Take home three bottles of very nice Italian Wines all originating from Tuscany, Italy. Total value is $285. All donated by Bryan Farres.

1. Castellare I Sodi S. Niccolo 2018. Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy. Valued at $120.

Winemaker Notes: "Intense red with hints of garnet. Deeply sophisticated and showcasing its full pedigree in terms of both the bouquet and palate of the wine. The fruit quality is exceptional and each individual aroma can be distinguished with total clarity, from the cherry to the spices, whose focus and integration are exceptional."

Critical Acclaim:

• 97 points by Vinous: "The 2018 I Sodi di San Niccolò is the most elegant Sodi I have ever tasted, and I have tasted them all. Sodi can be quite the bruiser in its youth, as the tannins are often imposing, but the 2018 is impressive because there is more than enough fruit to balance things out. Dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice and gravel build in a Sodi endowed with mind-blowing purity and exceptional finesse."
• 96 points by James Suckling: "A vibrant, balanced and fresh red with raspberries, pomegranates, cherry stones and spice box on the nose. Sleek, tight tannins. Focused, with a very fine structure and wound-up energy."
• 94 points by Wine Spectator: "This is marked by new oak initially, then the plum and cherry flavors shine through. Vibrant, with leather and earth elements joining in before the oak spice and tannins frame the finish."

2. 2018 Castellare di Castellina Poggio ai Merli. A Merlot from Tuscany, Italy. Valued at $99.

Critical Acclaim:

• 96 points by Vinous: "The 2018 Poggio ai Merli is stunning for the way it combines the fruit intensity of Merlot with the structure of Chianti Classico and the vibrancy of the year. What a wine. Inky blue/purplish fruit, grilled herbs, menthol, licorice, black pepper and earthy flavors all race through this deep, potent Merlot from Castellare. Even with all of its intensity, the 2018 retains striking freshness and tons of verve."-Antonio Galloni
• 93 points by James Suckling "A juicy red with lots of ripe-fruit and citrus undertones to the smoked oak. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a fruity finish. It's a little disjointed now, so needs a few years to come together. But excellent potential in this pure merlot. Try after 2022."-jamessuckling.com
• 93 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "a pure expression of Merlot...a rich and succulent rendition with high notes of dried mint and graphite that hover over the bouquet with an almost suspended or lifted quality...This expression from 2018 shows some dryness on the close, but the smooth and creamy richness of the fruit successfully, and gracefully, takes over the palate." - Monica Larner"

3. Lisini Brunello di Montalcino 2016. Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy. Retail value is $60.

Critical Acclaim:

• 97 points by Decanter, "Powerful, creamy, succulent with oak in proportion to the ripe red fruits. Palate is plush and juicy with plenty of tannin."
• 96 points by Wine Enthusiast, "Inviting aromas of ripe wild berry, baking spice and Mediterranean herb are front and center along with a whiff of blue flower. Full bodied and vibrant, the savory palate features ripe Marasca cherry, star anise and nutmeg framed in noble tannins...Give this time to fully develop and you'll be rewarded."
• 94 points by Wine Spectator, "A touch of new oak adds an element of sweetness and spice to this cherry-, plum- and mineral-flavored red, which is lithe, with well-integrated, underlying tannins and a lingering finish."