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USA Wine Magazine

2011

WINE ENTHUSIAST

PODERE POGGIO SCALETTE	Apr. 1, 2011
93/100 » IL CARBONAIONE 2007 • "Made by celebrated winemaker Vittorio Fiore, this gorgeous Sangiovese-based wine shows the lavish intensity and creamy consistency of Tuscany’s world famous reds. Ripe fruit, cherry and exotic spice would pair with steak, lamb or oven-roasted pasta." M.L.

GIULIANO TIBERI	Apr. 1, 2011
87/100 » LE VESPE IGT Toscana 2007 • "Clove and dark Indian spice is the protagonist here and background aromas of cherry and moist earth play supporting roles. The wine is smooth and soft in the mouth with a bright, zesty close." M.L.
87/100 » IMBRICCI DOCG Chianti Montalbano 2008 • "This Chianti Montalbano (from the area of Florence, Prato and Pistoia) opens with bright cherry intensity and a fresh, tonic mouthfeel. The whimsical cow and cloud drawing on the label helps the wine stand out on the wine store shelf." M.L.

"Brunello di Montalcino 2006 - a 93pts vintage" | by Monica Larner | Jan. 7, 2011

Poggio Nardone | 96/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 • "Incredibly smooth, rich and gorgeous with mature fruit, coffee and a very smooth texture. Tobacco and leather give it dimension"......1ST "TOP 100 CELLAR SELECTION 2011"

Mocali | 93/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 • "Bright spice, tobacco and leather make for a warm, brooding feel. But pretty fruit tones of cherry and blueberry bring up the rear."

Mocali | 92/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO VIGNA DELLE RAUNATE 2006 • "Vigna delle Raunate opens with bold smoke and spice tones upfront that are closely followed by mature fruit and blackberry aromas. Delicate touches of vanilla and black spice create beautiful accents along the way."

Il Paradiso di Frassina | 93/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 • "Here’s an inky black Brunello with ripe raspberry, resin, cola and tar. Tight tannins follow a polished mouthfee".

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2010

WINE ENTHUSIAST

POGGIO NARDONE	Sept 2010
94/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2004 • "Here’s a beautiful Brunello Riserva that comes at you in full force thanks to its compelling aromas of spice, cherry, currants, mesquite wood and cola. There’s an immediate and direct manner to the aromatic approach, but it’s layered and complex at the same time. M.L."
91/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2005 • "Vintner Tiziano Ciacci delivers a beautifully extracted wine with rich ruby highlights backed by mature aromas of blackberry, dried currants, clove and cardamom. The wine is smooth and rich in the mouth with tight tannins and bright berry freshness. M.L."
91/100 » ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2008 • "This is a truly outstanding Rosso di Montalcino that shows all the ripe and opulent characteristics of the promising 2008 vintage. The wine is rich, smooth and determined. The tannins are polished and silky. M.L." BEST ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
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MOCALI	Sept 2010
93/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO VIGNA DELLE RAUNATE RISERVA 2004 • “This is an excellent Riserva from Montalcino with rich notes of bright cherry, toast, coffee, tobacco and blackberry. Aged in big oak casks, the wine also shows elegance and harmony with a pristine, vibrant finish that lasts long on the palate.” M.L.
92/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2004 • “Mocali’s Brunello Riserva offers a bright and buoyant bouquet of cherry, blackberry, spice, tobacco and dark chocolate. The wine is elegant, generous and balanced with a full but not overdone style.“ M.L.
92/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO VIGNA DELLE RAUNATE 2005 • “Mocali boasts a consistent record of top-notch Brunellos year after year. This expression delivers meaty tones of smoked bacon backed by mature cherry and raspberry. The concentration and density is excellent (especially for this weaker vintage) and the firm tannins need two or three more years of cellar aging to soften.” M.L.
92/100 » BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2005 • “Mocali’s base Brunello from the four-star 2005 vintage exhibits pretty spice layers of ground clove and black pepper backed by loads of fresh berry fruit. The smooth mouthfeel presents both crisp freshness and polished tannins.” M.L.
90/100 » ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2008 • “Mocali’s bright Rosso di Montalcino makes a great first impression thanks to its vibrant aromas of cherry, blackberry, spice and root beer. The wine is very rich and smooth in the mouth with impressive persistency”. M.L.
88/100 » I PIAGGIONI 2009 • “Mocali is a well-established estate in Montalcino and I Piaggioni is one of its super Tuscan wines. This youthful expression of Sangiovese offers hearty cherry aromas with loads of pretty spice and vanilla at the back”. M.L.
87/100 » FOSSETTI 2009 • “Mocali’s Fossetti estate delivers a fantastically crisp and easy white blend of Chardonnay, Moscato and Trebbiano with the natural creaminess, floral aromatics and freshness you’d expect of those three grapes respectively. It’s the perfect fish or pasta salad wine.”. M.L.
87/100 » FOSSETTI 2008 • “This blend of Sangiovese and Canaiolo offers a nose of berry fruit and light almond shadings backed by an easy, informal mouthfeel. Pair this fruit-driven red with pasta or pizza”. M.L.

2009

WINE ENTHUSIAST

BALìA DI ZOLA	Sept 2009
90/100 » REDINOCE 2006 • "Here’s a smooth and richly extracted Sangiovese from Central Italy that offers soft density and pretty aromas of black fruit, cherry, spice and distant mineral shading. You’ll also taste lots of spice in the mouth"
88/100 » BALITORE 2007 • "This is an interesting and somewhat unusual wine that wins points for personality. The color is dense and richly saturated and the aromas recall bursting red cherry and exotic spice. The mouthfeel is soft and creamy and the wine ends with generous layers of fresh fruit"
86/100 » BALITORE 2006 • "This wine gives a thorny, nervous first impression with aromas of wild berry, chopped herbs and spice. It has a simple but clean feel and would pair nicely with easy meat recipes such as meatloaf or roast ham"

CASTELLUCCIO	Sept 2009
93/100 » MASSICONE 2004 • "Luscious, modern, intense and powerful: This is a blockbuster 50-50 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon created by enologist Vittorio Fiore. The wine opens with dark concentration and segues to rich aromas of black fruit, spice, espresso and leather. There are also milky tones of chocolate and blueberry that appear over the wine’s smooth, sweet finish" EDITOR'S CHOICE
88/100 » RONCO DELE GINESTRE 2004 • "This is a deep wine with rich notes of barbecue, smoke and hickory over black fruit and spice. Nothing is overblown or out of proportion and the wine offers solid fruit notes in the mouth backed by good freshness and spice"
87/100 » RONCO DEI CILIEGI 2004 • "Here’s a healthy, ruby-colored wine with fragrant notes of pressed rose, potpourri and exotic spice. There’s a fruit element, too, that recalls wild berries and black cherry. The mouthfeel is smooth, dense and slightly bitter"
87/100 » RONCO DEL RE 2004 • "Here’s an oak-driven Sauvignon Blanc from the 2004 vintage with a thick layer of toast, nut and campfire that play a leading role and leave little room for the wine’s natural fruit and floral tones. Those carpentry notes also dominate the mouthfeel and add a piquant touch of exotic spice on the close. That said, this white wine has held very well over the years"
86/100 » LE MORE 2007 • "There are sharp and slightly nervous notes here of bramble, wild berries, artichoke leaf and crushed white peppercorn. The wine is thin and streamlined with bright berry flavors on the close. Pair it with pasta and meat sauce"
84/100 » LUNARIA 2007 • "There’s a flat or slightly oxidized quality to this wine: It opens with a deep golden color and offers aromas of mature peach, apricot, ash, almond paste and lemon zest. In the mouth, the wine is creamy and rich and has a spicy close that recalls crushed white peppercorn"

2008

WINE ENTHUSIAST

GIULIANO TIBERI	Jun. 6, 2008
87/100 » LE VESPE IGT Toscana 2004 • "Aromas on this layered Sangiovese-based wine include bramble, forest floor, small berry, natural rubber and green olive. There’s a touch of red apple skin or pomegranate juice at the back and although the wine is not very long on the palate, it does leave a pretty trail of berry fruit." M.L.

POGGIO NARDONE

Feb 2008

95/100 • BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2001 / Editor's Choice: "A liquid lullaby more than a wine, this Brunello caresses and smoothes over your senses with amazing intensity and harmonious aromas of cherry-chocolate fudge, almond paste, ginger, balsamic notes, blueberry pie, firewood and vanilla. There's a shroud of cedar and cherry fruit within the wine's unwavering structure and a seemingly endless finish."-ML

PODERE POGGIO SCALETTE	Jan 2008
92/100 » IL CARBONAIONE 2004 • "Thick, dark concentration sets the tone, but elegance and harmony are achieved thanks to delicate mineral and balsam notes that add buoyancy and personality. This is a wine that speaks volumes about its Tuscan territory and you can almost taste that sun-drenched, chalky minerality sucked up through the vines’ roots."-ML

PODERE POGGIO SCALETTE	Jan 2008
92/100 » I'RENNERO 2004 • Winemaker Barbara Tamburini is a rising star, and her l’Rennero Merlot is outstandingly juicy and succulent. Notes of ripe fruit such as black cherry and blueberry are backed by sweet spice and a rich, plush mouthfeel. The wine is powerful and chewy but also elegant and balanced at the same time."-ML
91/100 » FEDERICO PRIMO 2004 • This Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold expression of Tuscany with generous layers of clove, Indian spice, crushed black pepper and black plum. The nose is distinguished by a lingering clove aroma. The tannins are thick but smooth and the mouthfeel is plush and rich."-ML
90/100 » GUALDO DEL RE 2003 • "This is a modern, powerful wine with dense penetration and generous aromas of clove, spice, vanilla, black cherry and inky blackberry. Those pretty, sweet-tasting, wood-driven flavors last a long time on the palate."-ML

2007

WINE ENTHUSIAST

PODERE POGGIO SCALETTE

Jan 2008

92/100 » IL CARBONAIONE 2003 • "Enologist Vittorio Fiore has crafted a very distinctive wine with a vibrant ruby color, nice concentration and full-force aromas of blueberry, chocolate and smoked bacon. But what won me over was an elegant and precise point of white mineral or chalk that appears on the nose. It ages for 44 months and is succulent and chewy with firm tannins. Drink after 2008."-ML