Cinzano family estate at Sant'Angelo in Colle, 145 hectares of vines under one of Italy's largest organic conversions (certified ICEA 2013). Poggio al Vento Riserva is the historic cru.
Signature wines: col-dorcia-poggio-al-vento-riserva, col-dorcia-brunello-di-montalcino, col-dorcia-olmaia
Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2015), Vinous 95 (2016)
Address: Localita Sant'Angelo in Colle, 53024 Montalcino, Siena, Italy, Tuscany
Montepulciano estate acquired by Belgian shipowner Virginie Saverys in 2009 and converted to Demeter-certified biodynamics. The Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo from Sangiovese remains a benchmark of the style.
Tasting: Cellar tours, Vin Santo vinsantaia tastings and estate lunches by reservation; certified biodynamic by Demeter.
Signature wines: avignonesi-vino-nobile, avignonesi-grandi-annate, avignonesi-occhio-di-pernice, avignonesi-50-50
Scores: Vinous 95 (2017)
De Ferrari Corradi family estate at Cervognano, 16 hectares of high-density Prugnolo Gentile. The Vigna del Nocio Vino Nobile, from a single 1968-planted vineyard, is the flagship.
Tasting: Boutique cellar visits and tastings by appointment; the Vigna del Nocio single-vineyard is the estate's calling card.
Signature wines: boscarelli-vigna-del-nocio, boscarelli-vino-nobile, boscarelli-boscarelli-igt
Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2019)
Off-grid solar-powered cellar at Montepulciano, certified organic by CCPB. Salco Evoluzione is the Riserva flagship; the estate publishes a carbon-footprint declaration on every label.
Tasting: Tours of the off-grid energy-independent cellar, tastings and a restaurant overlooking Montepulciano; certified organic.
Signature wines: salcheto-salco-evoluzione-vino-nobile-riserva, salcheto-vino-nobile, salcheto-rosso-di-montepulciano
Scores: Wine Advocate 94 (2017), Vinous 93 (2018)
Carletti family estate founded 1961 at the foot of Montepulciano. The Asinone single-vineyard Vino Nobile, named after the donkey-shaped hillside, is among the most consistently reviewed wines of the DOCG.
Tasting: Cellar tours and tasting flights by appointment; the Asinone single-vineyard Vino Nobile is the flagship.
Signature wines: poliziano-asinone, poliziano-vino-nobile, poliziano-le-stanze
Scores: Wine Advocate 94 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)
The Bolgheri estate where Mario Incisa della Rocchetta planted Bordeaux cuttings in 1944. First released as Sassicaia 1968; awarded its own Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC in 1994.
Tasting: Strictly limited visits; the estate prioritises trade and allocation customers. Public access is rare.
Signature wines: sassicaia, guidalberto, le-difese
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (1985)
Bolgheri estate founded by Lodovico Antinori in 1981 and fully owned by Frescobaldi since 2005. Bordeaux-cloned reds with Masseto and Ornellaia as flagships; the estate is ICEA-organic certified.
Tasting: Cellar tours, vineyard walks and tutored tastings by appointment; the Vendemmia d'Artista label programme is on display at the cellar.
Signature wines: ornellaia, le-volte-dell-ornellaia, ornellaia-bianco, le-serre-nuove-dell-ornellaia
Scores: Wine Spectator 96 (1998), Wine Advocate 98 (2015)
