98 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2020 Barolo Monprivato is without question one of the finest wines to emerge from these cellars in many years. Translucent and layered, with captivating textural depth, the 2020 is positively stellar. Bright red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper, blood orange and dried rose petal come alive in the glass. This statuesque Barolo simply has it all. It's great to see the Mascarello family making truly pedigreed wines once again. To find a Monprivato of this exceptionally high level, readers will have to go back to the 1989. That's how outstanding the 2020 is.

98 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The nose of the 2020 Barolo Monprivato is highly expressive and perfumed with notes of wild strawberries, fresh cut fennel, springtime herbs, and wet stones. The palate is seamless and similar to 2018 in terms of its elegance, but this wine has more structure, well-defined, even tannins, and a bit more body through the mid-palate while still retaining a very approachable and joyful feel. This will be a wine with a wide window for enjoyment and is one of the highlights of this vintage for me. It offers so much pleasure now, and I anticipate it will continue to improve over the coming decades. Bravo. Drink 2026-2056.

97 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2014 Comtes de Champagne is pristine. In this tasting, it comes across as a mini-2008, similar in its linear personality, with just a touch more mid-palate creaminess. Readers will find a Comtes that plays in the realm of tension and energy. Citrus confit, white flowers, chalk, mint and chamomile are all finely sketched. Light tropical overtones grace the finish. What an absolute delight. The 2014 can be enjoyed now or cellared. Dosage is 9 grams per liter.

97 Yohan Castaing - Robert Parker's the Wine Advocate

Closed in style and character like the 2013, Taittinger's 2014 Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne reveals aromas of ripe orchard fruit, confit citrus, dried flowers, herbs, spring blossoms and mirabelle mingled with customary autolytic notes. Full-bodied, seamless and enrobing, it has a delicate, elegant, fleshy core of fruit and racy acids, all enhanced by a saline, fresh and penetrating finish marked by finesse and elegance. This refined, chalky-inflected Comtes de Champagne has the potential to age gracefully over the next 30-40 years.

96 Decanter

60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier sourced from more than 300 crus, including 85% grands and premiers crus; 15% fermented in old oak barrels. The complexity and richness of Special Cuvée is unparalleled among the entry non-vintage blends of every Champagne house, short of ascending to the mesosphere of Krug. Its grand recipe explains why, built on incredible depth of 50%-60% reserves. Triumphant complexity is a given at Bollinger, but it’s the dynamic freshness and vitality that really set it apart as one of the most affordable Champagne benchmarks.

97+ Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Between the Pajana and the Ciabot Mentin, I have a preference for the latter. The Domenico Clerico 2021 Barolo Ginestra Ciabot Mentin comes from the higher part of the slope (with vines planted in 1978) and offers an extremely precise and finely stitched bouquet that incorporates elements of cassis, wild berry, herb, blue flower and crushed stone. The mineral signature is a little more pronounced in this wine, and it leans into iron ore and rusty nail. Like the Pajana, the tannins are quite firm, and the wine will need more time in bottle to integrate. This is a release of 5,500 bottles and 150 magnums.

95 Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Showing great warm-vintage intensity and focus, the Tolaini 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Montebello Sette represents a deep dive into Sangiovese. This elegant expression of the grape (delivered in a production of 15,000 bottles) shows a bold fruit profile with spot-on ripeness and bold cherry. It follows through with a mildly creamy texture. More depth is provided thanks to delicate mineral shadings and lightly toasted spice. These are balanced and elegant results.

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A rich and dark-fruited wine with complex aromas of brooding black cherries, resinous herbs and mint. The palate is juicy, with broad tannins and flavors of cherries, sage and black tea. Medium- to full-bodied. Drink or hold.