When it comes to Italy’s best wines, you’d be forgiven for thinking the line-up would largely be the rockstar Super Tuscans at Napa prices. And, while a few of these rockstars have made the cut, it’s not as many as you might think.

The Super Tuscans have built their reputation on being modern, forward-thinking, big hitting reds that can run into thousands. However, as this list proves, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have great – and by great, we mean critic-endorsed-several-times-over great – Italian wine.

Number one for this year’s best Italian wine is Il Marroneto Madonna delle Grazie. Based in Montalcino, the estate was founded in 1974 by Giuseppe Mori, who considers himself a traditionalist – favoring large Slavonian oak casks over small barriques. The winery was originally used as a building to dry chestnuts, from which it gets its namesake – marrone meaning chestnut in the local dialect.

Their Madonna delle Grazie is named after the nearby church, and is pure Sangiovese matured in large oak barrels. Back in 2015, the Madonna delle Grazie hovered around $76, today it sits at $342 which, considering some Italian wine runs into the thousands, is still relatively reasonable despite the steady increase.

The 2019 vintage was described by Raffaele Vecchione as “powerful … it displays a profile of great oenological depth, the child of wisdom and knowledge fused with calm execution. Notes of black plums and blackberries … lavender, hibiscus, lime peel, bergamot, sandalwood, patchouli and karkadè”. Unsurprisingly, this wine boasts a grand score of 95 points.

Second is the first of the Super Tuscan big-hitters, the Masseto Toscana IGT. Pure Merlot, Masseto is a single-vineyard wine from Bolgheri that has developed an international reputation for its opulent, complex wines, hence it also tends to command quite the price.

However, prices weren’t always so astronomical although they were always high, with the average price – back in 2014 – hovering around $643. Undoubtedly expensive at the time, but almost half-price compared to today’s $1026.

Wine Enthusiast described the 2020 as “a hedge maze of aromas … from blackberries and black cherries to crushed stones and crumpled petals … vanilla and toasted coconut. A wine that speaks volumes without shouting.” An aggregated critic score of 96 points points to a job well done.

Number three is another Super Tuscan; however, it is decidedly more affordable than its stablemate. The Marchesi Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT is made by Antinori, one of Italy’s largest wine producers that has expanded beyond its Tuscan beginnings. The estate’s heritage dates back to 14th-Century Florence.

It was in 1900 that Antinori bought the venerated Tignanello vineyard and it is from the Tignanello hill that the Solaia is made. The Solaia is a careful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese – a nod to the Bordeaux blends that put the Super Tuscans on the map, while also retaining its classic Tuscan Sangiovese character.

In 2014, Solaia averaged around $234, today it sits around $393 – a moderate jump, but still reasonably priced compared to many other of the big name Super Tuscans on the market.

Falstaff described the 2020 wine as “deep dark ruby with a fine purple sheen. Fragrant, memorable nose, with notes of ripe blackberry, lots of cassis, some mint, very balanced.” Other critics agree, awarding the wine an aggregated score of 95 points.

Number four is Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, from Tuscany’s Chianti Classico region. Fontodi is also known for its Super Tuscan wines, of which Flaccianello della Pieve is one, despite being 100-percent Sangiovese.

Bar the Pinot Nero, all Fontodi reds including the Flaccianello della Pieve are fermented temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Back in 2014, the wine averaged around $101, today the Flaccianello della Pieve hovers around $174.

Scoring an aggregated of 95 points, Falstaff described the 2020 vintage as “dark ruby red … with rich earthy tones of ripe plum and ripe Amarena cherry, hints of rum-steeped fruit, reverberating with walnut and mint.” For a Super Tuscan of that caliber, the Flaccianello della Pieve remains impressively affordable.

The World’s Best Italian on Wine-Searcher:

Fifth is the Cerretalto, a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG by Tuscany’s Casanova di Neri. Specializing mostly in Sangiovese, the estate was founded in 1971 by Giovanni Neri – a grain and seed merchant – and remains family owned to this day. Close to the Sangiovese heartland of Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino typically takes on a slight fuller, riper character.

Back in 2014, the Cerretalto averaged around $210, today it sits at $377 showing a steady climb. Describing the 2018 vintage, Raffaele Vecchione said: “Exciting to say the least is the main profile of this young Brunello … very fresh notes of cherries, red plums, currants, cassis, pink grapefruit, guarana and crushed almonds.” With an aggregated score of 95 points, this wine is on the up.

Number six is the G. B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero by Comm. G.B. Burlotto in northern Italy’s Piedmont region. G.B. Burlotto was founded around 1850 by Commendatore Giovanni Batista Burlotto, who was integral to putting Barolo on the map when Comm. G.B. Burlotto began to win international awards. However, after Giovanni’s death in 1927, the estate began to fade into obscurity until it was resurrected by his great-great-grandson, Fabio Alessandria who is now the current winemaker.

Pure Nebbiolo, the Monvigliero was roughly $59 back in 2014, today it has risen to an impressive $476. With an aggregated score of 95 points, Wine Enthusiast described the 2020 as having “a bouquet dominated by enchanting violets … vibrant pomegranates and currants … A stunning beauty that will leave you captivated.”

In seventh place is the Vite Talin by Luciano Sandrone, also in Piedmont. Proudly family-owned and run, Luciano Sandrone was founded in 1978 and in addition to its Barolo, the estate also specializes in other varieties indigenous to the region like Dolcetto and Barbera.

Their flagship Barolo, Vite Talin is a 100-percent Nebbiolo aged in French oak, and was first released in 2019 and has been winning over critics and consumers ever since. Back in 2019, it hit the market around $563 and has since dropped to today’s $488, however, considering the wine has only been on the market less than a decade, prices will likely go up and down before stabilizing.

Wine Enthusiast described the 2018 vintage as having “aromas of black cherry, crushed raspberries, black tea and a melange of spices”. Others agree, awarding the wine an aggregate of 96 points.

Number eight is the inimitable Sassicaia. Synonomous with the rise of the Super Tuscans, Sassicaia is the instantly recognizable wine from Tenuta San Guido, Bolgheri where it has its own DOC subzone. First made in 1968, Sassicaia then made waves in 1978, when the 1972 vintage beat a number of Bordeaux wines at a blind tasting organized by Decanter magazine. 

Since then the wine has remained at or near the top – for price as well as quality. Back in 2014 the wine came in at $205, today it averages $372. With an aggregated score of 95 points, Wine Enthusiast described the 2021 vintage as “like hot coffee with a slice of warm berry tart, then suddenly more serious, with aromas of leather-bound books and crisp fall air”. For one of the world’s top wines, it’s still reasonably well-priced.

Number nine is the Roagna Asili Vecchie Viti from Piedmont’s Barbaresco. Family-owned, Roagna has been producing wine since before 1890, and has some of the most prestigious plots in Barbaresco. Even though their Asili Vecchie Viti is not their flagship wine – that honor belongs to the Crichët Pajé – it is extremely well recognized.

Pure Nebbiolo, the Asilie Vecchie Viti was roughly $113 back in 2014, since then it has climbed the ranks to today’s $347. With an aggregated score of 95 points, Falstaff described the 2017 as “bright, glittering ruby red, with … strawberries, fresh cherries, gorgeous saffron notes”.

Finally, bringing up the rear of Italy’s most impressive wines, is the Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo di Montepulciano, a style of sweet wine called Vin Santo di Montepulciano from Avignonesi. Vin Santo di Montepulciano is a holy wine dating back centuries and Avignonesi has built a considerable reputation for the wine style.

The Occhio di Pernice is a rosé version of the sweet wine, its pinkish color referenced by its literal translation to the ‘eye of the partidge’. Back in 2014, the price sat at $455, and the last ten years have seen a slight increase to $497.

Made using dried Sangiovese grapes, this sticky is held in huge regard, with Wine Enthusiast describing it as having “aromas evoking candied orange zest, caramel, maple syrup and dried date … black cherry jam, eucalyptus honey and toasted hazelnut”. A score of 95 points says it all.

Although, there are clearly some fan favorites among the pack – the Vin Santo and Sassicaia instantly springs to mind – others are perhaps less obvious. Most surprising of all, however, are the prices. No doubt none of them are cheap, but unlike France‘s or Napa‘s greatest hits, Italy classily remains expensive but attainable rather than so out of reach, it’s boring.