Addy Bassin's MacArthur Beverages - Fine Wine and Spirits Since 1957

"The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino flows with gorgeous layers of dark red fruit. This is one of the more muscular, virile wines of the vintage. Slow to reveal its character, the Valdicava Brunello will require significant patience, but I have seen the wine blossom beautifully, even in the smallest of vintages. A blast of iron, smoke, tar, licorice and new leather inform the deep, intense finish. This is a hugely promising, brilliant Brunello from proprietor Vincenzo Abbruzzese." Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"The 2004 is another profound Larigi. Silky tannins frame a core of refined, elegant fruit. The aromatics are particularly expressive, and the wine boasts mind-bending purity, which should allow it to age gracefully for years. It is an awesome Larigi!" Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"spicy, elegant, anisette-laced nose and a fine-grained body which is quite long and sustained, will disappoint no one looking for high class Nebbiolo." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"The 2006 Korem is 55% Bovale Sardo, 35% Carignano and 10% Cannonau. A fresh, vibrant red, it reveals layers of crushed rocks, minerals, grilled herbs, dark jammy fruit and French oak in a rich, full-bodied frame." Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautiful wine laced with red berries, flowers and subtle hints of earthiness. Soft and supple throughout, the Brunello shows lovely juiciness in its fruit and a delicate, understated personality. The 2006 represents yet another step in the more elegant, refined direction the estate has taken in recent years. " Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"The more robust bottling from this estate oak is integrating faster and wines can drink young in 2000 Vintage drink or hold reserve while supplies last. " Tim Adams

"This medium-bodied Barolo presents an attractive array of figs, plums, iron, leather, licorice and spice nuances on a long, sinewy frame, with good structure..." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"Always an outstanting wine and my favorite from this estate 2003 is more approachble young but still tannic and intense. I reccomend decanting wine is cappable of long aging." Tim Adams

"With time in the glass the wine’s inner perfume gradually comes to life, even if this remains a reticent Brunello within the context of the vintage. Still, it is impossible not to admire the inner sweetness of the fruit and the impeccable polish of the tannins. " Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"Offers crushed berries, with flowers and sandalwood. The nose is reserved, but interesting. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long finish. Very tight and stylish. Racy and powerful. Needs time. Best after 2011." James Suckling
- Wine Spectator

"With ripe but noticeable tannin and excellent length, this is a potentially outstanding Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2014."

"This is a very rich Sangiovese on the nose with dried black cherries and strawberries. Lots of dark chocolate too. Loads of black chocolate cake and dried coffee cake character. Full and very powerful. Lots of ripe tannins. Goes on for minutes." James Suckling

"The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is a big, juicy wine bursting with dark fruit, sage, rosemary, licorice and new leather. This undeniably attractive, opulent Brunello reveals terrific length and harmony in a full-throttle style. The finish is round, creamy and impeccably balanced." Antonio Galloni

"Sweet, full-bodied, and rich, it is a terrific effort for the vintage." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"Shows berry jam and Indian spices, with hints of red licorice. Full-bodied, long and rich, with dried fruit that turns to raisin and Christmas pudding spices." James Suckling
- Wine Spectator

"Full-bodied, with soft and caressing tannins and a long, ripe fruit and vanilla aftertaste."
- Wine Spectator

"Full-bodied, with supervelvety tannins and an ultrarefined palate. Round, caressing and delicious. 330 cases made."
- Wine Spectator

"Readers seeking a combination of power and elegance with moderate tannin should check out La Palazza's opaque purple-colored 1997 Graf Noir, a blend of 30% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Negretto Longanesi. Aged for two years in wood, it is a textured, multi-dimensional, impressively-endowed, concentrated wine that would be difficult to pick out as Italian in a tasting of top-class Bordeaux." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"the Via Nuova offers a lovely floral nose and suggestions of small red fruits, minerals and spices on a medium-bodied frame with excellent length..." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"It reveals gorgeous purity in its dark cherries, violets, menthol and chocolate, with terrific vibrancy on the palate and a long, elegant finish." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"A rare Einaudi wine that you can drink on the young side still with firm tannins but very enjoyable." Tim Adams

"Dark cherry and raspberry aromas follow through to a full body, with loads of chewy tannins and rich fruit. The fruit concentration is impressive, yet this is balanced and in form." James Suckling
- Wine Spectator

"Gorgeous aromas of blackberry, light toasty oak, cream and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Wonderful." James Suckling
- Wine Spectator

"Tea leaves, prunes, burnt sugar, figs and spice cake are some of the nuances that emerge from Fontodi's 2001 Vin Santo, a wine that walks a line between the fresher and more exotic expressions of this famous Tuscan dessert wine. The finish is long and creamy." Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"Shows a complex nose of blackberry, tanned leather, sandalwood and cedar. Fascinating. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish." James Suckling
- Wine Spectator

"Frescobaldi's Brunello always delivers great quality in just about any vintage. Gorgeous nose of ripe berries and slice plums with an almost peach undertone. Full bodied, with a solid core of gorgeously clean and clear dark fruits. Dense and integrated tannins on the finish. So long and fascinating." Jamers Suckling

"Aromas of currant, blackberry and light vanilla. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and lovely fruit. Enticing and refined." James Suckling
- Wine Spectator

"If Nebbiolo were a white grape, it might taste much like the 2003 Ribolla Gialla Amphora This powerful, rich wine flows from the glass with sweeping fruit buffered by elegant tannins and pretty notes of minerality. Everything is in the right place in this gorgeous, large-scaled Ribolla. " Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"The 2001 is an extreme Montevetrano bursting with masses of super-ripe fruit that walks the tight rope of ripeness stopping just short of going overboard. This is by far the most opulent, full-throttle vintage of Montevetrano ever made. Chocolate, spices and new leather lead to jammy dark fruit. Despite the wine's overt richness the firm tannins confer elements of classicism that act as a foil. In 2001 Aglianico comes through in spades." Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"Plums, violets, minerals, leather and tobacco on a rich, articulated frame that literally explodes on the palate with a burst of dark red fruit. A tense, wiry finish gives the wine fabulous length." Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"Very tightly wound as 2001 was a stellar vintage best bottle available for Marcarini's elegant side great wines for those who will wait cellar 4-5 yrs." Tim Adams

"Beautiful to drink in short term much more accesible than 2001 and wine will get better. Elegant with great intensity and by no means lacking body. " Tim Adams

"a terrific example of a more modern style of Barbaresco. It presents an elegant nose redolent of spices followed by rich macerated cherry and mineral flavors with superbly well-integrated oak and great overall balance." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"Medium-bodied, with a caressing texture and a long, smoky aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"The 2003 Percarlo is a superb effort in this difficult vintage. It displays balsamic and mineral notes interwoven into a fabric of super- ripe fruit and toasted oak with a powerful personality." Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"extraordinary purity and elegance in its suggestions of raspberries, flowers, licorice, mint and sweet spices. Even at seven years of age it remains an incredibly primary, fresh wine with silky-textured tannins and notable finesse."
- Wine Advocate

"an attractive, perfumed nose of roses and spices followed by very sweet red fruit, with a soft, round personality and great length." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"It presents a lovely core of sweet fruit and the typical mentholated, balsamic notes that are typical of this site..." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is a wonderfully plush, warm Brunello loaded with radiant fruit. Flowers, licorice and leather develop in the glass, adding dimension to this opulent, expressive wine. The sheer depth of the fruit and the open, sweet bouquet completely cover the tannins, making this one of the most approachable wines of the vintage. This remains a rich, full-bodied Brunello capable of delivering plenty of enjoyment now and over the next handful of years at a minimum." Antonio Galloni
- Wine Advocate

"full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a long finish. Harmonious and balanced. 225 cases made. "
- Wine Spectator

"It offers excellent to outstanding depth, medium to full body, and moderate tannin in the finish." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"The most complete of these 1999 Barolos, the Gancia opens with a refined, aromatic nose followed by layers of sweet dark fruit that unfold with notable length and persistence on the palate…" Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"Traditional style from La Morra opens with minimal air time displays impressive aromatic bouquet. Wine has good balance and a seductive elegant style. " Tim Adams

"warm and intense on the palate with black cherry, tar, and anisette flavors and a full finish." Robert Parker
- Wine Advocate

"Impressive wine.Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. A blockbuster, yet very polished."
- Wine Spectator