De Ricci Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Sor Aldo Docg 2020

Song: Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. De Ricci is one of the most breathtaking wine cellars in the world.
Its roots trace back to Etruscan excavations of the 5th Century BC, later transformed into a wine cathedral in the 14th Century AD. These underground chambers, carved from history itself, now provide the perfect natural environment for Sangiovese to age — constant, silent, and timeless. The custodians of this treasure are the Trabalzini family. Their roots in Montepulciano’s wine world run deep, but it was Aldo, the late father, who began a new adventure by acquiring the historic cellars and breathing new life into them. In 2012, Enrico founded the new winery, carrying forward his father’s vision. Today, together with his wife Antonella and sons Nicolò and Francesco, the mission is clear: to safeguard the purity of Sangiovese and the majesty of this extraordinary “wine cathedral,” blending tradition and innovation while honoring Aldo’s enduring legacy. Sor Aldo is the wine dedicated to Enrico’s father, a heartfelt tribute to the man who began this family’s adventure. It is also the wine where the presence of Nicolò, who joined the winery full-time in 2019, can truly be felt — a bridge between tradition and a modern twist. In the glass, this ruby red Sangiovese shines for its elegance and expressiveness. The bouquet is intense and broad, offering layers of maraschino cherry, withered violets, chocolate, sandalwood, and wet forest floor, enriched by hints of tobacco, candied orange peel, and balsamic notes. On the palate, Sor Aldo speaks the language of quintessential elegance. The structure is refined and fluid, with bursting flavors of wild berries and sour cherries, wrapped in a fine tannic grip and leading to a lustful, sapid finish. It’s a wine that feels like a perfect harmony between Jazz, Pop and Rock — refined, soulful, yet with an undeniable rhythm and energy. 100% Sangiovese. Drink Through 2025-2030. Open 2h before. Food Pairing: Duck à l’Orange. Price €49

De Ricci Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Docg 2022

Song: Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis. De Ricci 2022 Vino Nobile carries a Rock’n’Roll soul, the vibrant spirit of its vintage. The bouquet bursts with blackberries, black currants, orange peel flavored dark chocolate, and hints of herbs, wet forest floor, and balm. On the palate, it’s lively and mouthwatering — full of pomegranate and crunchy cherries, lifted by sapidity and a grippy, Rock’n’Roll tannin that drives the rhythm of the wine. This is a Vino Nobile unafraid to show its energy and vibrancy, a wine where ancient tradition meets modern vision — the timeless voice of Sangiovese echoing through centuries of stone and cellar. 100% Sangiovese. Drink Through 2025-2028. Open 2h before. Food Pairing: Tagliatelle with Tuscan Ragù. Price €27

Fattoria del Pino Rosso di Montalcino Jeccardo Doc 2019

Song: Love is a Loosing Game by Amy Winehouse. Fattoria del Pino began in 2010 as the vision of one woman, Jessica Pellegrini, who poured her passion and determination into creating something unique at the foothills of Montalcino. Today, she is joined by her young son Riccardo, continuing to shape this extraordinary adventure together. The farm sits on the prestigious hill of Montosoli, a place revered for producing some of the most expressive and elegant Sangiovese in the world. Here, Jessica has built a universe in perfect harmony with nature — a living ecosystem where her mares Vilma and Blu, the geese Giorgio and Maddalena, a family of chickens, and the loyal guardian dog Safira all play their part in the daily rhythm of life.This is not just a winery. It is a symbiosis between man, animal, and land, where the pace is set by Mother Nature herself, and every bottle reflects the authenticity of this magical balance, following the principles of biodynamic production. Jeccardo is Jessica’s personal selection of the finest grapes for her Rosso di Montalcino. True to the principles of biodynamics, the wine follows the rhythm of the moon calendar, alternating between oak and stainless steel in a dance of patience and precision. The result is a maturation that approaches the depth of a Brunello, while retaining the vibrancy of a Rosso. In the glass, Jeccardo shines with a brilliant ruby red hue. The bouquet is ample and expressive: marasca cherry, dried apricots, withered violets, Campari bitters, dark chocolate, and scorched earth. On the palate, it’s bright and jazzy — a triumphant expression of Montalcino, with flavors of succulent red currants and tart cherry, framed by aristocratic tannins and lifted by superb balance and depth. This is a wine where the terroir of Montalcino speaks with clarity, enhanced by Jessica’s pure and uncompromising winemaking — stripping away any superfluous sophistication, leaving only honesty and truth in the glass. A true gem, and a remarkable value. 100% Sangiovese. Drink Through 2025-2030. Open 3h Before. Food Pairing: Lasagna. Price €36

Fattoria del Pino Rosso di Montalcino Doc 2020

Song: Fever by Peggy Lee. This Rosso di Montalcino 2020, aged with the same care and patience as its “older brother” Brunello, shines in the glass with a bright ruby red color. The bouquet opens with layered aromas of ripe wild fruits — blackberry and raspberry — followed by violets, candied orange peel, and lifted by balsamic and herbaceous hints of eucalyptus and freshly cut grass. A touch of cinnamon spice refines and completes the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine plays between Blues and Jazz: fresh and lively, yet soulful and complex. It reveals the unmistakable personality of the 2020 vintage of Sangiovese — vibrant acidity, a refreshing taste of pomegranate, a succulent, gluttonous tannin, and a subtle mineral push that carries through to a long, lingering finish of wild berries. This is truly a “Baby Brunello” — a wine of incredible value, delivering the essence of Montalcino at its most pure and accessible. A hidden gem, born from the dedication of a family-run estate, that proves elegance and authenticity need no grandeur to shine. 100% Sangiovese. Drink Through 2025-2028. Open 2h before. Food Pairing: Pici all’Aglione. Price €28

Podere Erica La Ghiandaia Toscana Igt 2021

Song: Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder. In the heart of Chianti Classico, with the enchanting village of Olena as its backdrop, lies the dream of Neal and Jan Dempsey: Podere Erica. Founded in 2009, this estate is a true microcosm of life and nature, where vineyards coexist with donkeys, pigs, chickens, and other animals, all contributing to the rhythm of the land. Here, the vineyard is the protagonist, and under the guidance of winemaker Marco Giordano, the estate follows the principles of biodynamic farming and works with minimal sulphites. The result is wines of striking authenticity — bottles that capture the spirit of Chianti- despite in its purest form, honest and alive, just like the land that surrounds them. Produced following the principles of biodynamic farming and low sulphites winemaking, in fewer than 4,000 bottles, La Ghiandaia is the soulful blend of Sangiovese and Canaiolo, aged for 12 months in concrete to preserve purity and energy. It shines in the glass with a ruby red core and vibrant purple hues, already hinting at its youthful vitality. The bouquet is fragrant and joyful, a true hymn to the spirit of this land: blackberry, small red fruits, wild roses, orange blossoms, cedarwood, dark chocolate, and that unmistakable “pencil case” note, gifted by the graphite-rich soils of Chianti Classico. On the palate, this wine has a R’n’b/Soul personality. It bursts with refreshing notes of wild berries and black tea, carried by groovy tannins and a lingering, sapid finish lifted by a joyful push of pomegranate. A wine that is authentic, vibrant, and deeply rooted in one of the most enchanting winemaking regions of the world. 80% Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo. Drink through 2025-2027. Open 1h before. Food Pairing: Ribollita soup. Price €27

Fattoria Le Masse Chianti Classico Docg 2021

Song: I Can’t Quit You Baby by Led Zeppelin. This is what I live for. My job is to find hidden gems and to tell the incredible stories of the people behind them — and Robin’s story is among the most original I’ve ever encountered. Le Masse is a microcosmos: a place where the rhythm of Mother Nature sets the pace, where the artistry of Robin’s mother and sister (who has designed the label) intertwines with the timeless landscape of Chianti Classico. Together, they have created a magical synergy between man, art and nature. In 2018, Robin took the leadership over his family’s farm, transforming it into a winery guided by the principles of biodynamics, low intervention, and minimal sulphites. His philosophy is clear: let the vineyard speak, and strip away everything unnecessary. The Chianti Classico 2021 illuminates the glass with authenticity and character. The bouquet is vibrant and expressive: maraschino cherry, withered violets, candied orange, forest floor, sandalwood, blackcurrant, and black tea. On the palate, it has a Rock & Blues soul — a dynamic balance between Sangiovese’s natural tension, firm tannins, and a luscious aftertaste of blackcurrant, candied orange peel, and black tea. It’s pure, unfiltered (sediments may appear but they are harmless!), and with virtually no added sulphites (just 20 parts per million). This is Chianti Classico at its most honest and alive — stripped of useless sophistication, a wine that embraces the philosophy of less is more. A hidden gem, waiting to be shared. 100% Sangiovese. Drink Through: 2025-2029. Open 2h before. Food Pairing: Pappardelle w Hare Ragù. Price €32

Grifalco Aglianico del Vulture Doc Grifalco 2022

Song: All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers. Founded in 2004, Grifalco has quickly become one of the rising stars of Southern Italy, delivering wines of quintessential elegance and expressive soul. At the helm is my longtime friend Lorenzo Piccin, who grew up in Montepulciano and later made his mark in Piedmont before embarking on this adventure in Basilicata. The Piccin family are true globetrotters — curious, open to innovation, always attentive to new techniques and trends — yet firmly rooted in their respect for tradition. Their mission is to preserve the identity of the Aglianico, the king of Southern Italian grapes, while honoring the extraordinary terroir of Vulture, a former volcano whose ancient soils give these wines their unmistakable depth and character. Grifalco is a story of passion, movement, and identity — a family that has carried its experience across Italy and brought it all together in the shadow of the Vulture, crafting wines that speak of heritage, elegance, and place. In the glass, this Aglianico shines with an intense ruby red color. The bouquet is layered and compelling: orange peel, forest undergrowth, dark chocolate, maraschino cherry, blackcurrants, and the Mediterranean scrub that appears to be a true fil rouge of the estate. Notes of sandalwood complete the aromatic frame, giving the wine an overall impeccable intensity and finesse. On the palate, it is both fulfilling and invigorating, opening with the freshness of maraschino, potpourri, and earthy tones of undergrowth. The tannin strikes like pure Rock’n’Roll — electric, gripping, yet perfectly woven into the structure. The finish is long and lingering, with depth and energy that refuse to fade. Without wanting to force comparisons, one could say this Aglianico is dressed like a Barolo — noble, precise, and aristocratic, yet unmistakably true to the volcanic soul of Vulture. 100% Aglianico. Drink Through 2025-2029. Open 2h before. Food Pairing: Spaghetti Amatriciana. Price €32

Grifalco Aglianico del Vulture Doc Gricos 2023

Song: Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People. Gricos is the most vibrant and playful interpretation of Aglianico from Grifalco — a blend of fruit from different vineyards that showcases the grape in its most joyous form. In the glass it shines a bright ruby red, immediately announcing its lively spirit. The bouquet is fragrant and expressive: tart cherry, Mediterranean scrub of thyme and sage, a delicate nuance of coffee, and elegant floral notes of orange blossoms and violets. On the palate, Gricos plays between Pop and Rock, a fresh and youthful rhythm bursting with flavors of blood orange, cherry, and red currants. The tannin is vibrant and energetic, giving the wine an invigorating drive and pleasant drinkability. Lorenzo’s philosophy shines through here: to strip Aglianico of unnecessary weight, underlining and exalting the soul of the grape and the volcanic soils of Vulture. A wine where less is more — pure, honest, and alive. 100% Aglianico. Drink Through 2025-2026. Open 1h before. Food Pairing: Pizza (if served chilled) or Tomato Pasta with Basil. Price €25

Antonio Camillo Ciliegiolo Toscana Igt 2024

Song: God Only Knows by The Beach Boys. Antonio Camillo has become the true ambassador of Ciliegiolo, a grape that embodies the heart and soul of the Tuscan Maremma. The 2024 vintage is a celebration of its purity and freshness, capturing the vibrant Mediterranean light and the breezy elegance of this unique coastal terroir. In the glass, it shines with a bright ruby red, brimming with life. The bouquet is immediate and genuine: juicy red cherries, pomegranate, wild strawberries, and orange zest, layered with floral touches of violets and roses, hints of Mediterranean scrub — thyme and sage — and a subtle mineral whisper of sea breeze and earth. The palate is vivid and graceful, with a juicy rhythm that dances between freshness and sapidity. Flavors of red berries and citrus peel burst forth, supported by fine, polished tannins and a lively acidity that make it irresistibly drinkable. The finish is long, precise, and mouthwatering, echoing with wild herbs and a crisp touch of red fruit. An hymn to simplicity, authenticity, and terroir — a wine that Antonio has elevated from local tradition to contemporary elegance. Best paired with one of the greatest songs ever written by one of the greatest bands to ever exist — a personal homage to the genius of Brian Wilson, whose music, like this wine, captures the beauty of simplicity. 100% Ciliegiolo. Drink Through 2025-2027. Open and Drink. Food Pairing: Stewed Octopus. Price €20

Tenuta Oppiano Girone Igt 2022

Song: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey. Tenuta Oppiano, born in 2017 in a Castle from 1037 right outside of Montepulciano, has its first vintage of production in this very wine, Girone 2022. Here the owner Giulio Pagliai, whose goal is to restore the beauty of the heritage of the farm both from an architectural and agronomical point of view, produces a low-intervention wine that strikes for quality and authenticity, blending Sangiovese with a mix of 3 other local varietals. In the glass, Girone 2022 shows a bright ruby red with garnet nuances, immediately expressive. The bouquet opens with wild cherries, red currants, and hints of raspberry, interwoven with subtle floral notes of violets and rose petals, Mediterranean herbs — thyme, sage — and a delicate touch of graphite, such as pencil case, and sun-baked earth. On the palate, the wine is vivid, precise, and supple, balancing freshness with a rounded structure. Flavors of tart cherry and red currant flow seamlessly into soft, velvety tannins, supported by a mineral lift and a sapid, lingering finish of forest floor and wild herbs. The wine is playful yet structured, reflecting the rhythm of the land and the vision of its makers. Girone 2022 is pure Sangiovese energy, a vibrant, authentic expression of the terroir — approachable, charismatic, and undeniably memorable like this iconic ballad by Journey. 80% Sangiovese, 20% Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo & Malvasia Nera. Open 1h before. Drink Through 2025-2028. Food Pairing: Parmigiana di Melanzane. Price €29

Bulichella Rubino Costa Toscana Igt 2020

Song: Cherry-Coloured Funk by Cocteau Twins. Bulichella is a story of people, ideals, and terroir. Founded in Suvereto, in the enchanting hills of the Tuscan coast, it was born from the dream of Japanese entrepreneur Hideyuki Miyakawa, who during a wild bike world tour fell in love twice — first with Italy, then with his wife Marisa. Leaving Tokyo behind, they built here a community project rooted in agriculture, sustainability, and respect for nature. Today, the family carries forward Hideyuki’s legacy — a vision of harmony between man and land, where organic viticulture and authenticity are at the heart of everything. The vineyards, bathed in Mediterranean light and caressed by sea breezes, thrive on the iron-rich soils of Suvereto, giving the wines their unmistakable depth, elegance, and longevity, through the use of mainly Bordeaux-blend grapes. Every bottle is a fragment of this extraordinary journey, where East meets West, tradition blends with innovation, and passion becomes liquid. Ruby red and bright as its name suggests, Rubino 2020 is the purest and most immediate expression of the estate, blending Sangiovese with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon & Franc. The bouquet is fragrant, with notes of wild cherries, violets, raspberries, and a touch of Mediterranean scrub. On the palate, it is vibrant, fresh, and playful — a wine of rhythm and spontaneity, bursting with tart cherry and red currant, framed by supple tannins and a lingering mineral finish. Pop/Rock in style — joyous, direct, and impossible not to love. 50% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauv & Franc. Open 1h before. Drink Through 2025-2026. Food Pairing: Pappa al Pomodoro. Price €19

Bulichella Rubino Costa Toscana Igt 2021

Song: Stand by Me by Oasis. More defined and succulent than the 2020, Rubino 2021 reflects the freshness of the vintage. Shining bright in the glass with ruby red of great intensity, the wine offers an elegant bouquet of sour cherry, pomegranate, and floral notes of rose petals, with delicate hints of herbs and graphite. Palate is bright and dynamic, with juicy red fruits, crunchy tannins, and a sapid, refreshing finish that underlines its coastal identity. If 2020 was Pop/Rock, 2021 leans more towards Indie Rock — crisp, energetic, with attitude and charm. 50% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauv & Franc. Open 1h before. Drink Through 2025-2027. Food Pairing: Cacciucco alla Livornese(Tuscan Fish Stew). Price €19