From the Langhe to Trentino to the Po Valley: the most coveted season for wine enthusiasts and gourmets is here. Here are the ten most coveted labels
In the boundless vastness of the enological panorama there are wines which, due to their characteristics
and their history, have become part of the myth. Wines that almost everyone agrees in saying that they are
absolutely the best; rare chimeras that the most passionate collectors chase at auctions, re-launching one
by one. Let it be clear, a wine does not rise to the category of “mythological wine” only because it is
expensive, but rather for a set of factors, among which we must consider the high consensus it enjoys, its
widespread knowledge among the strata of the population, the rarity of the same and, obviously, the fact
that it is at the top of the qualitative pyramid. A perfect example of this phenomenon is represented by
Sassicaia, the “supertuscan” that everyone has heard of in Italy and that every foreigner who is passionate
about wine dreams of tasting in Tuscany. Its price is very far from the four or five zero figures that certain
foreign wines reach, but it is no less iconic for this. A final premise, before revealing what we think are 10
mythological wines, is that we would have needed many more places in the rankings. Reflecting on which
are the most iconic wines of all time, how can we not think of Quintarelli’s Amarone, the Château Rayas of
the Rhône Valley, or even the Riesling producers of the Moselle? We therefore wanted to select the most
widely known wines in the collective scenario, the unattainable sacred monsters that best represent the
idea of the myth.
ITALY
Sassicaia – San Guido estate
Probably the best known Italian wine in the world, the Sassicaia of Mario Incisa della Rocchetta and
Giacomo Tachis gave way to the production of Bordeaux blends in Tuscany and since 2013 it has enjoyed a
Doc exclusively reserved for it.
Area: Bolgheri, Tuscany;
Grapes: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc;
Color: Ruby red;
Alcohol content: 13.5%;
Nose: Black cherry, blackberry, lavender, tobacco, Mediterranean scrub;
On the palate: Velvety tannins, intense, of great persistence.
Ribolla Gialla – Gravner
Josko Gravner is considered the father – in Italy – of the ancient Georgian tradition of winemaking in
amphorae. His wines, obtained according to the principles of biodynamics, macerate in amphora with the
skins for about 6 months; therefore, they rest there for another 6 months before resting for 6 years in the
barrel and 6 months in the bottle.
Area: Oslavia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia;
Grapes: 100% Ribolla Gialla;
Color: Golden yellow with amber reflections;
Alcohol content: 14%;
Nose: Apricot, aromatic herbs, candied citrus fruits, resin;
On the palate: Voluminous and enveloping, fresh, savory, very long.
Barolo Riserva ‘Monfortino’ – Giacomo Conterno
At a time when wine was sold loose in demijohns, Giacomo Conterno began bottling his Barolo ‘Extra’,
kicking off the production of Barolo as we know it today. Years later, his son Giovanni bought a few
hectares of the Francia vineyard, which still today gives life to this wine, consecrating its success.
Area: Langhe, Piedmont;
Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo;
Color: Garnet red;
Alcohol content: 15%;
Nose: Violet, dog rose, cedar, incense, licorice;
Palate: Deep and powerful, with great balance and persistence.
FRANCE
Champagne – Dom Perignon
Almost everyone knows the story of Pierre Pérignon, the French abbot who is said to have created
Champagne. What is certain is that even today we owe him the selection of the most suitable vines to give
birth to this wine, but also the conception of techniques that made it possible to refine its production, such
as the use of the cork stopper.
Area: Champagne, France;
Grapes: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in variable quantities;
Color: Golden Yellow;
Alcohol content: 12.5%;
Nose: Butter, candied citrus fruits, toasted bread, aromatic herbs;
Palate: Creamy, lively, with a great balance between flavor and freshness.
Sauternes Premier Grand Cru – Chateau d’Yquem
Since in 1855 this Sauternes earned the classification of Premier Grand Cru, its reputation as the best
botrytized wine in the world has been handed down. Its production is obsessive, with harvests that last at
least a month and a half, carried out by hand, berry by berry.
Area: Bordeaux, France;
Grapes: 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon;
Color: Intense golden yellow;
Alcohol content: 13.5%;
Nose: apricot, saffron, honey, butter, white tea, tobacco;
On the palate: Sweet, soft and enveloping, of infinite length.
Pomerol ‘Petrus’ Grand Vin – Petrus
Born from an intuition of Madame Loubat, who in 1920 began to make wine from grapes grown on land
that at the time was considered second-rate, Petrus beat all the neighboring and high-sounding Bordeaux
‘chateau’ on the market, soon taking the form of the chimera of that territory.
Area: Bordeaux, France;
Grapes: 95-100% Merlot, 0-5% Cabernet Franc;
Color: Ruby red with garnet reflections;
Alcohol content: 13.5%;
Nose: Plum, black cherry, graphite, undergrowth, licorice;
Palate: Muscular, powerful, with a nice soft finish.
Romanée Conti Grand Cru – Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
The wines of this cellar are undoubtedly the most coveted in the world and represent a real point of
reference in the wine scene. A ‘domaine’ of ancient origins, in the past even disputed by Louis Francois of
Bourbon Prince of Conty, the favorite of Louis XV, and the lover of the King of France, Madame de
Pompadour.
Area: Burgundy, France;
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir;
Color: Ruby red;
Alcohol content: 13%;
Nose: Blackberry, blood orange, graphite, cloves, rose petals;
Palate: Spherical, velvety tannins, great power, intensity and balance and a unique sharpness of flavours.
NEW WORLD
Grange Bin.95 – Penfolds
A curious story that of the company founded at the end of the 19th century by the English doctor
Christopher Rawson Penfold, who began to produce wine for healing purposes. Today the company
belongs to Tooth and Co. which, like its predecessor, offers wines made according to the highest quality
standards.
Area: Barossa Valley, Australia;
Grapes: about 95% Shiraz, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon;
Colour: Intense ruby red;
Alcohol content: 14.5%;
Nose: Blackberry, blackcurrant, anise, cocoa, fleshy notes;
On the palate: An excellent balance of the various components, with a marked softness to close the sip.
Opus One – Opus One Winery
The intent to create a great Bordeaux blend in the United States was carried out by two men: Baron
Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild and American winemaker Robert Mondavi. This is
how Opus One was born in 1982, which on the label shows the profile of its two highly esteemed fathers.
Area: Napa Valley, California;
Grapes: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec;
Color: Ruby red;
Alcohol content: 14%;
Nose: Currants, blueberries, red rose, coffee, cocoa;
On the palate: Velvet tannins, freshness, great persistence.
Screaming Eagle
Little is known about the most talked about and coveted wine of the United States, whose first vintage –
1992 – in the 6-litre format was auctioned off for half a million dollars. Ownership passed from Jean Phillips
to Stanley Kroenke, who today continues to produce only a few bottles each year, thus continuing to fuel
the legend surrounding this very rare wine.
Area: Napa Valley, California;
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon;
Color: Ruby red;
Alcohol content: 13.5%;
Nose: Plum, raspberry, blood orange, leather, dark chocolate, smoky notes;
Palate: Round, elegant, subtle and intense, with great freshness.
