Wines

Notes of peach pit, sliced apples, crushed almonds and acacia flowers. Medium-bodied, a little waxy and phenolic with tense acidity and a lingering, slightly tight finish. Has a mineral backbone. Drink now.

Bright, shimmering straw yellow. Nose initially of fresh asparagus, then on citrus, elderflower, of medium expression. The palate is fresh, on stone fruit, salty and racy, slightly phenolic on the finish.

Belguardo V is a benchmark white for the Maremma. Launched with the 2008 vintage, it began incorporating 20% of amphora-vinified fruit from the 2016 vintage onwards. Belguardo is owned by the Mazzei family, and president of the Maremma Toscana consorzio,

A juicy red with ripe cherries and plums, as well as a saline undertone that fills the full-bodied palate that is beautifully structured and crafted. A textbook Chianti Classico that could use some time in the bottle. Try after 2024.

"The Mazzei 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Ser Lapo shows a soft and nicely textured approach to Sangiovese with plenty of dark fruit ripeness, blackcurrant and wild plum. This balanced vintage tends to show a little more richness and concentration than

Mazzei’s showcase Gran Selezione comes from plots around the Fonterutoli estate on the upper slopes of Castellina. High altitudes of 470 metres are offset by the warming exposures open to the south and southwest. Rich yet clear fruited, dark red cherry

Made with 100% Sangiovese (six Sangiovese clones plus eight massal selections of the same grape), the Mazzei 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello Fonterutoli offers rich texture, lots of dark fruit and an overall oak-driven approach. It ages

Attractive aromas of red plums, dried cranberries, spiced citrus peel, red spices and bark. Medium- to full-bodied, broad and structured with ripe and well-integrated tannins and succulent fruit. Tense. Shows notes of rose petals with crushed rock minerality.

This is aromatic with blueberries and black cherries, as well as hints of blue flowers, spices, dark chocolate and crushed stones. Full-bodied with layers of firm, fine-grained tannins and deep blue fruit. Structured and focused with a lingering finish

The 2020 Beaune Clos du Roi 1er Cru has an atttactive, floral bouquet, touches of dried rose petals percolating through the redcurrant and wild strawberry aromas. There is more transparency here than in other cuvees. The palate is well balanced with

Floral and expressive with nice bright raspberry and cherry fruit. Has good acidity and a chalky, mineral core: a lovely expressive wine

Ayala's Brut Majeur has undergone reinvention with the 2019 base, now boasting more Chardonnay than any other NV from the major houses. The style is delicate and snappy with yellow apple, lime and sweet pear fruit, subtly backed up by a touch of creaminess.

A strong offering at the basic level from Ayala. Pinot noir leads the blend in fresh and vibrant style. The palate has plenty of wild cherry, peach, nectarine and grapefruit flavor. Neat and crisp finish. Drink now.

A special project put forth by the Mazzei family of Castello di Fonterutoli, the Caggio 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Ipsus is a very etched and linear wine with an extreme sense of minimality and definition that I find irresistible. Notes of

Ipsus is the personal project of Giovanni Mazzei of the renowned Tuscan family, and is located just up the hill from the main winery in Castellina-in-Chianti. This 2019 is notably different from the superb 2018 (which, re-tasted at the same time, is

Shows fine purity and intensity, from the focused cherry, raspberry, underbrush and iron aromas and flavors to the skilled use of new oak for structure, texture and hints of vanilla and toast. Opulent, yet sleek, powerful and stylish, this red is complex

The Casanova di Neri 2019 Brunello di Montalcino shows thick fruit fabric with stitchings of underbrush, pressed rose, bright cherry, tobacco and balanced oak spice. This wine definitely has a special groove. It offers a ripe, round texture with good

Subtle at first on the nose and palate, this builds with floral aromas and a hint of spice, together with succulent white peach and pear fruit on the palate. Oak is supple and beautifully integrated. Deceptively powerful, there is a mineral, almost steely,

This has a lovely nose of cedar, grapefruit, lemon rind, apricot stones and tarragon. Salted butter. It's medium- to full-bodied, deliciously saline and creamy, with a long and elegant finish. Drink or hold.

Ever the class act, Hamilton Russell's Chardonnay is in a rich vein of form right now. Using only 5% malolactic because of the warmer year, this is fresh, layered and detailed, with perfumed 23% new wood, notes of brioche and lemon butter and a stylish,