Fonterenza Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2017

Song: Summertime by Janis Joplin. Fonterenza, under the fearless leadership of the Mantovani sisters, has become one of the most brilliant stars in the firmament of Montalcino. Francesca and Margherita, both born in Milan, were adopted by Montalcino in 1997 and their link with the Tuscan town has become so strong, that they manage to produce wines whose expressivity is second to none, in this enchanting terroir. This is the last released Brunello from Fonterenza as all their wines are released whenever the Sisters consider them to be ready for their consumers, making wine for the pride of it and with the goal of producing something great. And yes, this wine is truly something special, despite the difficulties of the 2017 vintage, one of the driest of all time. With a beautiful ruby red color with garnet reflections, this Brunello stuns for its generosity, with notes of cherry under spirit, dark chocolate, lilac, graphite, leather, blackberry, wild rose, candied orange peel and scorched earth. Palate is rich, opulent, fulfilling and aristocratic. Warm and voluminous, with a majestic tannin, carved like a statue by Michelangelo, with a luscious and never-ending taste of cherry under spirit, tea, mushroom. A wine for the ages. This is a wine that perfectly represents the magic of Montalcino, a masterpiece of power, warmth and elegance, best paired with the best female artist in Rock history. 100% Sangiovese. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2031. Open 4h before. Price $100

Fonterenza Alberello Sangiovese Toscana Igt 2020

Song: Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. Alberello, from bush-trained vines, as the back label recites, ‘is the pure and free expression of our Sangiovese’, and the sisters have decided to produce a wine that does not follow any rule of any appellation, indulging the true nature of a fantastic grape and an incredible soil. Ruby red color, the wine opens with the most elegant bouquet, a triumph of Sangiovese: tart cherry, raspberry, plum, violet, wild rose, Mediterranean scrub, mushroom, a balsamic hint of balm, chocolate. Palate is energetic, fresh, vibrant, with an overall impeccable elegance. Tannin is creamy and perfectly tamed, the mouthwatering explosion of red and black berries has an incredible progression and a voluptuous, sapid finish of pomegranate and tea. It might be my favorite wine among the ones I have tasted this year, a thoroughbred horse running wild in the Tuscan hills. 100% Sangiovese. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2030. Open 2h before. Price $65

Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2019

Song: Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin. This fabulous 2019 by Mastrojanni, one of the most renowned estates in Montalcino, is everything you need to know about Brunello, the epitome of the Southern side of Brunelloland. Ruby red with garnet reflections, the wine opens with a powerful bouquet of maraschino, plum, violet, orange blossoms, mountain herbs, sage, eucalyptus. A neat, purebred Sangiovese in one of its most fortunate vintages, a wine of impeccable quality. Palate is warm, voluptuous, broad, with the never-ending freshness, trademark of the highest quality Brunellos, a crescendo of violet, red-fleshed fruits, tobacco, herbs, with a firm tannin, as to prove a point of the generosity of the vintage. Montalcino in a glass! There is no better pairing with a great, energetic, old school Brunello than the energy from the best Rock band of all time! 100% Sangiovese. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2032. Open 3h Before. Price $73

Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino ‘Vigna Loreto’ Docg 2019

Song: More Than a Feeling by Boston. One of the best Single Vineyards in all Montalcino, in one of the most beautiful vintages of the last decade, Vigna Loreto stands out as one of the most complex, powerful, intense Brunellos. Ruby red with garnet reflections, Vigna Loreto stuns for its intensity of aromas, with marked notes of prune, Mon Cheri(chocolate with cherry under spirit), violet, wild rose, cigar tobacco, leather, aromatic herbs such as sage, balm. In the palate, this incredible Brunello is not afraid of showing its muscles, with a broad structure, a lingering sensation of red fleshed small fruits such as red currants, wild rose, with a majestic tannin that is tamed by the incredible quality of all the aromas and a sapid finish, for an unforgettable experience that fulfills all senses. A wine for the ages. Drink it now. Or age it 5 years. Or 10. Maybe 30. This wine will always be amazing, a purebred Sangiovese, another masterpiece from Mastrojanni, one more time revealing the greatness of 'His Majesty Brunello' to the world. Pure top quality Rock music. 100% Sangiovese. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2034. Open 4h before. Price $135

Bindella Vino Nobile di Montepulciano I Quadri DOCG 2015

Song: Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison. Bindella, with their beautiful cellar, is one of the pillars of Montepulciano, combining precision, elegance and expressiveness in their fabulous wines. I am so glad and honored to have granted access to some of their private cellar for our Perbacco Wine Club, so that I was able to dig up among some of the best wines they have produced in the last decade. I Quadri is one of the most important single-vineyards in Montepulciano and this fantastic 2015 represents the Blues, powerful side of Vino Nobile, with an exceptionally intense bouquet of prune, candied orange peel, potpourri, cherry jam, dark spices such as chocolate, leather, tobacco and a hint of balm. All elements are neat, precise and perfectly brushed in this still-life painting. Palate is broad, luscious as per wonderful result of the prosperous 2015 vintage. Succulent, with the balance typical of all Bindella wines, the wine has a majestic tannin of the finest quality, for an intense structure with aftertaste of dark fruits such as black currant, with a fulfilling sapid finish. A great Vino Nobile. 100% Sangiovese. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2026. Open 3h before. Price $65

Conti Costanti Rosso di Montalcino ‘Vermiglio’ Doc 2020

Song: Get It On by T. Rex. Costanti is one of the most iconic wineries in Montalcino, located on the Eastern side, producing Sangiovese of unique elegance, quality and expressiveness. Vermiglio, produced in the limited quantity of 4’000 bts, is a selection of the best grapes destined to Rosso di Montalcino, a typology of wine that is finally receiving more attention and recognition, both by the winemakers and the critics, after being outshined for years by its older brother, Brunello. One of the highest expressions of Rosso di Montalcino I have ever tasted, Vermiglio is intense and intriguing, with notes of maraschino, red currants, leather, cherry under spirit, wild rose and herbaceous notes. Palate is pure Montalcino. Expressive, fresh, rhythmical, with notes of red currants and an aftertaste of pomegranate with a grippy, yet polished tannin. A wine full of energy, that brings all the Rock’n’Roll characteristics of Sangiovese in Montalcino. 100% Sangiovese. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2029. Open 2h before. Price $65

Dei Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva ‘Bossona’ Docg 2018

Song: My Baby Just Cares for Me by Nina Simone. Under the fearless leadership of Maria Caterina Dei, the estate has become one of the most important representatives of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Bossona one of the most shining stars in the firmament of our beloved town. Dei represents the warmth, the generosity and the elegance of Montepulciano, with their impeccable wines and their spectacular cellar, built with the Travertine from the family quarry and projected by Caterina’s late and beloved father, Mr Glauco Dei. The intense ruby red color with garnet reflections, anticipates the powerful structure of the wine with its opulent bouquet of maraschino, blackberry, dried violet, dark chocolate, tobacco, underbrush of finest quality such as mushroom, a hint of coffee beans and a balsamic touch of sage. The palate is Blues, voluminous, aristocratic, warm, with a crescendo of succulent red and black fruits, leading to a perfectly carved tannin, with an aftertaste of chocolate and black currants. Extremely fulfilling, Bossona is one of the highest expressions of Vino Nobile, showing both the muscles and the elegance of Sangiovese in this beautiful terroir. Best paired with Nina Simone’s warm and intense voice. 100% Sangiovese. 1bt in shipment. Drink Through 2024-2031. Open 3h before. Price $68

Godiolo Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Docg 2008

Song: Cello Suite no.1 in G Major by Sebastian Bach. The Fiorini family, with Franco and his young nephew Mattia, is definitely one of the cornerstones of Vino Nobile, producing an expressive and traditional Sangiovese, right at the bottom of the hill of Montepulciano. Godiolo is a boutique winery, producing around 20’000 bts of wine per year. This Riserva, produced in the limited quantity of 2’000 bts, is the result of an attentive selection of the best grapes from the oldest vineyard of the estate. With a garnet color typical of aged Sangiovese, the wine has a complex, layered and incredible bouquet, with a certain predominance of balsamic notes such as eucalyptus and sage, a note of Cointreau(candied orange peel under spirit), leather, scorched earth, cigar, cocoa. A wine that shows signs of evolution but the palate is still fresh and energetic, full of life, with a velvety and creamy tannin of majestic elegance, for a mouthwatering finish of red fruits, eucalyptus and chocolate. An incredible meditation wine that shows the most noble traits of Vino Nobile, in one of my favorite vintages of the 00s. Best paired with classical music. 98% Sangiovese, 2% Colorino, 2% Canaiolo. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2025. Open 4h before. Price $59

Palazzo Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Docg 2019

Song: Over the Hills and Far Away by Led Zeppelin. Palazzo Vecchio, standing high on the Valdichiana, right between Montepulciano and Cortona, is a magical place, producing wines that reflect the intensity and the gentle character of the winemaker Luca Sbernadori. This is a place I cherish, when my wife and I decided to get married, we could not think of a better location than the Palazzo, with its breathtaking sunsets and its rustic charm. Produced in the limited quantity of 3'000 bts, by selecting the best grapes of the estate, this Riserva shows a ruby red color with garnet reflections. Intense, introspective, ample bouquet, with notes of red currants, dark cherry, prune, candied orange peel, wild rose, eucalyptus, and a series of delicate spices that enhance the complexity of the wine, such as dark chocolate, coffe beans, leather, cigar tobacco. Palate is broad, aristocratic, with a fine grained tannin that is perfectly carved, for a succulent and fulfilling finish of dark cherry, sandalwood and dried violet. A Nobile that shows a Rock character with a touch of Blues, best paired with one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite bands. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, 5% Mammolo. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2030. Open 3h before. Price $39.

Perillo Taurasi Docg Riserva 2011

Song: Have a Cigar by Pink Floyd. While Sangiovese is the king of central Italy and Nebbiolo is the prince of the North, Aglianico is the emperor of the South. Michele Perillo is the most important ambassador for the quality of this incredible wine, with his impeccable Taurasi Riserva, released in the market after 13 years of aging, following the all-Italian concept that the wine has to be ready for the consumer, not the other way around, making wine for the pride of it and not for the mere economical aspect. This wine, with its dark ruby red color with garnet reflections, is to me the highest expression of Aglianico, with a wide and complex bouquet that represents the power and the grace of this incredible grape and land. Notes of dark cherry under spirit with chocolate, dark spices as cigar tobacco, leather and carobs, toasted nuts, scorched earth, mushroom and candied orange peel, for an exceptional quality. Palate is opulent, aristrocratic, with a sensation of red fleshed fruit and dark spices and a majestic tannin of impeccable quality, for an overall balance that combines power and grace. A masterpiece, an icon that is rightfully in the elite of Italian wines. I am touched by the courage of aging a wine for so long, in order to tame the rustic tannin of Aglianico and I am glad to give credit and recognition to this great family-run estate. In a world full of corporate wineries that only care about the cash-flow, we need more Michele Perillo and more of his incredible Taurasi. 100% Aglianico. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2032. Open 5h before. Price $79

Tenuta di Trinoro Le Cupole Toscana Igt 2021

Song: Caruso by Andrea Bocelli. Andrea Franchetti was the visionary genius that first saw the potential of Valdorcia in Tuscany and Etna in Sicily, creating from scratch, in the early 90s, Tenuta di Trinoro, one of the pillars for Supertuscans. He saw the Bordeaux-like characteristics of the soil, producing the first top quality wines in the area, setting an example not only for the contemporary winemakers, but also for the generations to follow, becoming one of the most influential figures of all time for Italian wine. 2021 is the last vintage of Mr. Franchetti, the last star in the firmament of his incredible career. Le Cupole, with its impenetrable ruby red color with purple reflections, offers an intense, rich bouquet of dark fruits such as black cherry, black currants, blueberry and gentle spices of coffee, cinnamon, mushroom, tobacco, dark chocolate, for an impeccable overall quality. Palate is rich, mouthwatering with dark fruits such as black currants and black cherry, elegant with a supple tannin. A wine that perfectly reflects the style of Trinoro with fruit, complexity, overall balance and incredible quality. In my opinion, Le Cupole is the best entry-level Supertuscan, a category in which Trinoro has no rivals. Perfectly paired with the iconic voice of the Maestro Andrea Bocelli. 56% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 11% Cab Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2030. Open 3h before. Price $42

Arianna Occhipinti ‘Frappato’ Terre Siciliane Igt 2022

Song: Femme Fatale by The Velvet Underground and Nico. Arianna Occhipinti is the warrior princess that led the renaissance of the southern side of Sicily. The ‘natural woman’ of Italian wine, Arianna, has started this fantastic project in 2004, after finishing her studies as a winemaker in Milan, applying biodynamic farming principles since the very beginning, for a more eco-conscious and authentic approach to local grape varietals, such as this Frappato, her most iconic wine. With a beautiful ruby red color, the wine reflects the personality of the winemaker: rebellious, original, courageous. The bouquet is playful, with a defined note of tart cherry and wild rose, herbaceous notes of freshly cut grass, lilac, red currants, lavender and mediterranean scrub. Palate is slim, gentle, fresh with a mouthwatering sensation of small red fruits, a gentle tannin and a good sapidity, for an overall fantastic elegance that recalls Burgundy Pinot Noirs more than full bodied Sicilian Wines. An audacious wine, a surprising reinterpretation of Sicilian terroir, a strong signal that, despite warmer temperatures, we can still have finesse and lightheartedness in our red wines. Warning: not the ‘Jammy’ Sicilian wine you’d expect, might be a bit of an acquired taste but I am happy for our members to try something different and a ‘natural wine’. 100% Frappato di Vittoria. 1bt in Shipment. Drink Through 2024-2029. Open 2h before. Price $42