Wave Five - Italian Red and Whites
This cellar list features a diverse, thoughtfully selected collection focused heavily on indigenous Italian varieties. It bridges the gap between ultra-premium Piedmont reds and a fascinating array of texturally unique Italian white wines and regional value reds.
Collection Overview
- 🍇 Piedmontese Kings: The undisputed heavy-hitters of this list are the Nebbiolo-based wines. This includes structured Barolo benchmarks from Giacomo Fenocchio, Fratelli Alessandria, and Oddero, alongside high-quality everyday Langhe Nebbiolo and Barbaresco.
- 🥂 Unique Italian Whites: An exceptional white wine lineup featuring rare Timorasso (Derthona) from producers like Vigneti Massa and Tenuta Garetto, alongside premium Vermentino, Friulano, and Greco di Tufo.
- 🇮🇹 Deep Regional Varieties: The collection covers the full length of the Italian peninsula. It highlights powerful Sagrantino di Montefalco from Umbria, aged Amarone from Veneto, structured Aglianico from the south, and crisp Pinot Grigio from Friuli.
High-Value Highlights
The top five highest-priced bottles emphasize elite Piedmont producers and premium small-production whites:
- 2019 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Bussia Riserva (Piedmont) – $195
- 2021 Fratelli Alessandria "San Lorenzo di Verduno" Barolo (Piedmont) – $90
- 2021 Fratelli Alessandria "Gramolere" Barolo (Piedmont) – $80
- 2024 Bricco Ernesto Piemonte Bianco (Piedmont) – $78
- 2015 Sorrentino "Don Paolo" Aglianico (Campania) – $65
- 2010 Allegrini / 2017 Tommasi Amarone Classico (Veneto) – $65
Strategic Case-Buy Depth
The collector shows serious intent with case-level depth in structured, ageworthy reds and crisp, high-volume porch-pounders:
- 2018 Clos Signadore 'A Mandria' Blanc (Corsica) – 13 bottles
- 2020 Antonelli San Marco Sagrantino di Montefalco (Umbria) – 12 bottles
- 2024 Kris Pinot Grigio delle Venezie (Veneto) – 12 bottles
- 2019 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Bussia Riserva (Piedmont) – 11 bottles
- 2009 Leone de Castris Salice Salentino (Puglia) – 11 bottles
- 2023 Poggio Maestrino 'Spiaggiole' Morellino di Scansano (Tuscany) – 10 bottles
- 2024 Si Si Pinot Grigio Friuli / Druzovi Sisi Sivi Pinot – 20 total bottles (\(10 \text{ each}\))
Mature Gems & Value Finds
The cellar holds several beautifully mature bottles ready for immediate cork-pulling, such as the 2010 Allegrini Amarone ($65) and a rare 2008 Tre Monti Sangiovese di Romagna Riserva ($22). Additionally, it boasts an incredible baseline of everyday Italian table values under $20, like the 2023 Punset Barbera d'Alba ($16) and 2020 Castello di Volpaia 'Prelius' Cabernet ($18).