Press

• Score: 94 Vintage 2021 Vinous The 2021 Valletta is a tasty Merlot/Sangiovese blend. Its gorgeous, expansive bouquet melds into a core of red-toned fruit. Soft, silky and classy, Valletta has so much to offer. It is the under-the-radar jewel in this range, especially considering its modest price. This is also one of Gagliole’s fresher and lighter (not in a bad way) wines. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 95 Vintage 2020 Vinous Media The 2020 Valletta is a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. A rich, layered wine, the 2020 possesses tremendous palate presence and the stature to match. Dark red cherry, mocha, new leather, cedar and pipe tobacco infuse the 2020 with striking depth and tons of intensity. I especially admire the vibrancy here. Superb. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 91 Vintage 2020 The Wine Advocate Made with organic Sangiovese (50%) and Merlot (50%), the Gagliole 2020 Valletta is a broadly textured red wine with the softness you might expect of a warm vintage such as this. The Gagliole 2020 Valletta definitely holds more bulk and heft than the other wines in this portfolio, and your food choices should veer toward heavier dishes such as meat-filled lasagna or gnocchi with cheese. Despite that initial richness, the wine is actually quite streamlined, with polished tannins and balanced freshness to match. There's no reason to wait. Some 7,000 bottles were made. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 91 Vintage 2020 James Suckling Some vanilla and chocolate notes to the fresh cherries on the nose. This is crunchy with firm and nicely chewy tannins driving the medium- to full-bodied palate to a flavorful finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 93 Vintage 2019 Vinous Media The 2019 Valletta is a blend of equal parts Sangiovese and Merlot. It’s a combination that works quite well in this vintage. Succulent dark cherry and plum fruit open first, followed by sweet tobacco, mocha, dried herbs, leather and cedar. Sangiovese aromatics and bright acids complement a core of Merlot fruit nicely. The 2019 spent 12 months in French oak, 30% new, followed by six months in cement. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2019 Wine Spectator A ripe version, with raspberry, cherry, rose, earth and mineral flavors, this red is juicy and alluring. Firms up in the end yet remains balanced and elegant, delivering an outstanding finish. Sangiovese and Merlot. Drink now through 2033. 660 cases made, 50 cases imported. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2019 James Suckling Aromas of plums, dried flowers and bark follow through to a medium body with round, juicy tannins and a soft, bright finish. Half merlot from Panzano and half sangiovese from Castellina in Chianti. Pretty finish. Drink or hold. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 94 Vintage 2018 Vinous Media The 2018 Valletta is a blend of Sangiovese from Gagliole's vineyards in Castellina and Merlot from vineyards in Panzano. Supple and racy, the 2018 offers tremendous appeal from the very first taste. Ripe black cherry, mint, spice, espresso and blood orange open with a bit of time in the glass. This open-knit, sensual Tuscan red offers quite a bit of appeal. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 93 Vintage 2018 Wine Advocate A blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Merlot, the easy-drinking 2018 Valletta is round and soft with plump cherry, blackberry, spice and Mediterranean herb. This wine was first produced in 2011. It sports an accessible or contemporary personality with soft tannins that make it easy to like and especially easy to pair with a home-cooked meal. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2018 James Suckling Magazine Aromas of mulberries, plums, dried flowers, toffee and cigar box. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine tannins and fresh acidity. Round and creamy, with texture and a polished core of fruit and chocolate on the finish. A blend of sangiovese and merlot. Drink or hold. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 94 Vintage 2017 Vinous Media The 2017 Valletta is bright, effusive and beautifully lifted. Red fruit, spice and floral accents all come together in a sensual, wonderfully inviting wine from Gagliole that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. Valletta is a blend of Sangiovese from Castellina and Merlot from Panzano. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2017 Wine Advocate A blend of equal parts Merlot from Panzano and Sangiovese from Castellina, the Gagliole 2017 Valletta is a cheerful wine with a plump and dark core of cherry and blackberry. Sometimes understated simplicity can make the biggest statement, and that's the main takeaway here. This is a crisp and linear red that puts most of the emphasis on freshness and purity. Honestly, this is all you need next to a simple spaghetti with basil and fresh tomato sauce Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2017 James Suckling Cherries and strawberries with floral and cedar undertones. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a bright, vivid finish. It’s linear and long, especially for this hot vintage. Drink or hold. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 91 Vintage 2017 Wine Spectator Offers an immediate impression of fruit, but this is also delicate, with a graceful frame that belies the solid backbone of tannins on the finish. Balanced, needing time to knit together. Wild herb, iron and tobacco notes accent the aftertaste. Sangiovese and Merlot. Drink now through 2027. 666 cases made, 75 cases imported Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 94 Vintage 2016 Vinous Media The 2016 Valletta, a blend of equal parts Sangiovese and Merlot from both of the estate's properties, is superb. Dark, rich and sensual, the 2016 is another gorgeous wine from Gagliole. The tannins need time to soften, but all the elements are in place to allow that to happen. There is an element of freshness that gives the wine its sense of energy and focus. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 92 Vintage 2016 James Suckling Lovely softness and structure to this wine with currant and plum character. Full body. Soft, intense tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink in 2020 and onwards. Shelf Talker Full Page Review
• Score: 88 Vintage 2016 Wine Enthusiast This blend of Sangiovese and Merlot opens with aromas of toasted oak, mocha and a whiff of dark fruit. The chewy palate offers clove, dried black cherry and vanilla alongside assertive tannins. KERIN O’KEEFE Shelf Talker Full Page Review