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From Abruzzo to Valpolicella. From under $30 to a lone, rare gem that’s $295 elsewhere, with the big scores galore. There’s something for everyone, including some of our most popular Tuscans…

Speaking of! Headlining the day is a showstopper Solaria Brunello RISERVA. With an EPIC 98 points and a crazy 40% on top, here’s a genuine Wine Spies Exclusive!

As in you will not find another bottle of this vintage at this price anywhere else. Very little was made, and we scooped up the entire lot from our friends at four-time winner of “Importer of the Year” by Wine & Spirits (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023), North Berkeley Imports… yea, we can be greedy like that. Prego!

Mind you, this is a Riserva Brunello, requiring at least another year of aging prior to release. Vinous reports “the Riservas mature more gracefully than the straight Brunellos… Traditional winemakers who take full advantage of the Riserva category and mature their wines for an extended time in barrel will likely create a fantastic Riserva in a classic vintage. While many 2019s display an inviting personality today, they are balanced for the cellar, and many of the Riservas have only amplified these qualities, adding an extra level of depth and more serious structure without compromising fruit expression.”

And Jeb Dunnuck raves that “One of the first female winemakers in Montalcino, Patrizia Cencioni purchased her family estate in 1989. 123, the name of the crop on the other side of the road, is at the highest elevation, with slower maturation than the other sites. Over the past several years, the estate has moved away from small barriques and has been working to produce wines that remain rich but also have elegance and a sense of place.”

And the rest? Easy as 123: secure all you can, or regret later.

98 Points – Raffaele Vecchione “Wow! It is decidedly graceful and engaging in its sensorial profile and shows a series of hedonistic scents that immediately captivate. Currants, raspberries, lemon peel, wild myrtle, juniper berries and sage enliven the main scene. Lime peel, gardenias, and chopped ginger describe the secondary scene. Full body, smooth and harmonious in the sip, it shows flavor and vitality. Thrilling. Better from 2028.”

95+ Points – Jeb Dunnuck “A rich ruby red hue, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows a bit more of its oak-inflected aromas with notes of black cherries, toasted cedar, black truffle, and leather. With fantastic structure, plenty of freshness, and a lot of potential, it really is a step above what the estate did with their classic Brunello, and although it has the oak influence, it’s very well-managed and is going to improve with another year or more. It has a good deal of depth, with ripe, structured tannins and a salty finish. Drink it over the coming 15 or so years. Drink 2025-2040.”