Wine Press

Craig Camp on Montecastelli Selections in ‘Raccolta’: 

I have chosen to highlight the overall accomplishments of Jens and Ruth Schmidt in creating Montecastelli Selections, which has emerged in only a few short years as one of the most interesting Italian fine wine portfolios available. I cannot encourage you enough to go through the effort to seek out their wines. Your efforts will be well-rewarded. One thing that is certain when tasting through this portfolio is that all of the wines are absolutely delicious to drink. They are modern wines, yet they pay homage to traditional winemaking and never let modern methods

overwhelm the integrity of the vineyard.  

Montecastelli Selections is proud to share with you the following reviews as recently published:  

From Wine Advocate: 

Antonio Galloni on Parusso - Wine Advocate Issue # 200, April 2012Marco Parusso is one of the most adventurous producers in Piemonte.  Never content, Parusso is willing to take more risks in pursuit of greatness than the vast majority of his colleagues.  A visit here is always fascinating because so many things are in motion.  In recent years, Parusso’s biggest experiments have been with whole cluster fermentation, which is common in Burgundy, but rarely seen in Piemonte.  The 2008 harvest was one of the latest on record.  The fruit was brought in between October 15 and the end of the month. 

Parusso Barolo Bussia 2008  95 points Wine Advocate“The 2008 Barolo Bussia is stricking.  Layers of super-ripe dark fruit, violets, minerals, menthol and spices flow from the glass.  The Bussia is deep, textured and dazzling.  Spiced, mentholated notes develop in the glass, lending a distinctly balsamic air to the Bussia.  The 2008 boasts superb depth through to the dazzling finish.” – Antonio Galloni 

Parusso Barolo Le Coste Mosconi 2008  95 points Wine Advocate“Parusso’s 2008 Barolo Le Coste Mosconi bursts from the glass with an exotic mélange of raspberries, plums, violets, mocha, espresso and tar.  The Le Coste Mosconi is one of the more muscular, fruit-driven wines in the lineup.  It shows a little more French oak influence, but that isn’t terribly distracting given the style of the wine, as the flavors marry quite well.  Layers of fruit build towards a huge, sweeping finish supported by insistent underlying minerality.  This broad, sweeping Barolo is flat-out stunning.” – Antonio Galloni 

Parusso Barolo Mariondino 2008  94 points Wine Advocate“The 2008 Barolo Mariondino is graced with exquisite depth and definition in its dark raspberries, flowers, mint and licorice.  Fleshy and radiant, the Mariondino is endowed with considerable finesse and elegance.  Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet spices add complexity and nuance on the delineated finish.  The Mariondino is a head-spinning Barolo.” – Antonio Galloni 

Parusso Barolo 2008  91 points Wine Advocate“The 2008 Barolo wafts from the glass with freshly cut flowers, red berries, mint and licorice.  This weightless, gracious Barolo impresses for its total class and elegance.  It is an overachieving, superb entry-level wine from Marco Parusso.” – Antonio Galloni 

Parusso Barolo Riserva Silver Label 2005  92+ points Wine Advocate“The 2005 Barolo Riserva Vigna Vecchia di Monforte d’Alba is a gorgeous wine endowed with considerable textural depth.  Layers of finessed red fruit, smoke, earthiness, sweet herbs and tobacco are some of the notes that emerge from the glass.  The 2005 Riserva possesses tons of depth and richness.  It will be interesting to see the direction the wine takes over the coming years.  Bright red fruit, flowers, mint and licorice add brightness on the finish.” – Antonio Galloni 

Parusso Barolo Bussia Selezione Speciale 2008  92 points Wine Advocate“The 2008 Barolo Bussia Selezione Speciale is an example of the Parusso way of thinking taken to the max.  The wine spent 6 months in 100% new oak barrels, prior to being moved into a second set of new 100% barrels to finish its elevage.  Dark plums, mocha, spices, minerals and licorice emerge over time, but the wine remains indelibly shaped by French oak.  There is more than enough fruit to stand up to the barrels…” – Antonio Galloni

Cesani Chianti Colli Senesi 2010  88 points Wine Advocate“The 2010 Chianti Colli Senesi reveals an attractive freshness in its dark red fruit, new leather and licorice. It is a fresh, vinous Chianti to enjoy young, while the fruit retains its plumpness.” –Antonio Galloni 

Cesani Luenzo 2007  92 points Wine Advocate“The 2007 Luenzo is absolutely gorgeous in this vintage. Sweet, open and seductive, it flows across the palate with layers of radiant fruit. Tobacco, smoke, dried flowers and French oak frame the finish. The 2007 does not appear to be a wine to hold on to for too long, but it is drinking beautifully right now. The 2007 Luenzo is 97% Sangiovese and 3% Colorino, aged in 100% new oak barrels.” –Antonio Galloni 

Collelceto Brunello di Montalcino 2006  92 points Wine Advocate“The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino from Collelceto is a gorgeous wine laced with freshly cut flowers, red cherries, mint, licorice and new leather.  This mid-weight, gracious Brunello impresses for its sense of harmony and class.  The fresh, vibrant finish suggests many years of fine drinking, additional time in the bottle is needed for the firm tannins to soften a touch.” - Antonio Galloni 

El Principal  El Principal 2006  92+ points Wine Advocate“The 2006 Red Blend consists of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Carmenere. Dark ruby red in color with an alluring perfume of cedar, lilac, cinnamon, clove, blackcurrant and blueberry, on the palate, the wine is chewy, tannic, full-flavored, and packed. It will require a minimum of 5-6 years of additional cellaring and offers a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2031.” 

El Principal Memorias 2007  91 points Wine Advocate“Vina El Principal’s 2007 Memorias is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Carmenere aged for 14 months in 60% new French oak. It displays an enticing nosy of toasty oak, pencil lead, spice box, tobacco, floral notes, dried herbs, and assorted black fruits. Succulent on the palate with excellent depth, concentration, and balance, it is likely to evolve for 2-3 years and will provide peak drinking from 2014 to 2022.” 

El Principal Calicanto 2009  90 points Wine Advocate“Bodegas El Principal’s 2009 Calicanto is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Carmenere and for 9 months in French oak. It offers up an alluring nose of cedar, spice box, tobacco, violets, and black fruits. Plush on the palate, savory, and pleasure-bent with flavors of candied red fruits, it will provide enjoyment over the next 6-8 years. ” 

Fattoria Il Casalone Pepi Lignana Vermentino Leopoldino 2010  88 points Wine Advocate“The 2010 Vermentino Leopoldino flows from the glass with layers of beautifully delineated varietal fruit. Bright floral notes add lift to white stone fruit and lemon in this classy Vermentino. The Leopoldino is a wine of considerable personality and is also a great value.” –Antonio Galloni  

La Rasina – Brunello di Montalcino 2006  93 points Wine Advocate“The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is a deep, intense wine laced with black cherries, minerals, crushed flowers, and violets.  This shows superb polish and elegance all the way through to the textured, expansive finish.  La Rasina’s Brunello is one of the more opulent wines of the vintage but all of the elements come together quite nicely, especially with some time in the glass.”  Antonio Galloni 

La Rasina – Brunello di Montalcino Il Divasco 2004  91 points Wine Advocate“La Rasinas 2004 Il Divasco is rich, imposing and authoritative.  Dark fruit, French oak, licorice, spices and tar emerge from this full-throttle Brunello.  This is a decidedly extroverted style, with an opulent expression of super ripe fruit, racy aromatics and a generous dose of French oak.  Readers looking for a sumptuous Brunello will find much to admire here.” - Antonio Galloni 

Laila Rosso Conero 2010  88 points Wine Advocate“Readers will find an attractive, hearty red in the 2010 Rosso Conero. Dark wild cherries, underbrush, tar and smoke flow from this brooding, masculine wine.” –Antonio Galloni