91 / 100 Robert Parker
2018 Chardonnay FirstReserveFermented in stainless steel and aged in French barriques (70% new) for seven months, the 2018 Chardonnay First Reserve is a full-bodied, intense, ripe, dense and juicy-elegant wine with fine acidity, good texture and lingering salinity. The finish is intensely fruity yet fine and elegant, with good balance and stimulating length. After a very sunny summer with heavy rainfalls at the right time, the grapes reached an extraordinary ripeness and were picked at the end of August. Tasted in February 2020.
92 / 100 Robert Parker
2016 Caronte FirstReserveThe 2016 Merlot Ticino Caronte First Reserve offers a coolish, fresh and elegant, concentrated bouquet of sour cherries and dark berries as well as floral aromas. Lush and round on the palate, with some coconut flavors, this is a full-bodied, intense and charming, very well-balanced Merlot blend with fine tannins, mineral acidity and discreet chocolate flavors on the long and aromatic finish. This is a classic red from the Mendrisotto whose Merlot grapes (88%) were picked in the second half of September, whereas Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) and Petit Verdot (2%) were harvested in early October. Tasted in February 2020.
90+ / 100 Robert Parker
2017 Caronte FirstReserveBlending 88% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot from the Mendrisotto and aged for 20 months in 100% new French barriques, the 2017 Merlot Ticino Caronte First Reserve displays a fresh cherry color. Pure, fresh and toasty on the nose, with dark berry and cherry aromas as well as oaky notes, this is a silky-textured, initially animal or leathery, then charmingly refined and fruity red with ripe tannins, good freshness and an attractive reduction. The 2017 is still tight yet delicate and needs some hours of aeration to open up. The finish is tart and dry but promising. 13.5% alcohol.
Tasted in February 2020.
91+ / 100 Robert Parker
2016 Cabernet FirstReserveAged for 32 months in 100% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Ticino First Reserve is a pure Cabernet Sauvignon from low-yielding vines in the Mendrisotto. Elegant and fresh on the remarkably pure and aromatic nose, this is a round and charming, silky-textured and elegant Cabernet with ripe, intense and persistent fruit and a chalky-finessed character with power and aromatic intensity. The tannins are fine, firm and fresh and lead to a long, tight and tensioned finish with persistent intensity. This is an excellent, strict but lush, refined and elegant Cabernet from the Ticino that should have excellent aging potential. Decant before serving.
Tasted in February 2020.
93 / 100 Robert Parker
2015 CinqueThe 2015 Cinque is a blend of 50/50 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that both reached perfect ripeness levels that year. Picked at low yields (35-40 hectoliters per hectare) in the third week of September and the first week of October, this Mendrisotto Bordeaux blend offers a generously ripe, precise, refined and elegant bouquet of red fruits and milled stony notes. Silky textured and super elegant on the palate, this is a finessed and intense, very persistent red with fine tannins and delicate acidity. The finish is stimulatingly fine and salty as well as concentrated and long in its ripe and sweet fruit flavors. Doubtlessly an extraordinary Bordeaux blend from the Ticino.
Tasted in February 2020.
