Tasting Report: My Top 100 Italian Wines in 2015
It should come as no surprise that this year’s report on my Top 100 Italian wines from my tastings of close to 3,000 bottles focuses primarily on 2010 Brunello di Montalcino. Anyone who reads these pages – and just about anywhere else on wine – knows the 2010 was the greatest vintage ever for the famous red of Tuscany. And it’s why I chose the Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino 2010 as my Italian Wine of Year. It is the epitome of this unique vintage and shows unrivalled aromatic complexity, richness, structure, and freshness for a Brunello 2010. It’s a perfect wine.
However, I only included Brunello 2010s that I rated 96 points or more in my list of my Top 100 Italian Wines in 2015. That still accounted for 32 of the 100. And there are plenty of other super exciting wines from perfect Bordeaux blends from the coast of Tuscany such as the 2012 Fattoria Le Pupille Toscana Saffredi (No.2 and 100 points) to a vibrant yet subtle 2011 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva (No.8 and 99 points).
The second largest group of wines in my Top 100 is Barolo. Almost all are 2011s. The vintage is excellent producing fruit-forward, friendly wines that have a brightness and tannin backbone that is so appealing. They remind me of the superb 1998s, which are drinking beautifully now. Don’t miss the Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino 2008 (99 points) that was recently released. It is a magical wine with so much depth and intensity. I also included two very late releases – both 2005s – that are fun to taste and absolutely delicious now – Roberto Voerzio Fossati Case Nere Riserva 10 (97 points) and Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Cannubi 10 Anni (96 points). 
A dozen super Tuscans are the next largest group of wines in the list. Almost all of them have been in past Top 100s for Italian wines including Masseto 2012 (99 points) and Solaia 2012 (97 points). The Mazzei Toscana Siepi 2012 (98 points) is the best ever of this merlot and sangiovese blend.
There are plenty of cool wines from the south on the list from Etna to Terre Siciliane Il Frappato (one of my favorite summertime reds) as well as a stunning single vineyard Taurasi from Quintodecimo – 2010 Vigna Quintodecimo Riserva (97 points).
I tried to include some of my favorite whites this year. My top one was the Livio Felluga Rosazzo 100, a new blend of friulano, pinot bianco, sauvignon blanc and malvasia istriana. Only 400 magnums were made. It’s stunning (98 points). The Cantina Terlano Alto Adige Terlaner I Grande Cuvée 2012 is almost at the same level of quality (97 points) and a fantastic blend of pinot bianco with chardonnay and sauvignon. This is only the second release of this great white.
I didn’t want people to miss on how Italy is now making some outrageously good quality sparkling wines. So I included three sparklers. They are all from Franciacorta: Bellavista Vittorio Moretti Riserva Extra Brut 2008 (95 points), Ca’ del Bosco Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Riserva 2006 (96 points) and Bellavista Rosé 2010 (95 points).
I hope you enjoy my list of my Top 100 Italian Wines in 2015. The list is, of course, very personal and I couldn’t include all the outstanding wines tasted this year. In any case, I would love to drink every wine I selected for the list this year. So rest assured they are really great bottles.
Photos from top to bottom:Montevetrano Colli di Salerno 2013; Wines from Foradori; Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Cannubi 10 Anni 2005 and Cantina Terlano Alto Adige Terlaner I Grande Cuvée 2012
1. Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino 2010
2. Fattoria Le Pupille Toscana Saffredi 2012
3. Luce della Vite Brunello di Montalcino 2010
4. Duemani Cabernet Franc Costa della Toscana 2012
5. Tua Rita Toscana Redigaffi 2013
6. Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso 2010
7. Livio Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino 2010
8. Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva 2011
9. Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo 2010
10. Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino 2008
12. San Polino Brunello di Montalcino Helichrysum 2010
13. Roberto Voerzio Barolo Rocche dell’ Annunziata 2011
14. Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. 2010
15. Elio Altare Barolo Unoperuno 2011
16. Giodo Brunello di Montalcino 2010
17. Livio Felluga Rosazzo 100 2013
18. Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2010
19. Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Vigneto La Casuccia Gran Selezione 2011
20. Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2010
21. Petrolo Toscana Galatrona 2013
22. San Polino Brunello di Montalcino 2010
23. Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino Zodiac Monkey Limited Edition 2010
24. Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 2011
25. Roberto Voerzio Barbera d’Alba Barbera d’Alba Pozzoannunziata 2011
26. Eredi Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 2010
28. Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2010
29. Renato Corino Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata 2011
30. Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino 2010
31. La Spinetta Barolo Campè 2011
32. Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino 2010
33. Castello di Ama Toscana L’Apparita 2011
34. Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino Manachiara 2010
35. Le Macchiole Bolgheri Paleo 2012
36. Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta 2010
37. Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore L’Alberello 2012
38. San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucere 2010
39. Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2011
40. Villa I Cipressi Brunello di Montalcino Zebras 2010
41. Cordella Brunello di Montalcino 2010
42. Ornellaia Toscana Bianco 2013
43. Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino 2010
44. Ca’ Romé di Romano Marengo Barolo Cerretta 2011
45. Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura 2010
46. Roberto Voerzio Barolo Fossati Case Nere Riserva 10 Anni 2005
47. Assunto Brunello di Montalcino 2010
48. Cantina Terlano Alto Adige Terllaner I Grande Cuvée 2012
49. Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino 2010
51. San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino 2010
52. Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2012
53. Fossacolle Brunello di Montalcino 2010
54. Marchesi Antinori Toscana Solaia 2012
55. Baccinetti Brunello di Montalcino Saporoia 2010
56. Elio Altare Barolo Ceretta 2011
57. La Serena Brunello di Montalcino 2010
58. Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 2010
59. Paolo Conterno Barolo Riva del Bric 2011
60. Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2010
61. Citille di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Poggio Ronconi 2010
62. Castello di Ama Chianti Classico San Lorenzo Gran Selezione 2011
63. Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala 2011
64. Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Cannubi 10 Anni 2005
65. Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille 2010
66. Luigi Einaudi Barolo Cannubi 2011
67. Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falleto 2011
68. Vietti Barolo Brunate 2011
69. Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo Sotto Castello di Novello 2011
70. Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta 2010
71. Castello dei Rampolla Toscana d’Alceo 2011
72. Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio Gran Selezione 2012
73. Pio Cesare Barbaresco Il Bricco 2011
74. Ceretto Barolo Brunate 2011
75. Marchesi Antinori Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso 2012
76. Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Cannubi 2011
77. Andrea Oberto Barolo Brunate 2011
78. Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 2011
79. Quintodecimo Taurasi Vigna Quintodecimo Riserva 2010
80. Marchesi Antinori Toscana Tignanello 2012
81. Foradori Manzoni Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti Fontanasanta 2013
82. Montevetrano Colli di Salerno 2013
83. Sette Ponti Toscana Oreno 2013
84. Jermann Venezia-Giulia Where Dreams Have No End 2013
85. Bellavista Franciacorta Vittorio Moretti Riserva Extra Brut 2008
86. Occhipinti Terre Siciliane Il Frappato 2013
87. Girolamo Russo Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 2013
88. Bibi Graetz Toscana Colore 2010
89. Ca’ del Bosco Franciacorta Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Riserva 2006
90. Castello di Querceto Colli della Toscana Centrale Romatic 2009
91. Vie di Romans Chardonnay Friuli Isonzo 2013
92. Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Guardiola 2013
93. Bellavista Franciacorta Rosé 2010
94. Le Macchiole Bolgheri Messorio 2012
95. Sette Ponti Toscana Crognolo 2013
96. Foradori Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti Granato 2011
98. Argiolas Isola dei Nuraghi Turriga 2011