Reviews
Warm spices, ripe cherries, tobacco and crushed stones define the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, showing good concentration and volume. A slightly austere bitter-spice edge adds complexity. Firmly structured with a savory, persistent finish. Drink or hold.
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2020 Thick Skinned is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Malbec and only 1% Petit Verdot. Still a baby and set to be released at the end of 2024, it’s still incredibly tight and youthful but has good bones. Firm, bold, spicy and juicy, it’s like a puppy with big floppy ears and paws that will undoubtedly grow into its size. With plenty of hedonistic, juicy dark red fruit flavors and oak essences, this will be a knockout for years to come. Your patience will be rewarded.
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2019 Thick Skinned is over half Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot. The 2019 has some similarities with the 2018, yet it is still firm and tannic, offering a dusty and rustic nose that needs some time to fill its shoes. Full-bodied, spicy and fresh, the Cabernet blend should find its stride in about two years. Until then, it will have plenty of time to hit its cadence.
Sliced apples, green pears and white peaches on the nose. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Fresh and well-rounded, with a caressing texture and a delicious finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
A composed, balanced, flavorful and lively gran selezione with aromas of red berries, spiced cherries, dried herbs, bark and some dried mushrooms. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins. Balanced and well driven, with plenty of texture on the mid-palate. Attractive and well built, with a long, focused and flavorful finish. Try from 2025.
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2018 Thick Skinned is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with36% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The nose is bigger, plummier and juicier, with a bolder frame that is slightly out of step with the rest of the vertical and marked with amore generous dollop of oak. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy, generously layered and robust and will need another year in the bottle but will have no problems reaching its 20th birthday.
Year's Best for $20 or Less
A firm, silky red with lots of structure and intensity. It’s full-bodied and tannic, yet the phenolics are polished and well defined. Pretty freshness, despite the hot growing season. Drink or hold.
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot
Dried cherries, wild strawberries, fresh citrus and orange rind. Full body, polished tannins and a succulent, fresh finish. Drink now.
Alluring aromas of dark berry, saddle leather, truffle and tilled soil meld together with dark spice. The bright medium-bodied palate shows cranberry, sour cherry and star anise framed in polished tannins. Vibrant acidity lends verve. Drink through 2024.
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Fonte alla Selva Gran Selezione Chianti Classico DOCG | James Suckling | 94 pts |
Warm spices, ripe cherries, tobacco and crushed stones define the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, showing good concentration and volume. A slightly austere bitter-spice edge adds complexity. Firmly structured with a savory, persistent finish. Drink or hold. |
July 20, 2026 |
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Enthusiast | 91 pts | August 11, 2025 | |
| 2020 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 93 pts |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2020 Thick Skinned is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Malbec and only 1% Petit Verdot. Still a baby and set to be released at the end of 2024, it’s still incredibly tight and youthful but has good bones. Firm, bold, spicy and juicy, it’s like a puppy with big floppy ears and paws that will undoubtedly grow into its size. With plenty of hedonistic, juicy dark red fruit flavors and oak essences, this will be a knockout for years to come. Your patience will be rewarded. |
December 11, 2024 |
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 93+ |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2019 Thick Skinned is over half Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot. The 2019 has some similarities with the 2018, yet it is still firm and tannic, offering a dusty and rustic nose that needs some time to fill its shoes. Full-bodied, spicy and fresh, the Cabernet blend should find its stride in about two years. Until then, it will have plenty of time to hit its cadence. |
December 11, 2024 |
| 2022 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Sliced apples, green pears and white peaches on the nose. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Fresh and well-rounded, with a caressing texture and a delicious finish. Drink now. Screw cap. |
August 9, 2024 |
| 2020 Fonte alla Selva Gran Selezione Chianti Classico DOCG | James Suckling | 94 pts |
A composed, balanced, flavorful and lively gran selezione with aromas of red berries, spiced cherries, dried herbs, bark and some dried mushrooms. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins. Balanced and well driven, with plenty of texture on the mid-palate. Attractive and well built, with a long, focused and flavorful finish. Try from 2025. |
August 8, 2024 |
| 2018 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 92 pts |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2018 Thick Skinned is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with36% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The nose is bigger, plummier and juicier, with a bolder frame that is slightly out of step with the rest of the vertical and marked with amore generous dollop of oak. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy, generously layered and robust and will need another year in the bottle but will have no problems reaching its 20th birthday. |
April 1, 2024 |
| 2017 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 94 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2016 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 92 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2015 Thick Skinned Red Mountain92 | Wine Advocate | 92 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2021 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | Wine & Spirits Magazine | 90 pts |
Year's Best for $20 or Less |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2017 Fonte alla Selva Gran Selezione Chianti Classico DOCG | James Suckling | 94 pts |
A firm, silky red with lots of structure and intensity. It’s full-bodied and tannic, yet the phenolics are polished and well defined. Pretty freshness, despite the hot growing season. Drink or hold. |
January 10, 2022 |
| 2016 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot |
August 18, 2020 |
| 2015 Fonte alla Selva Gran Selezione Chianti Classico Docg | James Suckling | 93 pts |
Dried cherries, wild strawberries, fresh citrus and orange rind. Full body, polished tannins and a succulent, fresh finish. Drink now. |
September 13, 2018 |
| 2014 Fonte alla Selva Gran Selezione Chianti Classico Docg | Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts |
Alluring aromas of dark berry, saddle leather, truffle and tilled soil meld together with dark spice. The bright medium-bodied palate shows cranberry, sour cherry and star anise framed in polished tannins. Vibrant acidity lends verve. Drink through 2024. |
May 7, 2018 |