Bella Italia and La Dolce Vita! Welcome to the Greg Martellotto's pick for the Top 12 Italian red wines to buy today. Greg is one of only 400 Italian Wine Ambassadors in the world and certified by Vinitaly Academy. He has been traveling to Italy for more than three decades and knows where the best juice is coming from. In addition to his family heritage in Puglia, he has lived in Florence and typically spends 3-6 weeks per year in Oenotria. These wines all raised his eyebrows and they will certainly make an impression on you. Consider these wines among the best from each of their respective regions and certainly at the top of the quality and value chain.
Alla Salute!
2018 Pasetti Harimann Montepulciano D’Abruzzo DOP
A rich and full-bodied Montepulciano with deep flavors of black cherries, plum, and dark berries. You’ll also find notes of spice, cocoa, and a touch of vanilla from the oak. The tannins are smooth but powerful, giving the wine great structure. It finishes long and warm, making it perfect for roasted meats, pasta with red sauces, and aged cheeses. This wine can age beautifully for several more years.
2020 Scrimaglio Barolo DOCG
A classic and expressive Barolo that highlights the purity and structure of Nebbiolo. Aromas of red cherry, dried rose, and subtle spice lead into a refined palate layered with fruit, earth, and gentle savory notes. The tannins are firm yet well-integrated, giving the wine its signature Barolo backbone. Elegant and balanced, this vintage shows both approachability and aging potential—beautiful to enjoy now with some air, and even more rewarding with time in the cellar.
2020 Colle Nero Tra Di Noi Brunello Di Montalcino DOC
This wine is an exclusive partnership with Terre Nere. With vineyards located next to Poggio di Sotto ($300/btl),this wine looks like one of the best values in Montalcino. Again, don't just take my word for it. James Suckling 94pts.
2022 Boasso Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba DOCG
From the heart of Serralunga d'Alba, the commune known for Barolo's most powerful and long-lived wines, Boasso is one of the area's most reliable family producers. Expect classic Nebbiolo aromas of red cherry, dried rose, tar, and sweet spice, framed by firm, polished tannins and a long, savory finish. James Suckling gave it 92 points and found it open and accessible, so it drinks beautifully now with a little air, yet it has the structure to reward time in the cellar. A perfect match for braised beef, truffle pasta, and aged cheeses.
2021 Fabio Oberto La Collina di Dioniso Barolo DOCG Piedmont
Is a classic, full-bodied Barolo with rich flavors of cherry, rose, and spice, along with hints of earth and tobacco. It has firm tannins and a long, elegant finish, making it a great wine for aging or pairing with steak, lamb, and hearty Italian dishes.
2020 Boroli Barolo Del Comune Di Castiglione Falletto
A classic, terroir-driven Barolo from one of the most prized communes in Piedmont. Structured and age-worthy, it shows aromas of dried rose, tar, cherry, and subtle spice. On the palate, firm yet refined tannins frame layers of red fruit, earthy minerality, and savory complexity. Elegant but powerful, with a long, persistent finish — built to evolve beautifully over time.
2021 Scrimaglio Barbaresco DOCG
The 2021 Scrimaglio Barbaresco is patiently aged in bottles, exceeding regulatory standards. This careful process ensures they reach the market in their fullest expression, a testament to Scrimaglio's meticulous attention to the essential ingredient of wine: Time.
2022 La Ca Nova Barbaresco DOCG
La Ca Nova is one of Barbaresco's best-kept secrets. Antonio Galloni calls it the most under-the-radar winery in all of Piedmont, Forbes named it one of the Top 25 producers in Barbaresco, and Angelo Gaja himself used to buy these grapes. Vinous praised the 2022 as superb, deep and layered. Look for red cherry, rose petal, and a hint of licorice, with fine-grained Nebbiolo tannins and a lovely mineral freshness. Elegant and generous now, with plenty of life ahead in the cellar.
2020 Mate Brunello Di Montalcino
A powerful and age-worthy Tuscan red crafted from 100% Sangiovese, this wine offers layered aromas of ripe cherry, wild berries, dried roses, and subtle hints of tobacco and spice. The palate is structured and elegant, with firm yet refined tannins, vibrant acidity, and notes of dark fruit, leather, and earthy minerality. A long, savory finish makes it an excellent companion to grilled meats, braised dishes, and aged cheeses, with the balance to evolve beautifully over time.
2020 Mazzarosa Vere Novo Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC
Born from a bold vision during the global pandemic, Vere Novo is the highest-rated Montepulciano d’Abruzzo of 2020 and a testament to innovation. Crafted by renowned winemaker Riccardo Brighigna, twice named "Winemaker of the Year" in Abruzzo, this wine revives the ancient Whole Bunch technique—fermenting entire grape clusters to amplify aroma, structure, and finesse. The result? A Montepulciano unlike any other: softer, fruitier, yet deeply expressive of its Abruzzo roots. Awarded 97 points and a Platinum Medal by Decanter, placing it among the Top 150 wines in the world, and 93 points from James Suckling, Vere Novo is a revelation in elegance.
2019 Nativ 'Eremo San Quirico' Aglianico Irpinia Campi Taurasini
Aglianico is known as the "Barolo of the South," and this bottle shows why. Grown in the volcanic hills of Irpinia in Campania, right in Taurasi country, it comes from Nativ, the winery owned by Mario Ercolino, the mind behind Feudi di San Gregorio's success. A 99-point Aglianico and Grand Gold Medal winner at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, it layers dark cherry, blackberry, and plum with smoke, licorice, and earthy minerality, all carried by firm tannins and bright acidity. Bold and age-worthy, it's a great partner for grilled meats, sausage, and hearty ragù.
2022 Bibbiani Montereggi Cabernet Sauvignon Rosso Toscano
A 94-point Super Tuscan made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown on 50-year-old vines at Villa Bibbiani, an estate with some 1,300 years of history that was once a Benedictine monastery. Bold and powerful, it shows blackcurrant, black cherry, and plum layered with cedar, tobacco, and Mediterranean herbs. Ripe, structured tannins and a long, polished finish make it a natural match for bistecca alla fiorentina, lamb, and aged pecorino. Proof that Italy makes world-class Cabernet.
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We bundled 12 of these wines into a single case. Buy them in a 12-bottle case here.
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