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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2016

Tenuta Carretta

Barolo Cannubi

Unfolding in layers and taking its sweet time about it, this red is exquisite and quite reserved at the moment. It’s going to take some time (and then some more time) to fully come around. But as the earth, leather, rose petal, and red fruit action develops, it will turn into an absolutely understated beauty. – J.R.

2018

Campogiovanni

Brunello di Montalcino

This Brunello is about as savory as they come. Stewed plums, tobacco leaf, baking spices, and earth tones mingle on the nose and in the mouth. Yes, it’s brawny, but there are streaks of elegance woven throughout as well. It needs a hearty, slow-cooked roast to show its true potential. – J.R.

2020

Madrevite

Il Reminore

Citrus, apricot, dried acacia flower, saline, and tropical fruit all grace the nose here. Even with age, this has ample freshness, with a palate still full of high-toned tropical fruit flavors, and just a touch of toasted nuts. – J.R.

2020

Poggio della Dogana

Poggiogirato

An organic red produced in Castrocaro Terme from fruit sourced from 15-year-old Sangiovese vineyards, this spends 12 months in oak. A very nice nose of herbal spices, leather, wild berries, florals, and red and black fruits is on offer here. The mouthfeel is almost burly in its structure, but there is great minerality and dark fruit flavor to balance it all out. The finish is long and herbal, and the entire palate is absolutely packed with tannins by Sangiovese standards. – J.R.

2020

Ronchi di Castelluccio

Ronco Casone

This red is sourced from their most shaded, coolest, and latest-harvested Modigliana vineyard. The Sangiovese clones planted there are believed to be unique to the site, and are lower-yielding. It’s got a gorgeous nose of black cherry, red plum, orange rind and roses, tinged with underbrush hints. The palate is extremely focused in its elegant red fruit flavor, vibrant acidity, and linear minerality. Lovely stuff, it needs some time in bottle to resolve its linear tannins. – J.R.

2020

Ronchi di Castelluccio

Ronco della Simia

Sourced from a Sangiovese clone that produces thicker-skinned berries, planted on east-facing slopes at 440m a.s.l. The name refers to a local legend involving an American soldier stationed in Modigliana during WWII, who supposedly decided to settle in the region along with (for some reason) a pet monkey. When the monkey died, he apparently buried it near a well in the ronco (which I am assuming would now violate some regulations?), which is considered to be a “mystical” place. It starts with earth, dried orange peel, dried herbs, sour black cherry, plums, redcurrant, dried rose petal, and a rather serious nature all around. The elegant nose belies a powerful, forceful palate, with leathery tannins, and deep red fruit flavors. This has got serious stuffing in its structure; even the acidity feels serious! – J.R.

2021

Castello La Leccia

Chianti Classico Riserva

An atypical Chianti expression, with lots of earth and very deep dark cherry fruit, dark spice, and plush, velvety character. – J.R.

2021

Kelleri Bozen

Green Sauvignon

White currants, white fig, white blossoms, and white pepper mark the aromas and flavors of this Northern Italian Sauvignon. The nose is perfumed and heady, and the palate shares in its heft and unctuous nature. – J.R.

2021

Madrevite

C'osa

This flagship red’s grapes are manually selected, with about 20% whole cluster and agewd 6 months in cement tanks and 12 months in large oak barrels. The 2021 offering is a savory, complex sipper with dried violets, blackberry, currants, and raspberry on the nose. The palate has a soft entry, then bursts with vibrant red fruits, a hit of herbs and black pepper spice, and shows power on an impressive finish. – J.R.

2021

Querceto di Castellina

Sei Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Boy oh boy, is this concentrated! Tangy red cherries, red currants, dried cranberries, baking and wood spices, orange peel, and earthy tobacco waft from the glass. The palate delivers a flash of the same, upping the ante on the tanginess. Aged 18 months in French oak (both 500 and 700 lt), with 12 more months refining in the bottle. – J.R.

2021

Riecine

Chianti Classico Riserva

A full-bore, leathery, and brambly expression, with plenty of dark cherry, baking spices, green herbs, and dried orange peel to keep you interested. The palate shows plenty of power, with rich berry fruit tinged with salted dark chocolate. But it is not without poise in its excellent length. – J.R.

2021

2021

Vallepicciola

Chianti Classico Riserva

Sourced from hillside vines near the river Arbia, this is a decidedly tangy, earthy Riserva with lots of depth to its bright cherry and red plum fruitiness. Hints of dried orange peel, tobacco, and complexity. Very food-friendly. – J.R.

2021

Vignamaggio

Terre di Prenzano

Sourced from the Prenzano-Petriolo and Orto-Poggio Asciutto vineyards, this shows nice and vibrant cherry fruit and earthy undertones. The richness of the mouthfeel is a wonderful contrast to its Old School Chianti structure and texture. – J.R.

2022

La Regola

Costa Toscana Bianco

With abundant notes of apricot, peach, yellow apples, lemon blossom, and hay, it’s the Chardonnay that dominates the nose in this blend. Its palate is rich with broad peach and ripe citrus flavors, complemented by hints of piquant minerality on a medium+ finish. – J.R.

2022

Madrevite

C'osa

This flagship red’s grapes are manually selected, with about 20% whole cluster and agewd 6 months in cement tanks and 12 months in large oak barrels. Succulent red fruit kicks it off, all of it deep and savory. The palate shows the same, with spices acting as background to the pure, abundantly fruity mouthfeel. – J.R.

2022

Poggio della Dogana

I Quattro Bastioni

An incredibly juicy red that’s dark and plummy and still a bit young. You can really sense the structure in the dryness of the mid-palate, amid the flavors of black cherry and hints of leather. Grab a burger to tame it and enjoy. – J.R.

2022

Ronchi di Castelluccio

Buco del Prete

This site, named “hole of the priest”, refers to land previously belonging to the church, with a vineyard planted at the base of two adjoining steep hillsiodes. It leaeds with very dark cherry and dried roses, then presents aromas of vibrant red fruits. The palate is earthy, funky, chewy, and structured, leading to a mineral-tinged finish. – J.R.

2022

Ronchi di Castelluccio

Ronco de Re

There’s a lot to like about this white, sourced from a steep, riverside vineyard. A perky nose is abundant with white flowers, ripe citrus, jasmine, underripe pineapple, pear, and yellow and green apples. 9 months in new and second-use French oak lend a hint of toast tro the racy palate, which shows flavors of ripe lemons and a chalky minerality, leading to a long citrus-peel finish. – J.R.

2022

Ronchi di Castelluccio

Sottovento

From 30+ year old, bush-trained vines comes this intriguing and mineral Sauvignon, aged 12 months in used French oak barrels. Peach blossom and tropical fruit notes mingle with ripe grapefruit and a touch of hay on the nose. In the mouth it starts quite rounded, with developed citrus, grilled orange peel, ripe yelow apple, and mandarin orange flavors. A saline hint adds complexity and nuance. – J.R.

2022

2023

Madrevite

C'osa

This flagship red’s grapes are manually selected, with about 20% whole cluster and agewd 6 months in cement tanks and 12 months in large oak barrels. Incense spices, red fruits, and greener herb notes with licorice hints lead the nose. The palate is chewy with black fruit, abundant spices, and more structure than in previous vintages. Great stuff. – J.R.

2023

Poggio della Dogana

Arlesiana

Sourced from Brisighella, this is a take-no-prisoners Sangiovese that offers lots of dark currant and cherry fruit aromas, along with prominent dried herb spice notes. Fleshy, fruity, and full of body, it’s a mouthful that has impressive structure throughout, and needs some time (or lots of protein). – J.R.

2023

Poggio della Dogana

Belladama

What a lovely nose: blossoms, quince, ripe lemons… A delight to sniff. Good minerality balances an ample body that carries a good bit of structure to it, augmented by notes of honey and herbs, and ripe citrus flavors. – J.R.

2023

2023

2023

Tenuta Licinia

Onda

Sourced from a single vineyard with extrmely thin, slate subsoils, this Cab Franc sees 11 months aging in large format oak and 6 months in concrete. Tons of herbal spice notes kick it off, with citrus peel, lavender, and a fantastic purity of dark plummy fruit. The palate is gorgeous—spice, tension, dusty but elegant tannins, black fruit depth, and blood orange acidity. Irresistibly pretty, mineral, energetic, rich, and delicious. – J.R.

2023

Tenuta Licinia

Sasso di Fata

Dried herbs, rose petal, and savory black olive notes offer support to a nose of black plums, red currants, and wild raspberries. Sultry on entry, the mouthfeel then becomes grippy and at turns energetic and then powerful in this exceptional young red that is just finding its footing. It’s very young, very finely textured, very elegant, and very, very good! – J.R.

2024

Madrevite

La Bisbetica

Aged for 4 months in stainless steel and cement tanks on the fine lees, this is a foodie’s rose. Grapefruit, rose petal, wild strawberry, and white pepper aromas lead into a lively, saline-kissed palate with flavors of mandarin orange, red berries, and a pithy structure. – J.R.

2024

Madrevite

Opra

Still clearly a young pup, this Grenache (locally called Gamay del Trasimeno) offers a nose of violets, ocean spray, raspberries, pepper, and currants.The palate deep with plummy fruitiness, but manages to stay light on its feet with perky acidity through a spicy, earthy finish. – J.R.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2016

Producer

Name

Unfolding in layers and taking its sweet time about it, this red is exquisite and quite reserved at the moment. It’s going to take some time (and then some more time) to fully come around. But as the earth, leather, rose petal, and red fruit action develops, it will turn into an absolutely understated beauty. – J.R.

2018

Producer

Name

This Brunello is about as savory as they come. Stewed plums, tobacco leaf, baking spices, and earth tones mingle on the nose and in the mouth. Yes, it’s brawny, but there are streaks of elegance woven throughout as well. It needs a hearty, slow-cooked roast to show its true potential. – J.R.

2020

Producer

Name

Citrus, apricot, dried acacia flower, saline, and tropical fruit all grace the nose here. Even with age, this has ample freshness, with a palate still full of high-toned tropical fruit flavors, and just a touch of toasted nuts. – J.R.

2020

Producer

Name

An organic red produced in Castrocaro Terme from fruit sourced from 15-year-old Sangiovese vineyards, this spends 12 months in oak. A very nice nose of herbal spices, leather, wild berries, florals, and red and black fruits is on offer here. The mouthfeel is almost burly in its structure, but there is great minerality and dark fruit flavor to balance it all out. The finish is long and herbal, and the entire palate is absolutely packed with tannins by Sangiovese standards. – J.R.

2020

Producer

Name

This red is sourced from their most shaded, coolest, and latest-harvested Modigliana vineyard. The Sangiovese clones planted there are believed to be unique to the site, and are lower-yielding. It’s got a gorgeous nose of black cherry, red plum, orange rind and roses, tinged with underbrush hints. The palate is extremely focused in its elegant red fruit flavor, vibrant acidity, and linear minerality. Lovely stuff, it needs some time in bottle to resolve its linear tannins. – J.R.

2020

Producer

Name

Sourced from a Sangiovese clone that produces thicker-skinned berries, planted on east-facing slopes at 440m a.s.l. The name refers to a local legend involving an American soldier stationed in Modigliana during WWII, who supposedly decided to settle in the region along with (for some reason) a pet monkey. When the monkey died, he apparently buried it near a well in the ronco (which I am assuming would now violate some regulations?), which is considered to be a “mystical” place. It starts with earth, dried orange peel, dried herbs, sour black cherry, plums, redcurrant, dried rose petal, and a rather serious nature all around. The elegant nose belies a powerful, forceful palate, with leathery tannins, and deep red fruit flavors. This has got serious stuffing in its structure; even the acidity feels serious! – J.R.

2021

Producer

Name

An atypical Chianti expression, with lots of earth and very deep dark cherry fruit, dark spice, and plush, velvety character. – J.R.

2021

Producer

Name

White currants, white fig, white blossoms, and white pepper mark the aromas and flavors of this Northern Italian Sauvignon. The nose is perfumed and heady, and the palate shares in its heft and unctuous nature. – J.R.

2021

Producer

Name

This flagship red’s grapes are manually selected, with about 20% whole cluster and agewd 6 months in cement tanks and 12 months in large oak barrels. The 2021 offering is a savory, complex sipper with dried violets, blackberry, currants, and raspberry on the nose. The palate has a soft entry, then bursts with vibrant red fruits, a hit of herbs and black pepper spice, and shows power on an impressive finish. – J.R.

2021

Producer

Name

Boy oh boy, is this concentrated! Tangy red cherries, red currants, dried cranberries, baking and wood spices, orange peel, and earthy tobacco waft from the glass. The palate delivers a flash of the same, upping the ante on the tanginess. Aged 18 months in French oak (both 500 and 700 lt), with 12 more months refining in the bottle. – J.R.

2021

Producer

Name

A full-bore, leathery, and brambly expression, with plenty of dark cherry, baking spices, green herbs, and dried orange peel to keep you interested. The palate shows plenty of power, with rich berry fruit tinged with salted dark chocolate. But it is not without poise in its excellent length. – J.R.

2021

2021

Producer

Name

Sourced from hillside vines near the river Arbia, this is a decidedly tangy, earthy Riserva with lots of depth to its bright cherry and red plum fruitiness. Hints of dried orange peel, tobacco, and complexity. Very food-friendly. – J.R.

2021

Producer

Name

Sourced from the Prenzano-Petriolo and Orto-Poggio Asciutto vineyards, this shows nice and vibrant cherry fruit and earthy undertones. The richness of the mouthfeel is a wonderful contrast to its Old School Chianti structure and texture. – J.R.

2022

Producer

Name

With abundant notes of apricot, peach, yellow apples, lemon blossom, and hay, it’s the Chardonnay that dominates the nose in this blend. Its palate is rich with broad peach and ripe citrus flavors, complemented by hints of piquant minerality on a medium+ finish. – J.R.

2022

Producer

Name

This flagship red’s grapes are manually selected, with about 20% whole cluster and agewd 6 months in cement tanks and 12 months in large oak barrels. Succulent red fruit kicks it off, all of it deep and savory. The palate shows the same, with spices acting as background to the pure, abundantly fruity mouthfeel. – J.R.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2016

2016 Tenuta Carretta Barolo Cannubi

Still Wine

$$

2018

2018 Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino

Still Wine

$$

2020

2020 Madrevite Il Reminore

Still Wine

$

2020

2020 Poggio della Dogana Poggiogirato

Still Wine

$

2020

2020 Ronchi di Castelluccio Ronco Casone

Still Wine

$$

2020

2020 Ronchi di Castelluccio Ronco della Simia

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 Castello La Leccia Chianti Classico Riserva

Still Wine

$

2021

2021 Kelleri Bozen Green Sauvignon

Still Wine

$

2021

2021 Madrevite C’osa

Still Wine

$

2021

2021 Querceto di Castellina Sei Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 Riecine Chianti Classico Riserva

Still Wine

$

2021

2021 Tenuta Licinia Sasso di Fata

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 Vallepicciola Chianti Classico Riserva

Still Wine

$

2021

2021 Vignamaggio Terre di Prenzano

Still Wine

$

2022

2022 La Regola Costa Toscana Bianco

Still Wine

$

2022

2022 Madrevite C’osa

Still Wine

$

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