A big and rich wine to enjoy in the future. Love the crushed blueberry, floral and spice aromas to this young Barolo. Full-bodied and very concentrated, with loads of fruit and chewy tannins. 1,915 cases made. Drink: 2005+.

- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, April 2002

Complex aromas of grilled meat and cherry, with hints of cedar and tobacco turning to plums and flowers. Full-bodied and extremely well-structured, with well-integrated tannins and ripe and concentrated fruit. Superbly made. 2,200 cases made. Drink: 2004+.

- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, June 2002

A marvelous Chianti, the 1997 Tenuta Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva is aged 14 months in small oak barriques and one year in bottle. It reveals sur-maturite (over-ripeness) in its strawberry/cassis-scented nose. Full-bodied, with low acidity, superb concentration of black fruit, spice box, cedar, earth, and smoke, it is a wine of exceptional extract and marvelous balance that reflects the vintage's low acid, opulent/voluptuous personality. Drink: 2000-2015.

- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 127, February 2000

(Deep garnet core with a ruby rim. Heady sottobosco aroma reminiscent of sweet pipe tobacco laced with the perfumed scent of violets. Deep plum flavor mingles with cherry jam, bitter chocolate and roasted coffee bean; very fresh and clear. The wine offers a superb sense of depth and harmony on the middle palate, and the tannins are firm but ripe. The long, silky finish is graced by an undercurrent of anise. Generous, suave, and delicious. (Vias Imports, New York, NY)

- Edward Beltrami, International Wine Cellar Issue 103, July/August 2002

The profound 1997 Solengo vino da tavola (a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon with a tiny dosage of Syrah) is spectacular. Opaque purple-colored, it displays a fabulously sweet nose of creme de cassis, new saddle leather, toasty new oak, licorice, and flowers. This wine boasts amazing richness, a huge, full-bodied impact on the palate (yet no sense of heaviness), low acidity, gorgeous ripeness, and a finish that lasts for 35+ seconds. I predict a brilliant future for this compelling proprietary red wine. Drink: 2002-2016.

- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 124, August 1999

Deep ruby with a garnet core. Opens with appealing smells of sottobosco, tobacco, wet soil and spicy cedar. Redolent of overripe fruit, primarily plum jam, and a heady mix of earthy flavors and fresh road tar. In spite of a pronounced acid bite the abundant tannins are suave, and there is an impression of density and weight. The long finish carries an aftertaste of roasted chestnuts. The acids seem slightly intrusive but the wine intensity and zest are nonetheless quite attractive. (Marc de Grazia; importers include Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; and Estate Wines Ltd., San Rafael, CA)

- Edward Beltrami, International Wine Cellar Issue 103, July/August 2002

Proprietor Riccardo Cotarella's 1997 Montiano vino da tavola (100% Merlot, bottled unfined and unfiltered after spending 12 months in new French oak) is fabulous. It displays multiple layers that build in the mouth, exploding at the back of the palate. From its opaque purple color, the huge sweet notes of chocolate, smoke, black fruits, and toast satiate the olfactory senses, yet please the mind's intellectual yearnings. Pure and powerful, yet brilliantly knit together with no hard edges and no sense of high alcohol or heaviness, this sensational wine is one of the finest Merlots made in Italy. Production was 1,000 cases. Drink: 1999-2014.

- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 124, August 1999

Tight and powerful. Slightly rough, yet racy. Attractive aromas of dried cherries, berries and lilacs. Full body. Silky tannins. Long, slightly austere finish. Give this time, please. 2,665 cases made. Drink: 2003+.

- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, October 2000

This builds and builds and builds on the palate. Gorgeous aromas of ripe berries, meat and spices. Full-bodied, with polished, well-integrated tannins and a long, long finish. Give it time. 5,000 cases made. Drink: 2005+.

- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, July 2000

Dark garnet. Enticing nose of sweet tobacco, anise and freshly poured tar, with an unmistakable hint of glove leather. Mushroom flavors emerge on the palate, mingling with bitter chocolate and a note of spicy cedar. The texture of this slightly rustic but convincing Brunello is dense, almost chewy, with plump tannins that coat the entire mouth. The earthy aromatic impressions are echoed on the sustained finish. (Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY)

- Edward Beltrami, International Wine Cellar Issue 103, July/August 2002

Seductive red. Very pretty aromas of berries, Indian spices and red licorice follow through to a full-bodied palate, with round and caressing tannins and a long, sexy finish. Like a great Burgundy. 2,080 cases made. Drink: 2002-2008.

- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, June 2002

There are 1,000 cases of the exceptional, black/purple-colored 1997 Darmagi Cabernet Sauvignon (3-4% Cabernet Franc was added to the blend). With abundant quantities of smoky, concentrated fruit as well as tannin, the vintage's low acid, thick, glycerin-imbued character, and a layered, full-bodied finish, it should develop nicely for two decades. A genius for sure, Angelo Gaja can not be faulted for what he puts in the bottle. This work of art is worth every cent it will fetch. Drink: 2001-2021.

- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 135, June 2001

A balanced and harmonious young red. Dark ruby color, with loads of grape, berry, mineral and violet aromas. Full-bodied, with loads of blackberry and cherry character, fine tannins and a medium finish. Gorgeous wine. Drink: 2005+.

- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, June 2000

More like a serious claret than Chianti in style, but really superb. Dark ruby in color, with aromas of blackberry, wet earth, currant and mint plus lots of new oak. Full-bodied, with superpolished tannins and a medium finish. 350 cases made. Drink: 2000-2003.

- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, November 1999

This is staggering in its complexity and richness. Proprietor Silvia Imparato is a shining star. Sadly, her small vineyard of 10 acres produces only 500 cases from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Aglianico. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered after spending 12 months in 100% new French oak. Amazingly, the new oak is completely absorbed by the fruit. Stylistically, it is reminiscent of an Italian version of the Colgin or Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Its mild blackberry/vivid blueberry, fabulously fragrant, floral-scented nose jumps from the glass. Opaque purple-colored, with a layered, naturally textured feel, this full-bodied, spectacularly concentrated, multidimensional wine must be tasted to be believed. A prodigious effort, it may be the finest Montevetrano yet made ... which is saying something given how spectacular other vintages have been. Drink: 2004-2020.

- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 124, August 1999

This Tuscan gem is black in color, with complex aromas of black currants, minerals and wet earth. Full- bodied, with lots of tannins, but very polished. Long, long finish. Super well-made: a great Ornellaia. 11,415 cases made. Drink: 2004+.

- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, July 2000

Dark garnet with ruby/purple reflections. Appealing aromas of sweet tobacco and cherry are followed by intense berry fruit flavors (especially raspberry and cranberry) laced with mint. The tannins are pliant in this lush but racy wine, and the sustained finish resonates with prominent tobacco scents. Classy and convincing. (Paterno Imports, Chicago, IL)

- Edward Beltrami, International Wine Cellar Issue 103, July/August 2002

This is the new single-vineyard selection of the estate and an outstanding success in its first vintage. Deep ruby-garnet. Powerful, penetrating, precise aromas of plum, raspberry and tar. Warm plummy, jammy flavors offer substantial impact and dimension; the texture swells on the palate. Firm tannins give grip and definition. Should enjoy a long life ahead.

- Daniel Thomases, International Wine Cellar Issue 91, July/August 2000

A monster Italian red. Aromas of coffee, roasted meat and ripe berries precede a full-bodied wine with mouth-puckering tannins and an enormous concentration of fruit. What it lacks in elegance and sophistication it gives in concentration and power. Drink: 2003+.

- James Suckling, Wine Spectator, October 2000