Tobin Spratte

9.1

Umbria on my drinking through my book on Italian wines. Like the white, unique regional wine made of 70% sangiovese, 15% typical red varietal of Abruzzo, 15% particular vine native to Montefalco. I'm going to guess these latter two are montepulciano and sagrantino, but clearly they didn't want us to know for sure.

Classic cherry profile of sangiovese with funkiness and earthiness. Bits of dried fruit. — 7 days ago

Matt Perlman

9.5

Sangiovese / sagrantino / montepulciano blend from hilltop vineyard, several years of tank and cask ageing but no new wood. Huge wine but somehow manages to be lively and dimensional. Dark, fleshy red and black fruits with lots of savory, herbal and floral elements — 3 months ago

Tobin Spratte

9.1

Pours a copper-gold color that will immediately make you wonder if this has been oxidized, but apparently that's the style. Like their reds, they seem to turn everything up to 11 in Montefalco.

After decanting in the glass, aromas of toffee, white flowers, almonds, bitter oranges, and minerals. Very funky and interesting, but not something I'd hand innocent wine drinkers. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2015 pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with fairly significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe black and red fruits: black cherry, mixed bramble berries, spices, horse blanket, espresso…powerful. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and wild. Whoa, the structure is significant. Drink now and through 2040. Bottle No. 07992/14373 — 25 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened and decanted shortly before dinner; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2019 pours a very rustic looking, deep straw bordering gold color; medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes bruised and dried fruits: dried apricot, bruised yellow apple, candied oranges, yellow flowers, herbaceous (rosemary?), and old wood. And yet there’s a freshness there that is undeniable. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium + acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is very long. Another vintage of Lapideus and another beauty from Giampiero. These wines make me think and each time I get to enjoy one, I’m reminded of why wine can be so special. Drink now through 2029. Bottle No. 0859/2655. — 2 months ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Truly one of Italy’s best red wines every year. Prune, balsamic, wild herbs. — 7 months ago

naomi gl

9.0

nuns made this wine! with paolo bea!! kind of reductive, nutty, a little appley, almost a sherry quality but solid acidity to hold it together. — 25 days ago

Clay Bullwinkel

9.4

Big tannin, herbs, forest floor, minerals. — 2 months ago

Clay Bullwinkel

9.5

Robust skin contact for weeks - array of rich mountain herbs, nuts, tannins. Not a wall flower! — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

If the late Paolo Bea ever made a Brunello, it might resemble something like this. The 2008 Colleone BdM pours a deep garnet; slightly browning with some rim variation. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. Some light signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mostly desiccated fruit profile: cherries, dried red flowers, tomatoes, balsamic, leather, and spices. Definitely some VA; “it must be Italian!” On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. The notes from the nose are confirmed. The finish is long and layered. I want more time with wine; it’s a story teller. This 2008, compared to the 2006 La Torre from the other night, just has a bit more structure to it and having enough experience with both vintages, that tracks. Drink now and through 2028. — a year ago