Ratings of our wines

Ratings of our wines

Shortly after we released our first vintages of Castagno in the early 2000s, with great pleasure (and a certain amount of surprise), the first recognitions started to come in. We received a Grand Mention diploma from Vinitaly and excellent scores and reviews in the most important wine guides.

 

Shortly after the release of the first vintage of Il Castagno 2003 in 2005, we received our first words of praise in key Italian guides, such as I Vini d'Italia del Gambero Rosso, La Guida de l'Espresso, I Vini di Veronelli and Luca Maroni, and later Duemilavini/Bibenda, Slow Wine, and Vitae.

Not long after came the first certificates of merit from abroad, such as those from Wine Enthusiast Magazine, James Suckling (the former head of the European office of Wine Spectator and then the founder and soul of www.jamesuckling.com, who is internationally considered one of the most influential wine critics in the world), followed by Wine Advocate with Monica Larner, Vinous with Antonio Galloni, Falstaff, and others.

This page offers – in no particular order and without claiming to list them all – some of the most significant reviews our wines have received, whether the historic Castagno, Castagnino, and Cuculaia or our most recent projects, including Linfa and Bolla Galeotta.

Bolla Galeotta

Sparkling Rosé Syrah Tuscany IGT Ancestral Method

Bibenda

I Migliori Vini Italiani

2 GRAPPOLI

Rosa tenue velato con ricca spuma. Timbro fruttato e note floreali con cenni di agrumi all'olfatto. Brioso il sorso, giustamente lungo ed equilibrato.

James Suckling

Wine Ratings

91/100

A lightly hazy, deep-pink sparkling with aromas of apples, pink guava, sourdough and citrus zest. It’s medium-bodied with soft bubbles and bright acidity. Textured and fresh.

Vinous

by Antonio Galloni

89/100

A mix of wild strawberry, dusty rose and crushed rocks rises from the 2020 Toscana Rosato Bolla Galeotta. It’s soft-textured and savory, with soothing bubbles and saline-mineral tones that keep the tension high, and finishes a bit tropical, to hints of green melon and young mango.

Vini d'Italia

Gambero Rosso

3 GLASS

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I Vini di Veronelli

Luigi Veronelli

99/100 - 3 Stelle

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Luca Maroni

I Migliori Vini Italiani

90/100

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"Castagnino"

Syrah Cortona DOC

I Vini di Veronelli

Luigi Veronelli

4 GRAPPOLI

Rubino. Profuma di ciliegie e prugne, pepe e mix floreale. Sorso vigoroso e tannino integrato, delineano un gusto già ben apprezzabile.

Ernesto Gentili

Wine Ratings

87/100

Delicatamente fruttato e floreale nei profumi, ha un profilo semplice ma registrato con precisione su una struttura serrata e non priva di energia; il finale si alleggerisce ma l'insieme è senza dubbio piacevole.

James Suckling

Wine Ratings

94/100

This is rich and decadent with dark fruits, spice and sweet tobacco as well as tea and smoked meat. Full body, round tannins and a flavorful finish.

Vinous

by Antonio Galloni

89/100

Il Castagnino is a fruity, easygoing wine in this range from Fabrizio Dionisio. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, mint, spice and licorice are front and center. This juicy, uncomplicated Syrah is a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years.

Wine Advocat

88+/100

The Cortona Syrah Castagnino is the self-proclaimed "little brother" of the Syrah Castagno. This wine is made from a broader selection of fruit and is released within a year of the harvest more or less. It pours from the bottle with dark intensity and offers lush primary aromas of dark cherry, blackberry and subtle spice. This is a soft and rich wine to drink at outdoor barbecues and easy home dinners.

Wine Spectator

89/100

This rich red boasts blackberry, black cherry and pepper flavors, with a serious backbone that emerges as this glides to a lingering conclusion.

Stephen Tanzer's

International Wine Cellars

90/100

Deep ruby-purple. Smoky violet and dark plum on the bright nose. Fresh and sweet in the mouth, with dark plum and berry flavors carrying nicely through a smooth, long finish. Very well done.

Vini d'Italia

Gambero Rosso

2 BICCHIERI

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I Vini di Veronelli

Luigi Veronelli

89/100 - 2 Stelle

-

Ristoranti e Vini d'Italia

L'Espresso

4 Bottoglie

-

Wine Enthusiast

87/100

Luca Maroni

I Migliori Vini Italiani

93/100

-

AIS

Associazione Italiana Sommelier

3 VITI

-

Falstaff

90/100

-

Wine Enthusiast

87/100

-

Australia Waterfront

90/100

-

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

Silver Medal

-

DoctorWine

by Daniele Cernilli

89/100

-

Linfa

Viognier Toscana IGT

Bibenda

Guida ai grandi vini d’Italia

4 GRAPPOLI

Paglierino tendente al dorato, luminoso. Naso ordinato ed intenso, ricco di profumi floreali di acacia e magnolia, fiori di mandorlo, poi pesca gialla e mela, agrume maturo, fondo celato da note boisé e mineralità. Sorso pieno e morbido, lunga la verve acida e sapida, giusto l'ausilio dell'alcol e della nota glicerica a bilanciare.

Vinous

by Antonio Galloni

89/100

-

Vini d'Italia

Gambero Rosso

2 BICCHIERI

-

I Vini di Veronelli

Luigi Veronelli

90/100

-

Luca Maroni

I Migliori Vini Italiani

94/100

-

Linfa

Syrah Cortona DOC

I Vini di Veronelli

Luigi Veronelli

92/100

Linfa, ovvero una versione originale e romantica del Syrah di Cortona nelle mani sapienti di Fabrizio Dionisio che la dedica alla sua famiglia introducendo tecniche enologiche di sicuro effetto.

Bibenda

Guida ai grandi vini d’Italia

4 GRAPPOLI

Rubino limpido. Profuma di viole appassite, un bel vegetale di felce e macchia boschiva, frutta scura di ribes e more, erbe aromatiche come timo e alloro, radice di liquirizia e un fondo gentile speziato. Gusto morbido, calore alcolico moderato, gradevolmente fresco, tannini felpati, chiude con buon equilibrio d'insieme.

James Suckling

Wine Ratings

92/100

This is very typical for syrah with cloves, sweet tobacco and red fruits on both the nose and palate. Medium to full body. Tight and round tannins and a juicy finish. Reserved yet polished tannins that end and yet it’s attractive and fresh

Vinous

by Antonio Galloni

93/100

The 2020 Syrah Linfa is fabulous. Bright, punchy and effusive, the Linfa is bursting with fruit. There is a feeling of joy to this wine that is hard to describe, but that comes through loud and clear. Aging in terracotta works beautifully in emphasizing the purity of this fruit. I am not sure how the 2020 will age, but I am not sure it matters, as most bottles will probably have been finished before longevity is an issue.

Wine Advocat

by Robert Parker

88/100

Here's a new discovery from Fabrizio Dionisio. The easy-drinking 2019 Cortona Syrah Linfa is a rich and vinous wine with plenty of raw fruit and dark intensity. This is Tuscan Syrah in its naked essence. It opens to an inky appearance and shows concentrated aromas of dried blackberry, plum and spicy tobacco. There is a lot of youth and brightness in this rich Tuscan red

Vini d'Italia

Gambero Rosso

2 BICCHIERI

-

Luca Maroni

I Migliori Vini Italiani

94/100

..

AIS

Associazione Italiana Sommelier

3 VITI

..

Golosaria

di Paolo Massobrio

Top 100 Wines

..

DoctorWine

by Daniele Cernilli

90/100

..

Rosa del Castagno

Syrah Cortona DOC

James Suckling

Wine Ratings

92/100

Lovely freshness and poise to this vivacious rosé, which opens with a nose of strawberries, cream, pink guava and tulips. Medium-bodied and very lithe and subtle with a beautiful line of acidity puncturing the vibrant berries and cherries.

Vinous

by Antonio Galloni

90/100

Bright pale orange-pink. Aromas and fLavors of apple jelly, nectarine and lily of the valley. Clean and fresh, with an enticing juiciness and a zingy mouthfeel on the long close.

Bibenda

Guida ai grandi vini d’Italia

3 GRAPPOLI

Rosa tenue. Regala copiose sensazioni di ciliegie e agrumi, fiori rossi e pepe bianco. Bocca fresca e ben strutturata, sapida in coda.

Wine Advocat

by Robert Parker

89/100

Luminous and bright rosé from one of the most beautiful corners of Tuscany near the hilltop town of Cortona. Delicate perfumes of rose, wild raspberry and cassis lift quietly from the bouquet, revealing some bitter almond and blue flower at the back. The wine ends with dusty notes of crushed limestone.

Ernesto Gentili

Wine Ratings

88/100

Di color rosa antico, è delicatamente floreale al naso ma decisamente più incisivo in bocca, dove rivela dinamismo, una trama continua e una combinazione riuscita tra acidità e sapidità.

Vini d'Italia

Gambero rosso

1 BICCHIERE

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I Vini di Veronelli

Luigi Veronelli

88/100

-

Ristoranti e Vini d'Italia

L'Espresso

3 Bottoglie

-

Luca Maroni

I Migliori Vini Italiani

91/100

-

AIS

Associazione Italiana Sommelier

3 VITI

-

Il Castagno

Syrah Cortona DOC

Bibenda

I Migliori Vini Italiani

4 GRAPPOLI

Rubino vivido. Profilo olfattivo coinvolgente, fatto di belle note di fragole e amarene, toni di torrefazione e spezie dolci, tabacco biondo e pepe. Bocca calda e di grande estratto, splende per eleganza fenolica ed integrazione della sponda morbida. Persistente.

Ernesto Gentili

Wine Ratings

91/100

Mostra scioltezza, equilibrio, freschezza di fondo, profumi ben definiti con prevalenza speziata-floreale, tannini ben registrati e un finale non trascinante ma coerente.

James Suckling

Wine Ratings

94/100

There’s a delicious, herbal streak of cypress and lightly dried stems, before this moves expertly through dark plums, hot stones and dried violets. Full-bodied and structured with encompassing tannins and a long, chewy finish.

Wine Enthusiast

92/100

A stellar example of Syrah from Cortona, Il Castagno is a soft and delicious wine with loads of ripe fruit, dark chocolate and leather. It’s a finely textured, smooth red with power and plump cherry on the finish.

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Vinous

by Antonio Galloni

94/100

Il Castagno is fabulous. Aromatically expressive and yet also powerful on the palate, is super-impressive its balance, persistence and pure character. Mediterranean herbs, black olive, leather, tobacco and game build into the explosive finish. What a gorgeous wine this is.

Wine Advocat

by Robert Parker

93/100

Here's a standup Syrah from the sun-drenched countryside that surrounds the little city of Cortona in eastern Tuscany. Il Castagno is a generous and softly layered wine with an inviting and cheerful personality. The bouquet opens evenly to showcase dark fruit, blackberry, spice and even a touch of powdered mocha or bitter chocolate. There are some very distant tones of charred meat and black pepper that are a standard feature of most quality Syrah-based wines. However, this wine delivers a magic touch of Tuscany as well.

Stephen Tanzer's

International Wine Cellars

90+/100

Deep ruby. Smoky herbs and smoked beef on the big nose. Then full and dense on the palate, with lively acidity lifting the saline black fruit and tar flavors. Finishes youthfully chewy and persistent.

Wine Spectator

93/100

This has a complex, deep and fascinating nose of tar, grilled meat, blackberry and plum. Full-bodied, with gorgeous fruit and velvety tannins. Finishes with wonderful multi-layers of character, from clove and meat to coffee and berries.

I Vini di Veronelli

Luigi Veronelli

Super 3 Stelle

-

Vini d'Italia

Gambero Rosso

3 BICCHIERI

-

Ristoranti e Vini d'Italia

L'Espresso

4 Bottoglie

-

Luca Maroni

I Migliori Vini Italiani

94/100

-

AIS

Associazione Italiana Sommelier

4 VITI

-

Falstaff

94/100

-

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

Silver Medal

-

DoctorWine

by Daniele Cernilli

95/100

-

Decanter

World Wine Awards

Silver Medal

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International Wine Challenge

Silver Medal

-

Slow Wine

Vino Slow

-

Cuculaia

Syrah Cortona DOC

Bibenda

I Migliori Vini Italiani

4 GRAPPOLI

Colore rubino denso e naso elegantemente complesso, polifonico nelle note di amarene e more, pot-pourri, salamoia, e ancora grafite e spezie scure in chiosa. Sorso dirompente per struttura, morbido nell'interezza, caratterizzato da degna spinta fresco/sapida. Lunga la persistenza.

Ernesto Gentili

Wine Ratings

93/100

Molto scuro e compatto, presenta un naso dai decisi contorni "pepati" ed ematici in aggiunta ai sentori di prugne e violette; in bocca è molto denso ma non stucchevole, il frutto è pieno e maturo, lo sviluppo continuo e bilanciato e il finale molto lungo e sostenuto da adeguata base tannica. In questa fase è incentrato decisamente sulla ricchezza del frutto che avvolge efficacemente il resto della struttura e assorbe l’imponente peso alcolico (15°) attenuandone l’ingerenza, anche se probabilmente limita, pur facendola intuire, la percezione di complessità.

Wine Advocat

by Robert Parker

94+/100

This is a dazzling and beautiful wine. The Fabrizio Dionisio Cortona Syrah Cuculaia is richly concentrated and softly layered. Cuculaia emphasizes softness, darkness and textural ?ber. Black fruit and plum segue to tobacco, leather and camp?re ash. The spirit of the wine is modern and contemporary, no doubt, but this classic vintage plays up its winning assets: the intensity of Syrah and the generosity of Tuscany. It is very nicely done.

Vinous

by Antonio Galloni

94/100

Il Cuculaia is wonderfully sleek and elegant in this vintage, and that's not a bad thing, as this wine has been a bit bombastic in the past. Silky, perfumed and light on its feet, but with plenty of depth, the 2018 is an absolute charmer. Blueberry, lavender, licorice, cloves and new leather linger.

James Suckling

Wine Ratings

96/100

This is a crazy syrah with graphite, iodine, steak tartar, iron rust, blackberries and dark cherries. Incredibly polished, yet muscular with so much dark fruit that’s so well formed and vertical. Full-bodied and very long and mineral on the finish.

Stephen Tanzer's

International Wine Cellars

91/100

Deep ruby. Blueberry, chocolate and herbs on the somewhat balsamic nose. Big and dense, with bitter herb and cocoa nuances complicating dark berry, coffee and black pepper flavors. Finishes long, with serious mouthcoating tannins. I suggest forgetting about this one in the cellar for another six to eight years. This is Il Castagno's top syrah, a selection of the best barrels, but isn't made every year . "With syrah, vine age is all-important," according to winemaker Valentino Ciarla. "Here in Tuscany we find that the vines need to be more than ten years of age to really express much of a syrah personality."

Wine Enthusiast

92/100

Syrah seems to enjoy the Cortona area of eastern Tuscany and this version, from vintner Fabrizio Dionisio, is a prime example. The wine is plump and rich, with lasting flavors of black cherry, sweet spice, tobacco, cured meat and black olive.

Luca Maroni

I Migliori Vini Italiani

96/100

3° Miglior Vino Rosso Italiano

Vini d'Italia

Gambero Rosso

3 BICCHIERI

-

I Vini di Veronelli

Luigi Veronelli

3 StelleOro

-

Ristoranti e Vini d'Italia

L'Espresso

4 Bottoglie

-

AIS

Associazione Italiana Sommelier

4 VITI

-

Falstaff

94/100

-

DoctorWine

by Daniele Cernilli

93/100

-

Decanter

World Wine Awards

Silver Medal

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