It’s not often that a winemaker in Barolo—home to the finest reds in northern Italy’s Piedmont region—offers such a remarkable deal. But since our Italian wine expert, Leo Bassano, is friends with the winemaker in question, you get access to her fine 90-point Barolo at a friends-only price.

Leo’s friend belongs to one of Barolo’s most famous families. For over 100 years, they’ve run a winery in the tiny Cerviano-Merli Cru in Novello, one of the region’s top communes. The winery sits on the revered hill of Cannubi—and only thin fencing separates their vineyards from those of Vajra and Luciano Sandrone (whose iconic Barolos will cost you $80-250).

Since the family needed to clear space in their cellar, they offered Leo a fantastic price on their beautiful 2020 release. The only conditions? He had to skip the lengthy paperwork for official Cru classification and promise to keep their (very prestigious) name a secret. One sip of the wine, and he heartily agreed. It earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, who offered this tempting tasting note: “Mouthwatering, tart red fruits that transition into a complex array of leaf, tea and pipe tobacco notes.” It’s everything fans look for in Cru Barolo. Many 2020 Barolos (like this) are ready to drink now. Critic Antonio Galloni calls them “wines to admire for their balance and seductive appeal.” And if you do hold onto a bottle, it will develop magnificently for over a decade.

The family had a limited number of cases for us. Secure your share today.