Italian Smiles    

Caparzo La Casa Brunello di Montalcino 2003, Tuscany

Wine Advocate 93:

The single-vineyard 2003 Brunello di Montalcino La Casa is simply gorgeous. Ripe dark fruit, spices, leather and sweet toasted oak all flow from this ample, generous wine. The plumpness of the fruit is beautifully balanced by the wine's structural components, which show an added level of richness over the regular bottling. Caparzo's La Casa is a very satisfying glass of Brunello in 2003. Readers won't want to miss this wine, which is one of the standouts of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2018.

Isole E Olena Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione de Marchi 2001, Tuscany

International Wine Cellar 90:

Mainly cabernet sauvignon with a very small percentage of cabernet franc; 24 months in 50% new barriques, of which 85% are French and 15% American oak. Dark ruby. Highly aromatic, floral nose combines cassis, lead pencil and oak. Then juicy and dense on the palate, with deep flavors of black fruit, cedar and tobacco. Finishes long and very smooth, with wonderfully creamy texture.

 Falesco Montiano Lazio 2001, Latium

Wine Advocate 93:

The 2001 Montiano, 100% Merlot, offers the luxuriously sweet and expansive nose which has always characterized the wine. Full of plum, raspberry, and dark chocolate scents, along with a dense, deep, and velvety palate, it is full and round, with the super-polished tannins which make it one of Italy’s touchstone Merlot bottlings. Drink: 2005-2018.