Northern Italy

91 points The Wine Advocate:Aldo Conterno’s 2004 Barolo is simply beautiful. A medium red, it presents a feminine expression of Nebbiolo in its perfumed, spiced red raspberries and cherries. This is a soft, accessible Barolo ideal for near and mid-term drinking that fully captures the essence of this great vintage. Beginning with the 2004 vintage, this wine includes fruit from 15-year-old vines in Colonnello, a vineyard with sandier soils that lies on the border with Barolo. In the past this fruit was used for the Langhe Favot but now it makes up about 30% of the blend for the Barolo. As a result this bottling now carries the Barolo designation rather than the Barolo Bussia name which was used for previous vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2019. Antonio Galloni

91 points The Wine Advocate:The 2009 Barbera d’Asti Monte Bruna is a gorgeous, radiant wine laced with expressive fruit, grilled herbs and minerals. It is a bit reserved next to the estate’s other 2009s, yet shows plenty of energy and fleshiness. The finish is beautiful and totally open. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.
Antonio Galloni

92 points The Wine Advocate-The 2007 Barbaresco Marcarini is a shade weightier and richer than the Valgrande in its dark cherries, minerals, menthol, tar, new leather and cloves. This medium-bodied, vibrant Barbaresco possesses gorgeous depth and persistence, along with firm tannins that frame an exquisite finish. In this vintage I am struck by the detail and nuance in the Marcarini. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. Antonio Galloni

90 points The Wine Spectator:A lush and fruity red, sporting black currant, vanilla, coffee and herb aromas and flavors. Ripe and open, with well-integrated tannins on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Drink now through 2014. 1,000 cases imported.

89 points The Wine Advocate:The 2009 Rosso is mostly Petit Rouge, with a dollop of other indigenous grapes. It is a big, bold wine packed with vibrant dark fruit, dried flowers and earthiness, with terrific balance and intensity, especially for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. Antonio Galloni

92 points The Wine Advocate-The 2004 Barolo Cerretta possesses an extra dimension of fruit and sheer volume than the Prapo. This weighty, backward Barolo bursts from the glass with ripe dark fruit, menthol, French oak and licorice in an expansive, generous style. The wine finishes with superb elegance and lingering notes of sweetness. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Antonio Galloni

Some Barolo producers use their Dolcetto as a cash-flow wine, which is understandable given the dreadful cash-flow of Barolo itself (more than three years from vintage to release). Not Germano. This wine is inky purple in color; on the nose it is blueberry with tar and a hint of flowers, classic dolcetto; on the palate it is big, full-bodied, high in both fruit and tannins.  Oliver McCrum Importer