Michaela Morris’ top fine wines of 2018

Until the 2013 vintage, Giuseppe Mascarello was the only producer to craft a Monprivato bottling from this 7ha cru. 1970 was the estate's first after...

The 2010 Solaia is less immediately giving on the nose than the Tignanello of the same vintage, taking time to reveal nuances of grilled herbs,...

2006 was a hot year but one with significant thermal amplitude. It fluctuated between 30°C in the day and 10°C at night from late August...

Reaching an altitude of 525 metres above sea level, Bellavista is characterised by rocky clay and limestone soil. The oldest plantings date back to 1974,...

While touches of mocha and wood spice are still evident, waves of Mediterranean herb wash over the palate and the finish lingers with mint and...

Costanti’s 2010 truly lives up to the hype of this highly touted vintage. Warm but not extreme, it was defined by cool nights that preserved...

Manetti calls 2012 'the vintage of two faces': summer was very hot until mid-August, when some rain brought cooler temperatures which slowed down ripening. In...

With an incredible freshness and lightness, this seems to defy the hot vintage, the vineyards' southerly location in the zone, and the lengthy wood ageing...

After a long winter delayed bud break, the cool spring saw regular rainfall and the summer continued without extremes of temperature. Grapes were picked during...

Vacca finds a resemblance between 2008 and the illustrious 1978 vintage. The weather was a bit cool and rainy through spring until mid-July, and decidedly...

This demonstrates amazing aromatic complexity. Balsamic herbs like rosemary, sage and thyme meet red forest berries, sous-bois, creosote and warm stones. There is a sinewy...

Revealing its extraordinary complexity slowly, the 1999 vintage is ultimate savoury minerality, with a persistent liquorice note, which winemaker Renzo Cotarella said he felt marks...

Costanti harvested at the end of September in this warm rather than hot year ageing the Riserva for 18 months first in medium size French...

Coltassala is a 3.5ha single vineyard at 520 metres above sea level. It was originally co-planted with Sangiovese and Mamolo at the end of the...

The 2012 vintage was extremely dry in Montalcino, mostly on the southern side. Despite several clean, sound examples of the vintage, the finished product is...

Padelletti's Riserva is crafted from 40-50-year-old vines. It sees a long five week maceration and lengthy ageing in large oak casks. It's a wondrously traditional...

The backbone of this Riserva comes from Gianni Brunelli's south-facing Vigna Olmo vineyard, located on the estate's Podernovone property in the southeast of Montalcino. It...

Salvioni's La Cerbaiola property is in the southeast of Montalcino, at an average altitude of 440 metres on galestro soil. It is divided into three...

Salicutti's Francesco Leanza says that 2013 is the latest harvest he can remember, having started on 2nd October, and the result is superb. He deemed...

Vajra was spared the hail damage that affected other producers in the region. An exceptional vintage, September and October's marked diurnal temperature differences resulted in...

July through to September saw large diurnal differences, with warm days turning to chilly nights and the harvest extended until October 29. I agree with...

Like the Tignanello of the same vintage, the 2013 Solaia is restrained in character. It resembles a young Bordeaux, with top notes of cassis, hints...

Winemaker Renzo Cotarella declared the 2013 to be one of the most vibrant Tignanellos Antinori has ever made. It recalls 2010 but is a slightly...

The challenging 2008 vintage was cool and humid throughout spring and summer, but a long, dry autumn allowed for slow, steady ripening. As hail damage...

After a chilly, wet start, the weather finally became dry and hot in July. Following mid-August showers, the temperatures cooled down, particularly at night. These...

Aldo Bianchi's first bottling of Il Poggio was in 1962. Now run by his daughter, Laura Bianchi, Monsanto continues to craft a Riserva from this...

A selection of the best grapes, only made in the best years, La Magia's Riserva is aged in 100% new French tonneaux. The wine is...

This year's Riserva comes from the estate's two oldest vineyards. The north-facing Vigna Vecchia Mercatale makes up the backbone, with the remaining 20% coming from...

Is this going through a dumb phase? 2013 was a fairly classic vintage in Montalcino and this Madonna delle Grazie reflects that in its firm,...

Though 2007 is characterised as a hot vintage, August's temperatures were lower than average. The Bricco delle Viole vineyard's cooling influences served it well, and...

A little oak over the Nebbiolo fruit, and sill firm tannins; long tobacco finish. Needs lots of time but worth the wait.