Italy at the top of Wine Enthusiast’s “Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2018”

International wine rankings are still being published and are continuing to reward Italian wines. Italy boasts 17 wines on Wine Enthusiast’s the “Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2018” (whose Italian editor is Kerin O’Keefe). This is the selection of those wines that according to the US magazine’s wine tasters are worth leaving a few extra years in the cellar to allow them to express their full potential. It is a quite restricted selection, since the “Top 100” ranks the best of the best of 4% of the 23.000 wines their tasting team tastes every year. Italy has three wines in the top ten positions: Brunello di Montalcino 2013 of Le Chiuse at number 2 (following a legend like Château Lafite Rothschild 2015, at number 1), Soave Classico Calvarino 2015 by Pieropan at number 6, and Brunello di Montalcino Vineyard of Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro Riserva 2012 by Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona at number 8. The Italian selection of wines, reds and whites, ranges from Alto Adige to Sicily (of course Piedmont and Tuscany dominate, as is tradition), which is a sign that Italy has become increasingly more expert in many territories and many varieties, at producing wines for ageing. Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012 by Conti Costanti holds position number 13, followed by Barbaresco Rio Sordo Riserva 2013 of the Produttori del Barbaresco, at number 18, Barolo Villero 2013 in Oddero at number 21, and Barolo Bric del Fiasc by Paolo Scavino at number 24. To follow this trio of Piedmont wines, there is a trio of Sicilians: Feudo di Mezzo Il Quadro delle Rose 2015 by Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Etna, at number 27, Planeta Santa Cecilia Nero d’Avola 2013 at number 29, and Sicilian Terre Contrada S. Nerello Mascalaese 2016 of Passopisciaro at number 32. Lessona 2012 by Proprietà Sperino holds position nubmer 34, followed by Chianti Rufina Vineyard Bucerchiale Riserva 2013 of Selvapiana at number 43, and Taurasi Lonardo Vigne d’Alto 2012 of Contrade di Taurasi at number 58. Then, from Alto Adige, Feldmarschall Von Fenner Müller-Thurgau 2016 by Tiefenbrunner, at number 61, and closing the “Italian lot”, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Mulinvecchio 2014 by Contucci at number 65, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna of Sorbo 2014 of Fontodi at number 66, and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Villa Gemma Riserva 2012 by Masciarelli, at number 96.