Reviews
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 clean and fresh white with subtle notes of stone fruit, lemons and white flowers. Sleek and delicate on the palate, with a medium body and a flavorful finish. Drink now.
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.
A fruity Gavi with aromas of candied lemons, elderflowers, white pears and lemons. Ripe yet tangy with a medium body and straightforward, citrusy finish. Drink now.
Year's Best for $20 or Less
Aromas of cape gooseberry and ripe melon on the nose with some crushed stones and meadow flowers. Medium body with fruit that starts very sweet, then takes on some more bitter, citrus-peel character as it progresses. Happy mixture at the end. Long finish with a lightly phenolic texture. Lots going on here. Drink now.
A fresh, creamy Gavi with sliced-lemon, stone and green-apple aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, fruity and crisp on the finish. Drink now.
Aromas of cape gooseberry and ripe melon on the nose with some crushed stones and meadow flowers. Medium body with fruit that starts very sweet, then takes on some more bitter, citrus-peel character as it progresses. Happy mixture at the end. Long finish with a lightly phenolic texture. Lots going on here.
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot
Quite reductive at first, but shows some attractive herbs and limes. Light body, linear acidity and a fruity finish.
Green apples, praline, nutmeg and spices. There’s a real salinity on the palate, which works well with the fleshy stone fruit. Medium body, tangy acidity and a textured finish. Drink now.
Very attractive fruit-salad nose, but with more delicacy than most Gavis. Very juicy, the spritz is really lighting this up. The bright acidity gives the finish a vibrancy that guarantees quality refreshment. Drink now.
A Gavi that shows the lemon and lime aromas and flavors you expect in an excellent white from this region. Full, bright and steely. Enjoy it. Drink now.
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2023 Principessa Gavia Gavi DOCG | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A clean and fresh white with subtle notes of stone fruit, lemons and white flowers. Sleek and delicate on the palate, with a medium body and a flavorful finish. Drink now. |
August 8, 2024 |
| 2023 Principessa Gavia Gavi DOCG | Wine Enthusiast | Best Buy | June 17, 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 | |
| 2022 Banfi Principessa Gavia Gavi DOCG | Wine Enthusiast | BestBuy | October 4, 2023 | |
| 2022 Principessa Gavia Gavi DOCG | Texsom Wine Competition | Silver | June 6, 2023 | |
| 2021 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A fruity Gavi with aromas of candied lemons, elderflowers, white pears and lemons. Ripe yet tangy with a medium body and straightforward, citrusy finish. Drink now. |
March 10, 2023 |
| 2021 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | Wine & Spirits Magazine | 90 pts |
Year's Best for $20 or Less |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2020 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Aromas of cape gooseberry and ripe melon on the nose with some crushed stones and meadow flowers. Medium body with fruit that starts very sweet, then takes on some more bitter, citrus-peel character as it progresses. Happy mixture at the end. Long finish with a lightly phenolic texture. Lots going on here. Drink now. |
January 10, 2022 |
| 2019 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A fresh, creamy Gavi with sliced-lemon, stone and green-apple aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, fruity and crisp on the finish. Drink now. |
August 19, 2021 |
| 2020 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Aromas of cape gooseberry and ripe melon on the nose with some crushed stones and meadow flowers. Medium body with fruit that starts very sweet, then takes on some more bitter, citrus-peel character as it progresses. Happy mixture at the end. Long finish with a lightly phenolic texture. Lots going on here. |
August 19, 2021 |
| 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 |
| 2018 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Quite reductive at first, but shows some attractive herbs and limes. Light body, linear acidity and a fruity finish. |
October 22, 2019 |
| 2017 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Green apples, praline, nutmeg and spices. There’s a real salinity on the palate, which works well with the fleshy stone fruit. Medium body, tangy acidity and a textured finish. Drink now. |
October 1, 2018 |
| 2016 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Very attractive fruit-salad nose, but with more delicacy than most Gavis. Very juicy, the spritz is really lighting this up. The bright acidity gives the finish a vibrancy that guarantees quality refreshment. Drink now. |
July 5, 2018 |
| 2014 Principessa Gavia Gavi | James Suckling | 90 pts |
A Gavi that shows the lemon and lime aromas and flavors you expect in an excellent white from this region. Full, bright and steely. Enjoy it. Drink now. |
March 31, 2016 |