Reserve Wines
Please note these codes used in wine ratings:
- RP = Robert Parker, Wine Advocate - 50-100 point quality scale
- WS = Wine Spectator - 50-100 point quality scale
- Bicchieri = Gambero Rosso - one to three stars or glasses
- Grappoli = Italian Sommelier - one to five glasses
Learn more about wine ratings at Wine Searcher or you may download this .pdf rating chart that provides comparisons of the different rating systems.
Tuscany & Piemonte
Chianti Classico, Castello Verazzano, Toscana ’06 | $58
Il Pareto Cabernet Sauvignon, Tenuta Nozzole, Toscana ’00 (WS 90, RP 91, Tre Bicchieri) | $85
Olmaia Cabernet, Col D’Orcia, Toscana 01 (3 Bicchieri) | $95
Barolo “Cru Cannubi”, Burlotto, Piemonte ’03 | $95
Nambrot (Merlot-Cabernet-Petit Verdot) Tenuta Ghizzano, Toscana ‘04 (RP 90, Tre Bicchieri, 4 Grappoli) | $110
Barolo “Cru Bussia”, Aldo Conterno Piemonte ’01 (WS 90) | $140
Other Italian Reds
Malandrino Alto Tirino (Montepulciano), Abruzzo ’03 | $42
Montefalco Sagrantino, Terre di Trinci, Umbria ‘04 (WS 90, Due Bicchieri Red) | $60
Taurasi Cru Piano di Montevergine, Feudi di San Gregorio Campania ’01 (RP 94) | $95
Fratta (Cabernet-Merlot), Maculan, Veneto ’03 (WS 91) | $120
Cabernet Sauvignon & Meritage
Marchese Villamarina, Salla & Mosca, Sardinia ’00 | $90
Ristow Hillside Vineyard “Quinta de Pedras” Napa ’01 (Limited Production) | $95
Cakebread Cellars Cabernet, Napa ’06 | $100
Opus One, Napa ’99 | $220
Small Bottle .375 ml
Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon, Unfiltered, Sonoma ’01 (RP 92) | $35
I Nostri Vini Speciali “Our Special Wines”
The wines listed below are available in limited quantities.
1993 La Romanée, Bouchard Père & Fils, France | $150
Score: WS 90 Refined but closed in now, showing some nice concentration of red berry flavor and tannins that clamp down on the finish. Of medium body, with lovely rose petal and currant notes. 330 cases made.
2001 Sassicaia, Incisa della Rocchetta, Toscana | $380
Score: WS 94 Beautiful aromas of summer fruits and hints of cream. Then turns to dried Provençal herbs, such as rosemary. Well-defined Sassicaia. Full-bodied, with sleek, refined tannins and a silky finish. All in finesse. Classy wine. Almost chewy. Reminds me of the excellent 1997, but this is slightly better. Give it time. Best after 2008.
2004 Sassicaia, Incisa della Rocchetta,Toscana | $350
Score: WS 94 Shows aromas of chocolate, currant and blackberry, with a hint of Spanish cedar. Full-bodied, with firm, velvety tannins and a long finish. Racy and very well-structured. Builds on the palate. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2012.
1988 Gaja, “Dermagi”, Cabernet Sauvignon, Piemonte | $375
Score: WS 92 Ripe, focused and generous, with currant, blackberry and plum aromas and flavors layered with spicy oak, toast and anise. Complete, rich and balanced. 850 cases made.
1989 Gaja, Barolo “Sperss”, Piemonte | $450
Score: WS 96 Complex and fascinating, offering all sorts of floral, earthy overtones to the solid core of black cherry, blackberry and anise flavors. An intense wine that shows many facets, including a welcome whiff of vanilla and toast on the aftertaste. 2,700 cases made.
2003 Brunello Casanova di Neri, Tenuta Nuova, Toscana | $120
Score: Parker 92 2003 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova caresses the palate with plenty of silky-textured dark red cherries, plums, smoke, earthiness and sweet toasted oak. This polished modern-styled wine offers superb balance in a rich, weighty style that will find many admirers. The tannins are remarkably well-integrated, which is quite a feat in this vintage. The Tenuta Nuova spent 30 months in 600-liter barrels, of which 35% were new. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.
2004 Tenuta di Trinoro, Toscana | $275
Score: Parker 93 The 2004 Tenuta di Trinoro (83% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a very fine Tenuta di Trinoro, showing expressive aromatics along with plenty of super-ripe jammy fruit, with an expansive, generous presence on the palate and fine tannins. In the nearly six months that have passed since I last tasted it, the wine has come together beautifully in the bottle. The core of this wine comes from a terrific Merlot vineyard that I always use to make the Tenuta.” Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
2003 Solengo, Argiano, Toscana | $220
Score: WS 90 Aromas of vanilla, licorice, mint and berries follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a vanilla cream and raspberry aftertaste. Very jammy style. But it grows on you. Move over Australia. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best after 2007. 3,500 cases made.
2003 Suolo Sangiovese, Argiano, Toscana | $275
Score: WS 91 Aromas of chocolate, berry, ceder and cigar box. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and long finish. Give it some bottle age to come tugether. Sangiovese. Best after 2007. 235 cases made.
1995 Caymus Special Selection, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa | $475
Score: WS 97 Wow. This ‘95 Special Selection is a classic. Amazingly complex, it displays a wide range of flavors including currant, wild berry, herb, sage, coffee and tobacco, delicacy, elegance and finesse and unveils pretty oak shadings on the finish. Drink now through 2009. 2,000 cases made.
1988 Caymus Special Selection, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa | $400
Score: WS 94 Not quite the glorious wine of previous vintages, but has layer after layer of flavors, with plum, prune and black cherry and hints of spicy vanilla and chocolate. Shows remarkable clarity and a supple texture that should get silkier and smoother with age. 1,000 cases made.