Ponte Pietra Merlot/Corvina 2009 (Italy)

Full of ripe berry fruit aromas and flavours. A blend of 55% Merlot which lends the wine a soft blackberry voluptuousness and 45% Corvina which adds the characteristic cherry blossom perfume and ripe cherry pie fruit character to the palate and finish. It is clean, fresh and weel-balanced through to the finish.

Gran Sasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2008 (Italy)

Meaning 'Great Stone', the winery takes its name from the Gran Sasso mountain in Abruzzo. I blind tasted this wine against a number of others, three of which retailed at a pound a bottle more, and it easily came out top. Textbook Montepulciano, it is deep coloured, clean, fresh and pure on the nose, light, soft and fruity on the palate.

Winner of Silver Medal at The International Wine Challenge 2008. A Wine of the Month in Decanter Magazine, April 2009 of the best affordable wines to snap up and drink now

Chianti La Pieve 2007(Italy)

the Chiantis of this Vineyard's 16ha are situated in an almost perfect natural amphitheatre at 500 metres above sea level. This suntrap ensures the vines ripen perfectly giving good ripe fruit flavours and alcohol. The coolness given by the altitude preserving the wine's acidity. The blend is a traditional Tuscan mix of Sangiovese (90%), Canailo (5%) and Colorion (5%).

Aglianico 2007/2008 following soon, Terredora (Italy)

A classic Aglianico - deep purple (almost black) in colour, rich and ripe on the nose with aromas of violets and damsons, powerful and punchy on the palate. Great with sausages or charcuterie.

"The estate’s 2008 Aglianico is a gem of a wine. Wild cherries, dark raspberries, spices, leather and licorice come together beautifully in this medium-bodied red. Floral notes waft out from the glass on the finish. There is nothing fussy here, just a flat out delicious bottle of unoaked Aglianico readers are sure to enjoy. Even better, this is a terrific value. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2014. These new releases from Terredora are among the most impressive I tasted."

Rive Barbera 2007 (Italy)

This Barbera is medium bodied with an abundance of ripe, fruity prunes on the nose which are followed on the palate by flavours of red fruits and black cherries. Drinking now but it will keep for up to five years.

Ormanni Chianti Classico 2006 (Italy)

Deep ruby red in colour with some tawny hints of maturity. On the nose there are aromas of dark cherries and redcurrants with a slightly citrus edge to it. On the palate there are more dark cherry flavours with just a hint of chestnut and a nice lemony bite.

Inama Carmenere Piu 2006
(Italy)

‘Più’ means ‘more’ in Italian and there’s more than just Carmenere in this typical blend from the Colli Berici, a line of gently rolling volcanic hills in Italy’s north-east. Merlot is a civilising influence, the plumy accent and refined tannins marry well with a touch of French oak.

Vivid ruby core with a narrow purple rim. Pronounced nose with black cherry, damson, soy, cocoa and Parma violet. Elegant front-palate with fresh acidity, firm, integrated tannins and medium length.

Why not have a look at the wine makers tasting note video by clicking here.

Amarone Classico Costasera Masi 2006 (Italy)

The slopes facing the sunset are the best ones in Valpolicella Classico for producing high quality Amarone. Here, where the day is longer, the vines that face Lake Garda also benefit from the reflected sunlight and its milder climate.

Made from grapes that have been semi-dried for 3-4 months on bamboo racks, this is one hell of a wine - very heavy (almost opaque purple in colour), it's a powerful beast (15%) and yet very very smooth. Ideal with red meats, game or cheese.

"***** 5 stars (19/20) Great depth, silky and complex. Tight and subtle." The top Amarone of the tasting

Decanter Magazine's Italy 2010 Issue.

Renieri Brunello di Montalcino (2004) Italy

A deep, intense ruby red introduces an impressively complex, multi layered nose characterised by dark red berry fruit, vanilla and abundant notes of pungent pencil lead and tobacco leaf. The wine shows considerable power on the palate, held nicely in check by supple tannins. The finish is notable not only for its elegant balance but for its length as well, lingering on the taster's palate for many minutes.

Mascarello Monprivato Barolo 2003 (Italy)

Mascarello's Barolos are authentic and pure. From a perfect 6 hectare site at an altitude of 280 metres located in the village of Castiglione Falletto in the heart of the Barolo wine-growing area, Monprivato is a historic vineyard mentioned in the land registry archives as far back as 1666 and counted in 1985 by the great Renato Ratti among one of only eleven prime historic Barolo vineyards.

"Giuseppe Mascarello and son" is today run by Mauro, a standard bearer - with no hestation or sign of giving way - for old style Barolo. To make it quite clear, the kind of Barolo that undergoes lengthy fermentation prior to being left to mature patiently in large casks of Slovian oak and then in the bottle; a Barolo that is completely extranious to any of the modern ideas and short-cuts which risk undermining and compromising the image and prestige of his unique, matchless great red wine.

Barolo Monprivato is only produced in great vintages, in quantities varying between 14 and 24 thousand bottles compared to an annual production potential of 41,000.

Mascarello's Barolo Monprivato reveals good intensity as well as a fleshy up-front bouquet of liquorice,tobacco, sweet cherries, melted asphalt and rose petals. A classic Nebbiolo, this full-bodied, surprisingly soft, silky textured Barolo can be drunk now as well as cellared for 15 years.

"Ripe & forward with attractive aromas of blackberry & plum. Full, ripe round and soft yet vibrant palate with mature, sweet fruit and finely grained tannins. Balanced, long and eminently drinkable.Drink Now."

***** (5 stars) -Outstanding - Decanter 2010 Italian Issue

96 points - Robert Parker