Italian Red Wines

Bin

Bottle

Bertani-Secco, Valpolicella-Valpantena, Veneto, Italy Pleasant and fruity, with orange peel, plum and floral aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with good acidity and a clean finish. Delicious.

#42

$26.99

Antinori, Santa Cristina Chianti-Sangiovese, Tuscany, Italy Light-bodied and fresh, with fragrant raspberry and black cherry character. Serve with pasta, pizza, poultry or beef.

#43

$27.99

Falesco, Merlot, Umbria 2002

#32

$28.99

Vietti, Dolcetto d'Asti, Tre Vigne, Piedmont, Italy, 2001 A rich, polished red, with a solid core of ripe berry. Full-bodied, with a fresh palate and a long, fruit finish. The wood shows now but very serious indeed. › Wine Spectator 89 points

#93

$29.99

Vietti, S. Anna, Dolcetto d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy, 1998 Superb Dolcetto. The fruit jumps from the glass. Crushed raspberries and blackberries throughout. Full-bodied, jammy yet delicious.

#71

$29.99

Castello di Volpaia, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy 2000 Elegant Chianti Classico, with soft, ripe berry, currant bush and mineral aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied and delicate, with fine tannins and a medium, balanced finish. All in finesse. › Wine Spectator 89 points

#33

$31.99

Marchesi di Barolo, Barbera d'Alba, Ruvei, Piedmont, Italy 2001 Absolutely delicious. Medium-to-full-bodied, with tasty, ripe plum and mineral character. Bursting with flavor, showing good balance, with a plumy finish. Almost raisiny. Yummy. Always a top Barbera. › Wine Spectator 90 points

#30

$32.99

Castello Banfi, Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany, Italy 1998 Cherries, strawberries and a hint of mint follow through to a medium-to full-bodied palate, with spice, vanilla and berry character. Long finish. Slightly lean, but focused and fine. › Wine Spectator 86 points

#44

$34.99

Allegrini, Valpolicella, Palazzo della Torre, Veneto, Italy 1999 A gorgeous wine. This shows beautiful perfumes of ripe fruit, with hints of spicy oak and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with superfine, silky tannins and a long, long finish. › Wine Spectator 90 points

#51

$49.99

Tor Colvano, Vino Noble Tuscany 2000 › Wine Spectator 88 points

#53

$49.99

Vietti, Barolo, Castiglione, Piedmont, Italy, 1998 Seductive red. Aromas of tea, leather and ripe fruit. Full-to-medium-bodied, with fine and smooth tannins and a ripe fruit finish. Delicious, balanced red. › Wine Spectator 88 points

#92

$49.99

Terrabianca, Campaccio Tuscany 2001 › Wine Spectator 91 points

#71

$54.99

Setti Ponti, Crognolo, Tuscany, Italy 2001 This well-structured, polished wine shows plenty of currant, plum and cedar aromas that follow through to a full-bodied palate, with lots of polished tannins, crisp acidity and a long, long, ripe fruit finish. Extremely harmonious. Very well made. A winery to watch in the future. › Wine Spectator 92 points

#85

$59.99

Castello di Brolio, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 Dark ruby in color, with lots of chocolate, berry and vanilla aromas, this is full-bodied and velvety, with lots of fruit and a long, succulent finish. A beauty from a great vintage. › Wine Spectator 91 points

#50

$69.99

Ceretto, Barolo, Zonchera, Piedmont, Italy 1997 Intense aromas of rosebushes and fruit. Full-bodied, with plenty of juicy fruit and chewy tannins. › Wine Spectator 91 points

#53

$69.99

Villa Di Capezzana, Carmignano, Tuscany, Italy 1997 This wine has beautiful aromas of berry, cherry and raspberry, with a hint of vanilla. Medium to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, sweet fruit aftertaste. › Wine Spectator 91 points

#49

$69.99

Allegrini, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy, 1996 This outstanding, dark purple-colored Amarone offers a knock-out nose of wood charcoal intermixed with black truffles, melted asphalt, blackberries, and roast beef. Amazingly rich and full-bodied, but not heavy, this chewy, thick, exceptionally pure, harmonious offering should drink well for 10-15+ years. It's low acidity and gorgeously ripe fruit provide immediate accessibility. › Robert Parker 95 points / Wine Spectator 90 points

#52

$79.99

Silvio Nardo, Brunello di Montaicino, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 Plenty of concentrated plum aromas, with meat and smoke, turning to violets and other flowers. Full-bodied and very silky, with lots of elegant fruit and a caressing finish. Remains very elegant. › Wine Spectator 91 points

#75

$79.99

Aldo Seghesio, Barolo, Vigneto La Villa, Piedmont, Italy, 1995 This full-bodied red took time to open up, but the ripe, sweet currant character hidden below the wet earth, smoke and cedar blanket is stunning in its purity. A firm wine, with the depth and complexity to age. Drink now through 2005. › Wine Spectator 94 points

#47

$89.99

Allegrini, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy, 1997 This spectacular, opaque purple-colored Amarone is from an exceptional vintage for this appellation. It possesses a gorgeous bouquet of graphite, blackberries, plums, cherries and truffles. Although it reveals some of Amarone's pruny, raisiny, nearly over-the-top characteristics, it is full-bodied, super-rich and concentrated. › Robert Parker 95 points / Wine Spectator 93 points

#41

$89.99

Allegrini, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy, 1998 Dark, broody, with loads of raisin, mineral and tar character. Full-bodied, with fresh, spicy fruit on the palate, big velvety tannins and a long finish. › Robert Parker 95 points / Wine Spectator 90 points

#77

$89.99

Baron Ricasoli, Toscana Casalferro, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 A monster Italian red. Aromas of coffee, roasted meat and ripe berries precede a full-bodied wine with mouth-puckering tannins and an enormous concentration of fruit. › Wine Spectator 94 points

#31

$89.99

Castello Banfi, Sant' Antimo Excelsus, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 An Italian Cabernet, that off the concentration meter. Black color with wonderful aromas of mint, currants and blackberries. Full-bodied, velvety tannins, with licorice and ripe fruit character. › Wine Spectator 93 points

#55

$89.99

Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Chianti Rufina, Montesodi, Tuscany, Italy, 1999 An outstanding Chianti Rufina. Aromas of flowers, blackberries, currants and hints of toasted oak are impressive. Full-bodied, with super, well-integrated tannins and a long, long finish. › Wine Spectator 92 points

#89

$89.99

Poggio al Sole, Toscana Serraselva, Tuscany, Italy, 1998 Glorious blackberries, currants and berries. Full-bodied and incredibly classy, with a solid palate and ultra fine tannins. One of the most underrated producers in the business. A blend of Merlot and Cabernet. › Wine Spectator 95 points

#59

$89.99

Vietti, Barbera d'Alba Scarrone Vigna Vecchia, Piedmont, Italy, 1997 Who knew Barbera produced this quality? Here's an inky-looking, pitch-black, oily, ripe Italian red that breaks the quality barrier with its sweet, pure fruit concentration. Shows silky tannins, with plum, blackberry, smoke and subtle spice character. It's fresh but not overly acidic, smooth and succulent. › Wine Spectator 95 points

#40

$89.99

Antinori, Tignanello, Tuscany, Italy, 2001 A fabulous Tuscan red, young and racy. Deep dark ruby in color, with focused aromas of blackberries, wood and very ripe fruit. Full-bodied, with loads of velvety tannins and a long, long finish. › Wine Spectator 91 points

#31

$99.99

Castello Banfi, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 A Brunello for everyone. Solid and focused, with mineral, blackberry and licorice character. Full-bodied and very chunky, with lots of round tannins and a long, long finish. › Wine Spectator 94 points

#72

$99.99

Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Brunello di Montalcino, Castelgiocondo, Tuscany, Italy, 1998 Really wee-made, with Indian spice, incense, berry and raspberry character. Full-bodied, with fine, silky tannins and a finish that goes on for a very long time indeed. Frescobaldi knows how to make Brunello. › Wine Spectator 93 points

#88

$99.99

Podero La Brancaia, Toscana, Brancaia, Tuscany, Italy, 1998 Polished, subtle, classy red. Offering complex aromas of leather, blackberries, tea and raspberries, this is really beautiful. Full-bodied, with extremely well integrated tannins and a long, caressing finish. Brancaia is a new star. › Wine Spectator 94 points

#57

$99.99

Riecine, Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 A statuesque Chianti Classico Riserva. Benchmark. Aromas of wild raspberries, with hints of toasted oak, licorice and wet earth. Full-bodied, with polished yet chewy tannins and a long, long finish. › Wine Spectator 95 points

#56

$99.99

Tenuta San Leonardo, Vallagarina, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 Black ruby in color, intense aromas of blackberries, licorice, red berries and green tobacco, this is a full-bodied red with loads of silky tannins and a long, long aftertaste of tobacco, sage and berry. A huge core of fruit in this wine. .An Italian interpretation of great Bordeaux from bygone days. › Wine Spectator 95 points

#60

$99.99

Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Grandi Annate Riserva, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 Emits phenomenal aromas of crushed berries, roses, lilacs and currants. Full-bodied, with an incredible backbone of ultra fine tannins and a long, fruity finish. Not big and thick, but powerful and subtle, a very special wine indeed; the greatest Vino Nobile ever made. › Wine Spectator 96 points

#54

$109.99

Gaja, Ca' Marcanda, Magari, Tuscany, Italy, 2000 A rich and inviting red, with complex aromas of flowers, spices and figs, with hints of berries. Medium-to full-bodied, with round, caressing tannins and a long, juicy finish. Gaja's new red from Bolgheri. 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. › Robert Parker 93 points / Wine Spectator 90 points

#82

$109.99

Pio Cesare, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, 1997 Unbelievable quality. Glorious aromas of crushed flowers, prunes, cedar and cigars. Full-bodied, thick and tannic, yet ripe and round, with a sleek, caressing finish. A classic Barolo that is well priced. › Wine Spectator 95 points

#64

$109.99

Castello Banfi, Brunello di Montalcino, Poggio alle Mura, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 This balanced red is built for aging. Loads of strawberry, cherry and red licorice aromas. Full-bodied and very tannic, yet refined and polished, with a caressing texture. Long, long finish. A masterpiece. › Wine Spectator 96 points

#73

$119.99

Castello Banfi, Brunello di Montalcino, Poggio alle Oro, Reserva, Tuscany, Italy, 1993 Castello Banfi, Brunello di Montalcino, Poggio alle Oro, Reserva, Tuscany, Italy, 1993 This red from Italy is big, chewy and delicious. Opens with beautiful, multidimensional aromas of ripe berries, mushrooms and chestnuts, while on the palate, it's full-bodied and very velvety, with a long, long, fruity finish. Best after 2002. › Wine Spectator 93 points

#76

$129.99

Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Merlot, Toscana Castelgiocondo Lamaione, Tuscany, Italy, 2001 Unbelievable. A monster Merlot. Dark, with stunning aromas of exotic spice, ripe berry and vanilla. Full-bodied and very concentrated, with masses of ripe fruit and tannins. › Wine Spectator 92 points

#78

$129.99

Silvio Nardo, Brunello di Montaicino, Vigneto Manachiara, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 Gorgeous aromas of crushed berries and Indian spices, from cumin to coriander. Full-bodied, yet reserved and elegant, with wonderfully silky tannins, like the finest cashmere. Long, long finish. A producer on the rise. › Wine Spectator 95 points

#86

$129.99

Vietti, Barolo, Lazzarito, Piedmont, Italy, 1998 Aromas of freshly sliced plums, with hints of berries and fresh spices. Full-bodied with layers of polished tannins and a long caressing finish loads of fruit character and spices. Even better than the outstanding 1997. › Wine Spectator 94 points

#91

$129.99

Paolo Scavino, Barolo, Carobric, Piedmont, Italy, 1997 A giant of a wine. Intense aromas of prunes and spices, with hints of lilacs and cloves. Full-bodied and massive with huge, soft tannins and a long, long finish. Very smoky and rich. Exotic, great wine. › Wine Spectator 97 points

#58

$139.99

Antinori, Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 A balanced and harmonious young red. Dark ruby color, with loads of grape, berry, mineral and violet aromas. Full-bodied, with loads of blackberry and cherry character, fine tannins and a medium finish. Gorgeous wine. › Wine Spectator 96 points

#34

$149.99

Antinori, Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso, Tuscany, Italy, 1998 The Bolgheri appellation excelled in 1998, and here is a fine example. Owned by the famed Piero Antinori family, the estate was inherited by Piero's mother and aunt in 1934. Introduced with the 1990 vintage, Guado al Tasso adds Merlot and Syrah to a base of Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the third in a terrific trio of Guado al Tasso bottlings. (1996, '97, '98). › Wine Spectator 95 points

#66

$149.99

Castello Banfi, Brunello di Montalcino, Poggio alle Oro, Reserva, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 Blockbuster, incredibly intense black cherry aromas, with hints of mint and red licorice. It soon turns to flowers. Full-bodied, and full-throttled, with masses of tannins and concentrated fruit. › Wine Spectator 96 points

#84

$149.99

Pio Cesare, Barolo, Ornato, Piedmont, Italy, 1996 Generous and meaty. Glorious rich character. Gorgeous aromas of plums, fresh flower and spices. Full-bodied with meaty, earthy, plumy flavors. Big, thick, velvety tannins. › Wine Spectator 96 points

#39

$149.99

Pio Cesare, Barbaresco, Il Bricco, Piedmont, Italy, 1997 Ripe and wonderful aromas of crushed berries, spices and flowers. Full-bodied, with exuberant fruit character that ranges from strawberries to raspberries. Round and rich tannins, with a long, caressing finish. A beauty. › Wine Spectator 95 points

#67

$159.99

Pio Cesare, Barolo, Ornato, Piedmont, Italy, 1997 I love the aromas of dark chocolate, spice and mineral, with hints of prune. Full-bodied, with super, well integrated tannins and a long plum, raspberry and cinnamon finish. Very pretty indeed. Better than the 1996. › Wine Spectator 96 points

#65

$159.99

Tenuta dell Ornellaia, Bolgheri Ornellaia, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 This Tuscan gem is black in color, with complex aromas of black currants, minerals and wet earth. Full-bodied, with lots of tannins, but very polished. Long, long finish. A great Ornellaia. › Wine Spectator 96 points

#35

$179.99

Tenuta dell Ornellaia, Bolgheri Ornellaia, Tuscany, Italy, 1998 A cool and sleek Tuscan red, with tarragon and fresh sage aromas, blackberry and cherry undertones. Full-bodied, with a wonderfully silky palate of fine tannins and a long, fruity finish. Very sophisticated and reserved. 2001 Wine of the Year › Wine Spectator 96 points

#61

$179.99

Antinori, Toscana Solaia, Tuscany, Italy, 1999 Dark in color, with intense aromas of blackberries and fresh herbs, such as basil, with a hint of eucalyptus. Full-bodied, with extremely well polished tannins and a long, long finish. . Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. › Wine Spectator 94 points

#81

$249.99

Antinori, Toscana Solaia, Tuscany, Italy, 2000 Bright aromas of crushed berry and raspberry, with a hint of mineral. Full-bodied and very round, with lovely velvety tannins and a long finish. Big and boisterous. Almost rustic, but hell, it's a beauty... Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. › Wine Spectator 92 points

#83

$249.99

Domenico Clerico, Barolo, Ciabot Mentin Ginestra, Piedmont, Italy, 1998 Breathtaking. Big and powerful, with loads of plum, blackberry, raisin and meat aromas. Full-bodied, with big, luscious tannins and masses of fruit on the palate. Long, rich and seductive. Even better than the 1997. › Wine Spectator 99 points

#74

$249.99

Tenuta San Guido, Bolgheri-Sassicaia, Sassicaia, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 Medium-dark ruby in the glass, with pretty aromas of spices, black currant, cherries and blackberries, this Tuscan red is full-bodied on the palate, with intense velvety tannins. Long, long finish. An outstanding Sassicaia. › Wine Spectator 93 points

#36

$249.99

Tenuta San Guido, Bolgheri-Sassicaia, Sassicaia, Tuscany, Italy, 1998 Lovely, subtle yet complex aromas of currant, sage and green olives lead to a full-bodied red with a solid core of fruit and well-integrated tannins. A Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend. › Wine Spectator 95 points

#62

$249.99

Vietti, Barolo, Riserva, Villero, Piedmont, Italy, 1996 Vietti, Barolo, Riserva, Villero, Piedmont, Italy, 1996 Licorice and berry aromas, showing hints of flowers and spices. Full-bodied, with silky and caressing tannins and an aftertaste that goes on for minutes. Only made in the greatest years. A very special wine. › Wine Spectator 97 points

#90

$249.99

Tenuta dell Ornellaia, Toscana Masseto, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 A big and powerful Tuscan Merlot, with loads of fruit and good concentration. Dark ruby color, with intense aromas of blackberries, spices and dried herbs. Full-bodied, with big velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Greatest Masseto ever made. › Wine Spectator 96 points

#63

$329.99

Tenuta dell Ornellaia, Toscana Masseto, Tuscany, Italy, 1998 A big, juicy red. Black, with intense aromas of black olives and sage, plus masses of fruit. Full-bodied and very velvety, with a long, long finish. A magical Masseto, the best yet. Merlot. › Wine Spectator 97 points

#69

$349.99

Antinori, Toscana Solaia, Tuscany, Italy, 1997 This is the wine of the 1997 vintage - and the greatest Solaia ever. Produced by the famous Florentine wine family Antinori, Solaia was one of the forerunners of the super Tuscan phenomenon. The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese blend shows a massive concentration of fruit and tannins, yet it comes across as balanced and harmonious. Wine Spectators 2000 Wine of the Year › Wine Spectator 98 points

#37

$399.99

Gaja, Langhe, Sori San Lorenzo, Piedmont, Italy, 1998 Wonderfully fragrant, with floral, berry and mineral aromas that turn to minerals on the palate. Full-bodied, with lovely polished tannins and a beautifully ripe fruit and mint aftertaste. Thios is a wine with wonderful balance, yet powerful. › Wine Spectator 95 points

#94

$499.99