harvests, vinifies and bottles each parcel separately like a Burgundian climate.

"Calderara Sottana" and "San Lorenzo" are two vineyards located on the Ellittico Crater flows, dating back 15,000-60,000 years and renowned for their great geological complexity. They are made up of 100% nerello vines between 50 and 100 years old and are both classified as Grand Cru by Mr. de Grazia. Two wines brimming with richness, full-bodied and smooth, with a denser tannic structure in San Lorenzo, rated 91+ and 92+/100 by d'Agata (Vinous) respectively.

Dirk Van der Niepoort, a talented Port producer, is an unusual character: quirky, visionary and intuitive. Twenty-five years ago, he set out to introduce the quality of the wines of northern Portugal, while remaining faithful to Portuguese know-how and grape varieties. He has created a plethora of vintages (more than 50!) highlighting here a terroir, there a grape variety or unconventional winemaking. Faithful to ancestral Portuguese traditions, Mr Van der Niepoort makes his red wines by blending local grape varieties: touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta roriz, alfrocheiro, baga, jaen...

The term Vinho Verde originally referred to young and fresh wines and applied to both whites and reds. It has long been synonymous with white wines with a formidable acidity because they come from still green grapes. Mr. Van der Niepoort created this Dócil cuvée to demonstrate that a good Vinho Verde could be "docile". Vinified and matured in stainless steel vats, this wine made from the Loureiro grape variety on a granitic terroir offers a refreshing, crisp and fresh palate with floral (hawthorn, fern) and fruity (green apple, grapefruit, lime) aromas. And only 11° because the Vinho Verde appellation is not granted to wines titling more than 11°5.

Dirk Van der Niepoort, a talented Port producer, is an unusual character: quirky, visionary and intuitive. Twenty-five years ago, he set out to introduce the quality of the wines of northern Portugal, while remaining faithful to Portuguese know-how and grape varieties. He has created a plethora of vintages (more than 50!) highlighting here a terroir, there a grape variety or unconventional winemaking. Faithful to ancestral Portuguese traditions, Mr Van der Niepoort makes his red wines by blending local grape varieties: touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta roriz, alfrocheiro, baga, jaen...

The term Vinho Verde originally referred to young and fresh wines and applied to both whites and reds. It has long been synonymous with white wines with a formidable acidity because they come from still green grapes. Mr. Van der Niepoort created this Dócil cuvée to demonstrate that a good Vinho Verde could be "docile". Vinified and matured in stainless steel vats, this wine made from the Loureiro grape variety on a granitic terroir offers a refreshing, crisp and fresh palate with floral (hawthorn, fern) and fruity (green apple, grapefruit, lime) aromas. And only 11° because the Vinho Verde appellation is not granted to wines titling more than 11°5.

Taylor's is the most famous House producing so-called English style Ports, i. e. straight and slender (while Graham, the other big House of Porto, represents the Portuguese style, softer and sweeter).

Classic Vintage is a blend of their 3 historical quintas: Vargellas, Terra Feita and Junco. No vintage between 2011 and 2016.

Neal Martin (Vinous) rated the 2017 Vintage 98/100 and the 2018 Vintage 97/100 "white pepper mingles with black fruit in a very precise finish. Great class".

Taylor's is the most famous House producing so-called English style Ports, i. e. straight and slender (while Graham, the other big House of Porto, represents the Portuguese style, softer and sweeter).

Classic Vintage is a blend of their 3 historical quintas: Vargellas, Terra Feita and Junco. No vintage between 2011 and 2016.

Neal Martin (Vinous) rated the 2017 Vintage 98/100 and the 2018 Vintage 97/100 "white pepper mingles with black fruit in a very precise finish. Great class".

Dirk Van der Niepoort, a talented Port producer, is an unusual character: quirky, visionary and intuitive. Faithful to Portuguese know-how and grape varieties, he has created an abundance of vintages (more than 50!) highlighting here a terroir, there a grape variety or unconventional vinification. This year, in collaboration with his wife (who is passionate about Japanese tea), he is offering a rather special gift set:

- 1 bottle of his classic Tawny Port, aged for 7 years in small oak barrels,

- 1 box of Pipa Cha (75g), an organic Oolong tea matured in the barrels used to age the Port.

Owned by the Tarbe family for a century, the Hourtica estate produces one of the most honest and authentic armagnacs where each vintage has its own personality. With 18 hectares in the heart of the best Armagnac terroir (the tawny sands of Labastide in Bas-Armagnac), this estate blends the 3 traditional grape varieties: 40% baco for roundness and smoothness, 30% ugni blanc for its finesse and floral aromas, 30% colombard for its fruity and spicy aromas

All its armagnacs are aged in barrels and bottled only as they are sold. Non rectified (no distilled water added), they reach 46° after 25 years and 41° after 50 years of age. The 1995 vintage was awarded a gold medal at the Concours Général de Paris.

Owned by the Tarbe family for a century, the Hourtica estate produces one of the most honest and authentic armagnacs where each vintage has its own personality. With 18 hectares in the heart of the best Armagnac terroir (the tawny sands of Labastide in Bas-Armagnac), this estate blends the 3 traditional grape varieties: 40% baco for roundness and smoothness, 30% ugni blanc for its finesse and floral aromas, 30% colombard for its fruity and spicy aromas

All its armagnacs are aged in barrels and bottled only as they are sold. Non rectified (no distilled water added), they reach 46° after 25 years and 41° after 50 years of age. The 1995 vintage was awarded a gold medal at the Concours Général de Paris.

Owned by the Tarbe family for a century, the Hourtica estate produces one of the most honest and authentic armagnacs where each vintage has its own personality. With 18 hectares in the heart of the best Armagnac terroir (the tawny sands of Labastide in Bas-Armagnac), this estate blends the 3 traditional grape varieties: 40% baco for roundness and smoothness, 30% ugni blanc for its finesse and floral aromas, 30% colombard for its fruity and spicy aromas

All its armagnacs are aged in barrels and bottled only as they are sold. Non rectified (no distilled water added), they reach 46° after 25 years and 41° after 50 years of age. The 1995 vintage was awarded a gold medal at the Concours Général de Paris.

Owned by the Tarbe family for a century, the Hourtica estate produces one of the most honest and authentic armagnacs where each vintage has its own personality. With 18 hectares in the heart of the best Armagnac terroir (the tawny sands of Labastide in Bas-Armagnac), this estate blends the 3 traditional grape varieties: 40% baco for roundness and smoothness, 30% ugni blanc for its finesse and floral aromas, 30% colombard for its fruity and spicy aromas

All its armagnacs are aged in barrels and bottled only as they are sold. Non rectified (no distilled water added), they reach 46° after 25 years and 41° after 50 years of age. The 1995 vintage was awarded a gold medal at the Concours Général de Paris.