“Gleaming with concentration… lustrous… magnificent.” - Tamlyn Currin for JancisRobinson.com, 17 points

One of our most exciting recent discoveries. It’s a lavish, unmistakeably Italian blend, led by Barbera with the additions of Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, made in the style of a traditional ‘Riserva’. It’s deep and plush in both colour and fruit weight, high-toned and glossy from the Barbera, unfiltered to keep all the goodness in, and saturated in inky cassis richness and wood-polish top notes and tastes as if the barrels soaked up the wine like a sponge and then gave back this masterpiece! At 10 years of age, it is still vibrantly fruit-rich, but dark and stormy too, a little fuzzy and unkempt, as if it has just got out of bed after a 10-year slumber. We left a bottle open for a whole week and it tasted even better on Day #7 than on Day #1, so do consider decanting it.

The word ‘Riserva’ gets bandied around a lot in Italy (often meaninglessly in my opinion, especially with Brunello di Montalcino), but this is a what a true ‘Riserva’ should be, a selection of the best grapes on the estate, aged for a long time in traditional, large oak casks to bring the wine together ready for drinking on release.

We went to visit Il Maiolo a couple of months ago and tasted a raft of vintages going back to 2003 and the quality is exceptionally high, year in, year out, and always very reflective of the year, and as anyone with an interest in Italian wine will know, 2015 is widely regarded as one of the greatest vintages in recent memory.

We hope this wine will become a permanent feature on our lists in future vintages. It has that wonderful combination of richness, vitality, heart-on-sleeve joyfulness, autumnal age and detailed complexity. As with almost all Italian reds, it is best enjoyed with food, especially game, braised or roast meats or just some thinly-sliced local Parma ham or tagliatelle al ragu bolognese. 14% alc. Decant for aeration and sediment. Drink now-2036.

Press review:

JancisRobinson.com: “Sombre richness, gleaming with concentration and deep, high-back, solid curves; like an antique church pew polished to dark lustre by generations of pious prayer and petition. Tannins as tense, commanding and lustrous as organ pipes rumbling bass hymns over ancient flagstones and dust. Leather and iron. Blackberry and prune. Magnificent and, judging by Walter's tasting note of the 2004 last year, it still has a long road ahead of it. (TC). Drink now-2035.” 17 points

Customer comments:

“My wife and I were quite astonished when we tried a bottle of this last night and so we wondered if you happened to have another half dozen still available?” - Mr A.D.

“I can only say one thing and that is : WOW! We had a friend round for dinner last night so I did as you suggested and decanted the wine just after you delivered it. By the time we sat down to eat around 8.30 it was absolutely delicious. I was blown away. Unfortunately I won’t be able to test your ‘it’s even better after being open for a week’ advice because I don’t think it lasted even an hour - but it was very very much enjoyed.” - Ms C.J.

“We enjoyed the Il Maiolo. I did prefer the 2004, but my budget this time will only stretch to the 2015!” - Mr A.B.

“All the hype about this wine is more than deserved..... absolutely stunning! We opened it last night, and will follow it along for a few days - assuming that we can resist finishing it much sooner! Would you be able to let me have another 6 bottles?” - Mr. R. H.

“I’ve recently been enjoying the Il Maiolo.” - Mr C.M.