Volpaia Balifico 2018 / 750 ml.
Note: The image above may display a previous vintage of this item.
Item#: 98915
The 2018 Balifico, Volpaia’s Sangiovese/ Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is fabulous. Rich and inky, the 2018 offers up a compelling mélange of dark berry fruit, dark spice, licorice and espresso. I especially admire the wine’s textural richness. I imagine the 2018 will drink well for many, many years to come. In this tasting it is a total knock-out.
Alluring violet, black currant and black cherry fruit introduces this seductive red, with firm, pointed tannins and vivid acidity providing structure as this glides to a lingering, detailed finish. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2037. 750 cases made, 200 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
Limited Inventory
This is the location where you can find this item at our store.
'W' means it's located along the wall. 'RR' means it's in our Reserve Room. Otherwise, the item can be found on our sales floor in the marked aisle.
3 items or less in stock. We will confirm your order by email.
Usually ships within 24 hours. Also available for same-day pickup at our store.
Primary Grape: Sangiovese | All Grapes: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon
DESIGNATIONS
How to Get It (Select available options below at checkout)
Store Pickup
Available
In-Store/Curbside
1-2 Hours
FREE
Premier Wine & Spirits, 3900 Maple Rd, Amherst, NY 14226
Ship to Home
Available
to select states
ships within 24 hours
Rates vary by location
Enter address at checkout for applicable rates.
Local Delivery
Available
near our store
within 24 hours
Rates vary by zip
Enter address at checkout for applicable rates.
Online exclusive: save 20%
You save: $20.00 (20%)
More from this Producer
Critical Acclaim
VN96 96 pts. / Vinous (Sep 2021)
SP95 95 pts. / Wine Spectator (Oct 15, 2021)
Where It's From
Region / Tuscany
There are few regions as picturesque as Italy's Tuscany. And there are few regions that produce finer wines, either. Tuscany is home to legendary wine regions Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti, among others, where the red wine grape Sangiovese is king. It's also home to "Super Tuscans," a category of Tuscan wines that don't officially fall within the Italian wine classification system.
Country / Italy
Italy is famous for its powerful, sleek, and elegant reds wines from ancient growing areas with legendary names such as Chianti, Barolo, Barbaresco, Montepulciano. Italian white wines are also gaining popularity: Orvieto, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon are excellent examples of Italian white wines.
Wines of Italy are complex and flavorful, much like the culture that is their source and the cuisine that is their match.
More Information
SKU | 98915 |
---|---|
Product Type | Wine |
Alternate Name | Volpaia Balifico |
Country | Italy |
Region | Tuscany |
Product Location - Location-Appellation | Toscana |
Package Size | 750 ml. |
Proof/Alcohol by Volume | 14.5% |
Wine/Spirit Brand | Volpaia |
Bottles per Case | 12 |
Vintage | 2018 |
Can it Be Shipped | Yes |
Premier Pick | No |
Spec. Designation | Organic |
Organic Description | Made with organic grapes |
Wine Type | Table Wine |
Wine - Color | Red |
Grape(s) | Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon |
Primary Grape | Sangiovese |
Dollar Sale (Y/N) | No |
2018 / 750 ml.
Packaged with its dark blue label, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino displays a very specific character that I always recognize in this wine. The house style is a callout to local winemaking tradition in which there is a slightly wild side to the cherry fruit and forest floor aromas. The oak spice is smoothly integrated into the medium-weight texture, and there is earthy spice and root at the back. The wine closes with freshness, bitter plum and rusty metal. This is a 157,000-bottle release. (Monica Larner)
This has an intense nose of incense, toasted walnuts, mocha, maraschino cherries and some menthol. Full-bodied yet remains agile with firm, gently chewy tannins and bright acidity. Try in 2025. (James Suckling)
Though vibrant and packed with intense raspberry, cherry, hibiscus and earth flavors, this red is also solidly built, with dense tannins leaving a strong grip on the long, crisp finish. This has plenty to like; just be patient. Best from 2026 through 2045. 13,083 cases made, 1,050 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
You save:$16.00 (20%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
2018 / 750 ml.
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
You save:$4.00 (24%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
Plum, leather, eucalyptus and earth flavors ply this tense, linear red. It’s on the chewy side, courtesy of dense tannins, yet long and savory. Drink now through 2028. 3,750 cases made, 1,000 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
An easy and accessible single-vineyard expression, the 2018 Chianti Classico Tenuta Sant’Alfonso opens to dried cherry and plum with light spice and tobacco. There is a sweet note on the close that recalls blackberry or cherry confit, and the wine finishes with a soft and round mid-weight style. This is a family-priced Chianti Classico to plunk down on the table next to a big platter of that Italian-American favorite, cheese-filled manicotti. (Monica Larner)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
Limited Inventory We'll confirm your order by email.
3 items or less in stock.
You save:$7.00 (20%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
You save:$9.00 (20%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
2018 / 750 ml.
The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino will be released on March 1, 2024. The color is medium red/garnet, and the nose opens to fresh aromas of orange citrus peel, dusty earth, cranberry, spices, and juniper. Medium-bodied and more linear, it lifts through the palate with fine tannins and a refreshing, mouthwatering finish. It has a great saline feel and is a savory and fresh wine. This is a Brunello I’d love to drink over the next 10 years for its accessibility and refined texture, although I imagine it will also have some real potential for cellaring. Drink 2024–2040. (Audrey Frick)
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous, floral and finessed, wafting up with a classic Sangiovese profile blending dried rose and black cherries, complicated by dusty earth, worn leather and hints of cedar spice. This shows a beautiful ripeness of fruit, pure and lifted yet potent, with masses of red, wild berries and inner florals that cascade across a core of zesty acidity. This finishes long and staining with regal tannins and a tart cranberry tinge that lingers on and on. Simply magnificent, the 2018 takes the perfumed character of the vintage and marries perfectly to a core of vividly intense fruit. This is entirely atypical of the vintage and the result of extreme selection that reduced production quantities by 20%. (Eric Guido)
So floral on the nose with lavender and lilac coming through clearly. Cherries and peaches with an orange undertone. Medium-bodied with firm and silky tannins that are lightly chewy. Salty undertone to the fruit and hints of cedar and black truffle. Acid-driven. Excellent energy. March 2024 release. Drink after 2025, but already delicious. (James Suckling)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
You save:$66.00 (20%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
2018 / 750 ml.
Floral nose with fresh blackberries and flowers. Some dry earth, too. Medium- to full-bodied with plenty of black-fruit flavor and a lightly firm tannin structure. Long finish. Nicely done. Give it a year to come more together. Try from 2024. (James Suckling)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
You save:$8.60 (20%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
2018 / 750 ml.
The 2018 Petresco is another stellar wine from Le Cinciole. Bright and focused, with striking explosive energy, Petresco sizzles with tension. Black cherry, coffee, spice, leather, incense, lavender and plum all run through a linear, driving pure Sangiovese that is going to need at least a few years to come together. There is a ton of potential here, but readers need to be patient. (Antonio Galloni)
Made with 100% organic Sangiovese, the Le Cinciole 2018 Petresco sees more elaborate aging with 24 months in a combination of botti and barrique followed by an additional 12 months of rest and integration in cement vats. These results are smooth and ironed out, and the wine’s thicker texture borders on feeling velvety or creamy. You get well-ripened cherry fruit and dusty crushed mineral that is always a favorite feature from any wine made in central Tuscany. Only 5,000 bottles were created. (Monica Larner)
Vanilla, cherries and baking spices but also some umami aromas of balsamic vinegar and tanned leather on the nose roll onto a palate of more cherries and vanilla, with dark chocolate and a spicy heat on the finish. (Danielle Callegari)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
Made with organic grapes
You save:$12.00 (20%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
2018 / 750 ml.
Dried flowers, lemon zest, cherries, plums, walnuts and blueberries on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with a vibrant, energetic and fresh core of berry fruit, with tightly-knit tannins and bright acidity. Tangy finish. Drink or hold. (James Suckling)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
You save:$13.00 (26%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
2018 / 750 ml.
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino does a great job of capturing the essence and the spirit of Sangiovese, a grape that delivers infinitely nuanced and complex results when in the right hands. This wine reveals wild cherry, blue violet, blood orange, rusty nail and sweet earth. There is a hint of scorched earth or baked clay that underlines the warmest months in this growing cycle. The results are balanced and fresh. I’ve mentioned alcohol content throughout this report, and although the 14% registered here is still quite high, is it below the average for its peers. This is a job very well done. Some 15,700 bottles, 200 magnums and 30 three-liter bottles were released. (Monica Larner)
The darkly alluring 2018 Brunello di Montalcino grumbles up from the glass, with a mix of crushed plums and black cherries complemented by rubbed sage nuances. It’s soft-textured and deep, engulfing the palate in ripe wild berry fruit and spice, underscored by a savory herbaceous steak. A web of fine tannins is left to linger, creating a truly classic impression, as mentholated herbs and hints of wild strawberry linger on and on. This youthfully masked beauty will only require minimal cellaring to show its best. (Eric Guido)
Laced with cherry and raspberry fruit, this red also offers eucalyptus, mineral, earth and almond flavors. Vibrant and balanced, with an intense, mouthwatering finish. Best from 2025 through 2042. 1,353 cases made, 283 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
You save:$26.00 (20%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
2018 / 750 ml.
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
You save:$3.00 (20%)
Add to Wishlist
Add to Compare
2021 / 750 ml.
A racy version, this boasts black cherry, blueberry, violet and iron flavors. Features a firm line of tannins that work in concert with the acidity, while flashes of Mediterranean scrub peek through. Mouthwatering finish. Sangiovese and Merlot. Drink now through 2032. 15,000 cases made, 14,000 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
The 2021 Chianti Classico is an absolute joy. Fragrant, silky and super-expressive, the 2021 captures all the finesse of Radda. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, orange peel and mint are all beautifully delineated in a vibrant, mid-weight Chianti Classico that has so much to offer. This is a fine showing. (Antonio Galloni)
You save:$7.00 (23%)
2017 / 750 ml.
A red with plenty of ripe fruit, such as berries and cherries with some fresh-herb and lemon undertones. It’s medium-to full-bodied with bright fruit and fine tannins. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Castello di Volpaia is an immensely rewarding, inviting wine. Juicy and racy, with no hard edges, the Riserva captures the allure of this warm, dry year. There is plenty to like in the 2017, starting with its depth and volume, I won’t be surprised if the Riserva turns out to be even better than this note suggests. Sweet red fruit, cedar and blood orange give the 2017 striking aromatic intensity and lift.
Aromas of blue flower, spiced plum, new leather and sunbaked earth form the inviting nose on this pure Sangiovese. Made with organically farmed grapes, the smooth, savory palate doles out fleshy black cherry, baking spice and chopped mint alongside velvety tannins that give it a polished texture. Drink through 2025.
If you have a platter of fatty porchetta and are looking for a worthy Tuscan wine for that party, look no further. Packaged in a black label, the Volpaia 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Castello di Volpaia (made with organic fruit) does a great job of showing purity and freshness in what was a challenging vintage for sure. This Riserva reveals delineated tones of cherry and dark berry with crushed limestone, blue flowers and some of the wild herbs and bramble that I often recognize in wines from this corner of Tuscany. I happily recommend it to all Sangiovese enthusiasts.
Black currant and blackberry fruit defines this juicy, saturated red, with earth, cedar and tobacco adding accents. Finishes with a firm edge of tannins. Best from 2024 through 2040. 5,000 cases made, 3,500 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
Certified organic by Q Certificazioni
Out of stock
You save:$11.00 (28%)
2017 / 750 ml.
A juicy, black cherry-laced red, displaying fine concentration, balance and freshness. Dusty tannins gather on the finish, as do accents of oak spice. Shows fine harmony and complexity overall, though will benefit from a year or two of bottle age. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2038. 1,500 cases made, 175 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
A polished red with plum, chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with soft, integrated tannins and a pretty finish. Another year or two will give it a little more finesse. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2021.
You save:$25.00 (26%)
2015 / 375 ml.
Intense, this sweet style delivers honey, caramel, roasted almond and spice aromas and flavors, leaving a light layer of tannins on the tactile finish. Drink now through 2030. 350 cases made, 200 cases imported.
The 2015 Vinsanto del Chianti Classico offers lovely density in an understated, mid-weight style that is quite appealing. Spice, orange peel, hazelnut, dried flowers and light caramel notes all grace this creamy Vin Santo from Volpaia. The 2015 is very nicely done.
Primary Grape: Trebbiano
Certified organic
Out of stock
You save:$14.00 (20%)
2019 / 750 ml.
A bright yet firmly structured Chianti Classico, with iron, leather, almond and floral accents surrounding a core of cherry fruit. Sleek and intense, with a lingering finish echoing cherry, red berry and mineral notes. Best from 2024 through 2040. 4,500 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
Aromas of sweet berries, crushed stones and violets follow through beautifully to a medium-bodied with fine, integrated tannins and a pretty finish. Crisp and crunchy with structure. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
Taking on a somewhat darker expression, the 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva is floral and concentrated with candied blackcurrant, lavender, and graphitic mineral earth. It is full bodied without being weighted and has finely polished tannins, a stony texture, and a warming finish. On the back end, a delicate amaro-like finish emerges, with hints of tea leaf and iron earth. Allow for another year or so and drink over the following 10–15 years. (Audrey Frick)
Here’s a wine I highly recommend. Packaged with a black label, the Volpaia 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva is certified organic Sangiovese from a site with sandstone soils that rises up to a cool 600 meters above sea level in Radda in Chianti. These well-priced results are perfumed and vibrant with black fruit, crushed stone and wild rose. I especially appreciate those drying mineral tones that match the wine’s elegant, mid-weight mouthfeel. Some 60,000 bottles were released. (Monica Larner)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
Certified organic by Q Certificazioni
Out of stock
You save:$10.00 (20%)
2020 / 750 ml.
You save:$5.00 (28%)
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2017 / 750 ml.
Transparent and linear with currant and cherry aromas and flavors. It’s beautifully fine and bright with crushed cherries and berries and hints of strawberries. Pine needles and fresh herbs, too. Very silky tannins and a palate that shows poise and polish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
A real beauty, the 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Coltassala (made with organic fruit) shows medium-rich textural fiber with plenty of dark fruit, cherry, spice and leather. The important thing to mention here is how light and elegantly fragrant this wine remains despite the considerable heat and dryness of the growing season. In fact, all those fruit tones emerge with terrific purity and focus, backed by acidity and integrated structure, that invite an evening-long sampling with some medium-aged pecorino.
The 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Coltassala is striking. Rich and ample, with tremendous depth, the 2017 shows all of the mystique that makes Sangiovese so alluring. Sweet dark cherry, dark plum, leather, licorice, menthol and tobacco build as the 2017 shows off its breadth and personality. The Coltassala has a bit more volume and oak influence than the other Volpaia wines, but it’s an approach that works so well here. (Antonio Galloni)
A complex version, this red sports plum, blackberry, leather, earth, camphor and eucalyptus aromas and flavors. Though vivid and incisive with its core of fruit, dusty tannins grip the finish, where an oak spice element lingers. Be patient, here. Best from 2023 through 2042. 1,500 cases made, 375 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
You save:$17.00 (20%)
2020 / 750 ml.
Attractive aromas of ripe cherries, dried strawberries, dried orange peel, spices and crushed stones, following through to a medium to full body with compact tannins that are firm and finely grained. Smooth and textured with vivid fruit underneath and a lingering finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. (James Suckling)
In the bottle with the black label, the organic 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva offers ripe fruit with measured intensity that never feels heavy or overdone. Achieving this level of balance is not easy in a hot growing season such as this. This wine is characterized by an especially linear and direct personality that pushes it over the palate with good momentum. An ambitious 60,000 bottles were released. (Monica Larner)
A juicy yet firmly structured red highlighted by bright cherry and blackberry fruit. Reveals dense tannins that inform the finish, where accents of earth and mineral linger. Balanced in a youthful, exuberant way. Best from 2025 through 2039. 5,000 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
Primary Grape: Sangiovese
Certified organic by Q Certificazioni
You save:$10.00 (22%)
2016 / 375 ml.
This has a nutty character with notes of walnuts, toasted almonds, dried apricots and figs as well as some bread crust and honeysuckle. Full-bodied with a dried fruit character. Vivid acidity balances the sweetness and brings a freshness to it. Polished and chalky with a clean and delicate finish. Drink now.
This moderately sweet white starts out soft and lush, firming up by the lingering finish. Delivers apricot, caramel and a hint of molasses. Trebbiano and Malvasia. Drink now through 2028. 250 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
The 2016 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is a light-bodied, aromatic sweet wine to drink now and over the next few years. Crushed flowers, tobacco, spice, mint, caramel, and dried cherry open nicely. I just wish there was a bit more depth. (Antonio Galloni)
Primary Grape: Trebbiano
Certified organic
Limited Inventory We'll confirm your order by email.
3 items or less in stock.
You save:$14.00 (20%)
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2018 / 750 ml.
Fresh and focused, delivering black cherry, blackberry and stone flavors, with a structure that borders on racy. This firms up nicely on the lingering finish, which bears tinges of iron and sanguine. Best from 2023 through 2035. 150 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)
Aromas of French oak, leather and espresso mingle with whiffs of spiced plum. The firm palate features dried cherry, licorice and tobacco framed in tightly woven, fine-grained tannins. It closes on a note of coffee bean. Drink 2024–2028. (Kerin O’Keefe)
Limited Inventory We'll confirm your order by email.
5 items or less in stock.
You save:$22.00 (20%)