0.75 liter

In the sun-drenched hills of Castelnuovo Berardenga, where Fèlsina has been one of the undisputed stars of Chianti Classico since 1966, the Poggiali family is writing another story: that of a world-class Tuscan Chardonnay. I Sistri – named after the traditional rattling instruments of the ancient mystery cults – epitomises the experimental passion that led Fèlsina to plant French Chardonnay clones on the nearby Farnetella vineyard back in the early 1980s. Between the Ombrone river and the Poggiolo farm, various plots with different clones, rootstocks and soil formations produce the grapes that have formed the heart of I Sistri since 1987.

One of the best rosati in Lazio, only 2,800 bottles are filled: The grapes for the rare Sorèlle come from Cotarella's younger Merlot vineyards and the historic Aleatico vineyard. The grapes, which are pressed at different times, are left in the press at a temperature of 10°C for two hours after destemming. This allows the flavours to be fixed and their characteristics to be brought out to the full. Once alcoholic fermentation is complete, the wine remains in steel tanks in contact with its fine lees. Only then is it blended. Salmon pink in colour, a bouquet of roses and blueberries full of character. Perfect structure on the palate, good acidity, a firm wine with excellent texture and persistence. SUPERIORE.DE

Smooth Nebbiolo that shows the clear signature of Giovanni Rosso: This Langhe Nebbiolo presents itself in a bright garnet red with a ruby-coloured rim as an elegant companion with a presence of origin. The naturally cultivated vines are rooted in calcareous and clayey soils around Serralunga d'Alba. The bouquet reveals delicate notes of violets, red wild berries, white rose and a hint of dried herbs – wonderfully balanced between freshness and depth. The palate reveals a fine, supple body: lively acidity, gentle tannins and a fine mineral vein that accompanies the finish with clarity and elegance. A young Nebbiolo with youthful agility and plenty of charm – a lively picture of the terroir in youthful form. SUPERIORE.DE

La Caduta epitomises an exception to the rule – here Caparzo shows that a Rosso di Montalcino can be far more than just the "little brother" of Brunello. The winery has been vinifying grapes from this exceptional single vineyard separately since 1983, creating a cru that has set new standards for the Rosso category. La Caduta is not just a geographical name, but a statement: this wine proves that exceptional terroir can also produce wines of remarkable depth and complexity in the younger DOC category. The La Caduta vineyard stretches over 7.5 hectares in the western zone of Montalcino at an altitude of 300 metres – the highest site in the Caparzo portfolio. The terroir is characterised by slate-sandy soil with a loose structure and a high proportion of skeleton, which is fundamentally different from the other Caparzo sites. This geological peculiarity, combined with the exposed southern exposure, creates a unique microclimate that lends the Sangiovese a special minerality and freshness that would be intensified in classic Brunello maturation.

Lagrein is the great autochthonous red wine variety of South Tyrol – and at Tiefenbrunner it finds ideal conditions. The grapes come from the slopes of Entiklar and Margreider Leiten, at an altitude of 220 to 350 metres, where limestone gravel soils from moraine deposits provide mineral depth. Some of the vines were planted back in 1967 – experience you can taste. Maceration in stainless steel is followed by malolactic fermentation, after which the wine matures for eight months in large and small wooden barrels. The result: a Lagrein that combines power with elegance.

A charismatic representative from the Alba region: this Barbera reflects the diversity of the Vajra vineyards – a spirited expression of the grape variety, vinified with attention to detail and many years of biodynamic expertise. The colour in the glass is a bright ruby red with a violet hue. An elegant bouquet of fresh cherries, fine spicy notes and a floral touch on the nose – delicate violet accents included. This wine simply smells of lively freshness and archetypal Barbera characteristics. On the palate, it reveals a juicy fruit structure, supported by a balanced, lively acidity and softly framed tannins. The ageing in stainless steel preserves the varietal purity, the natural flavours and provides an invigorating freshness. The finish is slightly spicy and persistent with an elegant aftertaste. A Piedmontese all-rounder for everyday enjoyment: charming, clear as a bell and highly drinkable – a stylish statement for uncomplicated enjoyment! SUPERIORE.DE

The trilogy is complete: after Core Rosso (since 2011) and Core Bianco (since 2015), Silvia Imparato is finalising her homage to Campania's great grape varieties with the first Core Rosato 2025. Core – neapolitan for heart, for love – also comes from the volcanic vineyards of the Sannio near Benevento, where tuff, volcanic ash and limestone give the Aglianico a unique minerality. Short skin contact, then vinified like a white wine under the direction of Riccardo Cotarella.

What the Carricante is for white wines, the Nerello Mascalese is for red wines on Etna: a grape variety that is not so clearly moulded by any other terroir in the world. Thin-skinned, light-coloured, low in tannin – fragile at first glance. At second glance: precise to the bone. The younger Nerello Mascalese vines from the Contrada Montedolce form the basis of the Contrade Nuove – direct, accessible, with the fresh character that the northern slope climate at 730 to 750 metres almost inevitably produces. The warm summer of 2022 gave the wine a little more texture and dark fruit than usual – the timely rain in autumn kept it fresh. Davide Rosso vinifies with a kit that is unusual by Etna standards: amphorae for oxygen contact, conical oak barrels and stainless steel. Giovanni's deliberate way of breaking the reduction tendency of the Nerello without sacrificing fruit and minerality.

Ruby red in colour with a violet hue. Ripe cherry, blackberry and violet on the nose, with a hint of herbal spice. Juicy, fresh and precise on the palate, carried by fine tannins and lively, pure-toned fruit. The pure stainless steel maturation reinforces the varietal character. Winemaker Chiara Boschis is considered a pioneer of organic winegrowing in Piedmont – her tireless, quality-driven work and likeable personality characterise each of her wines. SUPERIORE.DE

The concept is as simple as it is ingenious: Christoph Künzli wanted to create a Nebbiolo that is fresh and easy to drink, whose beguiling sweetness and richness is convincing right up to the last sip and which nevertheless represents the Alto Piemonte in a typical and unmistakable way. The convincing result is fresh, with a rich bouquet of berries and flowers, crisp and velvety in the mouth. Be sure to enjoy it a little cooler and you will be surprised how quickly the bottle is empty! SUPERIORE.DE

Bright light red colour. Bouquet of red cherries, aromatic herbs and some tobacco. Big and powerful on the palate in typical Campogiovanni style, with lush red cherries and aromatic herbal flavours that echo for a long time on the soft, slightly warm finish. A Rosso that gives a good foretaste of the more persistent and multi-layered Brunello. Very successful and charming and accessible even at a young age. SUPERIORE.DE

What makes Alberto Passeri's Rosso di Montalcino so special? He is a stranger to compromise. The grapes come from the same plots as the great Brunello, from the historic vineyards of Canalicchio in the cooler north and the warmer slopes of Castelnuovo dell'Abate in the south. This dual origin is the secret: the elegance and finesse of the north merges with the strength and maturity of the south. Where other producers bottle their Rosso after just a few months, La Gerla allows it to mature for a full two years: six months in steel tanks, twelve months in large Slavonian barrels and a further six months in the bottle. This patience pays off.

In the wide plain around Bolgheri – between the hills of the Alta Maremma and the nearby Tyrrhenian coast – the Vermentino thrives on ideal terrain. The vines benefit from the interplay of sea breeze and warmth, sandy, well-drained soils and careful harvest at optimum ripeness. Guado al Tasso vinifies a precise, clearly contoured white wine with a Mediterranean soul and remarkable tension.