Italian Wine Month 6-pack Sampler #3 - Best of the Best Reds 2025

Castello di Volpaia 2021 Chianti Classico Reserva (Tuscany) - 

95pts Wine Spectator, 94 Vinous, 93 Wine Advocate, 93 Suckling, 93 Decanter
Unanimous praise from the world’s top wine critics marks the 2021 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva as one of the standout wines of a spectacular vintage—and one of the best values in top notch Chianti. Sourced from organically farmed vineyards in Radda at elevations between 400 and 600 meters, this 100% Sangiovese Riserva delivers remarkable finesse and aromatic lift.
On the nose, it offers a beautifully complex bouquet of sweet and dark cherries, pomegranate, and red plums, which are intricately layered with savory notes of damp earth, leather, licorice, and a touch of wild herbs and cracked pepper. The palate is vibrant and balanced, with a lively acidity that brightens a core of ripe red berries and earthy undertones.Structured by firm yet smooth tannins, the wine has a poised, mid-weight feel and a long, energetic finish that highlights its mineral and spice accents.This is a sophisticated and authentic Chianti that, while approachable now, has the structure to evolve beautifully over the next decade.

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino (Tuscany) -  96pts James Suckling - Founded in the 17th century and revitalized in the late 20th by Giuseppe Bianchini, Ciacci Piccolomini is one of Brunello's most respected producers. The estate's name is a result of a marriage between the Ciacci and Piccolomini d'Aragona families. However, its modern winemaking legacy truly began in 1985 when Countess Elda Ciacci bequeathed the property to Giuseppe Bianchini, the estate's long-time farm manager. This act of generosity allowed Bianchini to pursue his dream of producing high-quality Brunello di Montalcino. 
The 2020 Ciacci is a wine that beautifully balances power and elegance. Its deep ruby color gives way to an intense and complex nose of crushed plum, black cherry, and wild strawberry, layered with savory notes of tobacco, licorice, and fragrant wilted violets. On the palate, it is full-bodied and well-structured, with a plush texture and firm, velvety tannins. Flavors of dark cherry and raspberry are complemented by notes of tobacco and a touch of dark chocolate, leading to a long, polished finish. This is a concentrated yet balanced wine that, while approachable now, has the structure and depth to age for years to come, making it a classic expression of Montalcino. 

Tommaso Bussola 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (Veneto) - 95pts James Sucking - The Tommaso Bussola winery traces its roots back to 1977, when Tommaso began working in the cellar of his uncle, Giuseppe Bussola.  While the estate itself has been active for nearly 50 years, it was in the 1990's when Tommaso took the reigns and his unique approach to combining innovative new techniques with classic Amarone winemaking that the estate started to become recognized as one of the top, small wineries in the region.  
The 2019 is a wine of profound intensity and concentration, pouring a deep, dark ruby color. The nose is a captivating medley of dried prunes, figs, and dark cherry, accented by complex notes of espresso, dark chocolate, tobacco, and an earthy minerality. On the palate, it is full-bodied and powerful, with a luxurious, velvety texture. The rich, concentrated fruit flavors are balanced by a lively acidity and plush, well-integrated tannins, leading to a long and savory finish that echoes with hints of spice and a pleasant bittersweet character. This is a benchmark Amarone, showcasing the producer's skill in balancing opulence with structure.

Michele Chiarlo "Reyna" Barbaresco (Piemonte) - 93pts Wine Spectator - If you're looking for something to bequeath to you kids or grandkids, Chiarlo's single vineyard Barolos are the way to go, but if you're looking for a beautiful, drink soon expression of Nebbiolo, then we recommend this fantastic Barbaresco.  The Michele Chiarlo 2021 Barbaresco Reyna is a refined and elegant expression of Nebbiolo from the Piedmont region, showcasing the varietal’s ethereal charm and depth. In the glass, it reveals a luminous garnet hue with brilliant highlights. The nose is aristocratic and complex, offering delicate aromas of rose petals, tea leaves, and small red berries, underscored by subtle sweet spices. On the palate, it is silky and beautifully balanced, with fine, polished tannins that lend structure without overpowering the wine’s graceful character. The finish is long and harmonious, echoing the floral and fruity notes with a lingering sense of finesse.

 San Marzano 2019 "60 Sessantanni" Old Vines Primitivo di Mandura (Puglia):  San Marzano is a fairly large co-op of over 1200 growers in Puglia, which sounds like they may make oceans of low or average quality wine, but in actuality most of the family owned farms they represent only own a hectare or two of vines.  As far as the quality goes, the 60 Sessantanni (from 60+ year old vines) consistently ranks in the top 1% of wines globally on Vivino and this vintage received 99 points from top Italian critic Luca Maroni.  This bottling is a great example of how Primitivo can deliver both power and polish, with a deep ruby in color that opens with a generous bouquet of prune, cherry jam, and blackberry compote, layered with warm notes of cinnamon, clove, and vanilla. Tobacco and cedar add a savory edge, while the palate delivers plush waves of dark fruit, cocoa, and coffee, framed by soft tannins and a velvety texture. Despite its richness, the wine remains balanced, with just enough acidity to keep things lively and a long, warming finish that lingers with hints of spice and chocolate.

Argicola Punica 2020 "Barrua" Isola dei Narughi (Sardegnia) - Agricola Punica is a project that was founded in 2002 by a group of winemaking legends, most notably Giacomo Tachis, the celebrated enologist who is considered the father of the "Super Tuscans" (Sassicaia, Tignanello, Solaia).The other key partner is the Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta, the owner of Tenuta San Guido (producer of Sassicaia).The project's goal was to apply the same winemaking philosophy to Sardinia's native grapes, particularly Carignano.
94pts Vinous, 93pts Wine Spectator, 93pts James Suckling
The Agricola Punica 2020 Barrua is a powerful and elegant wine that beautifully expresses the unique terroir of Sardinia's Sulcis region. It pours an intense, deep ruby red. On the nose, it offers a complex and highly aromatic profile of ripe black cherries, plums, and wild berries, with an intriguing mix of savory notes like black pepper, licorice, and Mediterranean herbs. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, with fine-grained, supple tannins that give the wine a velvety texture. It is wonderfully balanced, with a juicy core of dark fruit and a long, persistent finish accented by a touch of minerality.