Matured Wines

This barrique-aged Passito is an absolute filet piece even for die-hard sweet wine connoisseurs and at the same time an exotic wine for the region. The Quintarelli family produces it handpicked only in the very best vintages, making it a real rarity and the small edition also, but not only, explains its price. Brilliant golden yellow with amber reflections. Candied apricot, peach, orange peel and a delicate honey note on the nose, rounded off with warm components such as sugar couleur, roasted almonds and rendered butter. Firm and ingratiating on the palate, yet retains its freshness with each sip, with great persistence and impressive, unforgettable length. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2012 Amabile del Cerè is flat-out stunning, boasting a seductive display of baked apple, fig paste, mint, spiced orange and hints of burnt sugar. It’s weighty and textural yet full of vibrant energy, as floral-laced peach, honey and hints of buttercream give way to candied citrus and a note of brown sugar. This is unrelenting pleasure and opulence in a glass, as layer upon layer of contrasting sweet and sour notes repeatedly thrills the senses. It lingers for well over a minute with hints of tropical fruit and florals. The Amabile del Cere uses the same mix of Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Saorin as the Bianco Secco, yet it’s air-dried prior to vinification. It’s only produced in years when Quintarelli feels that the Bianco Secco is strong enough to stand on its own without the addition of the Amabile’s fruit. The 2012 should not be missed." Vinous

This barrique-aged Passito is an absolute filet piece even for die-hard sweet wine connoisseurs and at the same time an exotic wine for the region. The Quintarelli family produces it handpicked only in the very best vintages, making it a real rarity and the small edition also, but not only, explains its price. Brilliant golden yellow with amber reflections. Candied apricot, peach, orange peel and a delicate honey note on the nose, rounded off with warm components such as sugar couleur, roasted almonds and rendered butter. Firm and ingratiating on the palate, yet retains its freshness with each sip, with great persistence and impressive, unforgettable length. SUPERIORE.DE

"Ginger and incense, dried apricots, crushed almond and nuances of butterscotch lift from the 2015 Amabile del Cerè. This soothes with silken, weighty textures, yet its balance is in place with a sour citrus wave that leaves a salty sensation in its wake. It tapers off long with a smoky note and tropical florals and citrus that linger on while remaining incredibly fresh. The 2015 Amabile del Cere is pure hedonistic pleasure." Vinous

Dark cherry red. Complex nose with aromas of wild berries, fine spices and dried meat, combined with cedar wood and earthy notes. In the drink then powerfully after black cherry, blackberry, plum, red rose blossoms and a tender toast note. Wonderful in the long finish with hints of pepper and exotic spices. A great Riserva from a great vintage with cult potential! SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, intense ruby-garnet. Appealing, intense nose with notes of blackberry and dark cherry, some liquorice. On the palate, beautifully worked out, juicy fruit, after cherries and plums, strong, hearty tannin, in the final firm pressure. Falstaff

"Deep ruby. Slightly reticent nose hints at black cherry, herbs and flint. Then juicy and bright, with deep flavors of minerals, blueberry and red cherry, complicated by peppery herbs. Closes long with repeating mineral nuances. A sleeping giant, the fruit is having a tough time emerging currently but I’d say there’s plenty there, just lying beneath the wine’s noble tannic cloak. Cellar this very refined Brunello for five or six years to see how it develops." Vinous

"Ripe, offering cherry, plum and floral aromas and flavors, matched to a rich texture. Tobacco and iron notes emerge as this builds to a lengthy finish. A touch dry on the finish, but the sweet fruit returns in the end." Wine Spectator

"Earthy aromas of wild berry, new leather, truffle and exotic spice emerge from the glass. The concentrated, vibrant palate delivers dried black cherry, licorice, tobacco and black pepper alongside fine-grained tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"Showing ripe and balanced fruit, the Valdicava 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano offers many very positive attributes. The wine flaunts a slightly contemporary or international side, and it does so with extreme confidence and elegance. Much of that natural balance comes directly from the classic vintage that exhibits both the structure and acidity necessary for prolonged cellar aging. Now, in the wine's youngest phase, it offers lush primary cherry and blackberry flavors followed carefully by measured spice, toast and red rose potpourri." Wine Advocate

"This opens with savory, truffle and meaty aromas with a complex and quite cryptic nose that delivers a wealth of ripe plums and cherries, cedar and fresh, violet-like flowers, as well as some earthy nuances. The palate has a very sturdy, intense and power-charged core of rich plums and dark cherries, framed in quite fierce tannins that are so long. Super Brunello Riserva here with great potential." James Suckling

Ruby red with violet reflections and black core. On the nose, dark forest berries such as blackberries and mulberries, underpinned by warm undergrowth notes. Then ripe blood oranges and subtle cedary notes. On the palate, it is defined by aromas of liquorice, tightly meshed and low-pitched, the tannin reminds one of the finest dark chocolate and controls the generously juicy fruit with its filigree play. Equipped for many years of bottle ageing, it is advisable to reach for the carafe in its youthful stage. Then it shows itself with stimulatingly tart aromas of dark tobacco and with enormous pressure, dark, dense and rich with an orchestral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"In the philosophy of our company, the ageing of the wines has always played a decisive role. This is the reason why we are proud today to be able to offer many of the oldest vintages directly from our cellar. We differentiate as follows: In each year we make two bottlings. Younger vintages that we put on the Italian market come from younger vineyards and the wines from the old vines we let mature in our cellar for at least 5 years and then only gradually put them on the global market. For better differentiation, the latter wines bear the seal 'Selezione Vecchie Vigne'. Another important aspect is that all bottles that are more than 10 years old are decanted and individually checked before they start their journey to our customers, re-corked." Emidio pepe

"Sour citrus mixes with earth tones, animal musk, cocoa and earl grey as the 2009 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Vecchie Vigne slowly unfolds in the glass. Aromatically intense and just starting to show maturity, this enters the palate soft and enveloping, yet more lifted than expected. A brisk acidity adds dimension to its dried black cherry fruits. Blood orange and saline minerals combine to create a salted citrus character, as the 2009 tapers off with adolescent tannins that tug at the palate. This is in a beautiful place, already pleasing for lovers of mature wine yet also with unbelievable energy and freshness." Vinous

The pure Pinot Nero Franciacorta Annamaria Clementi Rosé is bright pink in colour with delicate amber tones. It beguiles the senses with a subtle bouquet of dried strawberries and zesty citrus fruits, contrasted by the richness of raw almonds and sweet white smoke. It is silky and supple, with a slowly rising structure, yet still manages to surprise with notes of apple and savoury spices, which are then enlivened by a juicy acidity. There is a lingering inner sweetness that mingles with an aftertaste of concentrated red forest berries that lingers for over a minute. One of Italy's greatest sparkling wines! SUPERIORE.DE

"A salmon-orange colored sparkling with inviting aromas of dried flowers, honey, grapefruit, hazelnuts and gingerbread. Hints of cloves, too. Firm, driven and dry, with excellent structure and weight and tight bubbles. Long, spicy and almost chewy finish. Might even be better in a few years when it has softened." James Suckling

Dense, concentrated ruby red and a generous, intense bouquet. Besides fresh fruit, tobacco and leather nuances, an aromatic cinnamon and clove spice. Sophisticated taste, to which the fresh acidity and the considerable fullness lend support and elegance. Restrained, perfectly integrated tannin, which also crackles like silk in the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Beginning to mellow now after 10 years, revealing a bouquet of leather, licorice, macerated cherry, iron and cigar box. Very fresh, lively and focused, with sweet cherry and plum fruit at the core, firm, refined tannins and a long aftertaste of leather and stone." Wine Spectator

"The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is another super- finessed wine. Subtle floral notes meld into expressive red berries in a sumptuous Brunello that captures the essence of the vintage. The style is rich and deeply textured, but the 2007, as outstanding as it is, needs at least a few more years in bottle. Once again, finesse rules the day." Vinous

"The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is anothersuper-finessed wine. Subtle floral notes meld into expressive redberries in a sumptuous Brunello that captures the essence of thevintage. The style is rich and deeply textured, but the 2007, asoutstanding as it is, needs at least a few more years in bottle. Onceagain, finesse rules the day." Wine Advocate

"An impressively structured wine. Aromas of blueberries and blackberries with hints of violets. Full body, with velvety and rich tannins. Very tannic and powerful yet the tannins are polished and pretty. Layers of everything here. Give this another three to four years before opening." James Suckling

"Here's an unforgettable wine that absolutely makes the case for 2007 being one of the best vintages of late in Montalcino. The wine is broad and polished with masculine tones of dark fruit, leather and tobacco. These aromas evolve so quickly and with such pulsing intensity, the wine comes alive suddenly. There are dusty mineral shadings at the back with tightly textured tannins. Hold 10 more years." Wine Enthusiast

At the end of the 19th century, Ludwig Barth, a university professor with a love of wine, built the estate of the same name in Mazon and planted the Pinot Noir grape there for the first time, with success, as it turned out. The year 2016 was very good for Pinot Noir and for the Roccolo vineyard at Ansitz Barthenau on the Mazon plateau. Particularly rich grapes from vines that are more than 70 years old and tend on the traditional pergola were to be reserved for a new top wine. They were harvested separately, pressed separately and matured in small oak barrels and are only made into the single-vineyard wine "Roccolo" in the best vintages.

It convinces with its smooth, filigree acid structure, the backbone of every Burgundy. Martin Foradori's "Burgundy instinct" had pointed him in the right direction; working late into the evening had paid off. A top-class Pinot Noir now enriches the estate's Pinot Noir range - from the outstanding site of the Mazon plateau. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2016 Pinot Nero Vigna Roccolo is understated and coy in the glass, as dusty rose and dried cherries are complemented by nuances of clove. This is elegant and polished in feel, with a wonderful balance of acids and minerals that frame its dark red fruits and inner spices quite nicely. There's a power that lurks beneath the surface, as notes of licorice and fine tannins linger incredibly long. This is a Pinot for the cellar and has the balance to go a decade or more." Vinous

Madonna del Piano - the top vineyard of Valdicava, which takes its name from the small church there. A great Riserva with lovely tobacco notes and hints of sour cherries, the taste reveals a lovely texture and wonderfully resolved tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

"Here is a big wine with lofty ambitions and an impactful presentation. The Valdicava 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano hits all the right buttons. The wine shows a profound sense of elegance and poise with subtle berry notes that blend into spice, licorice and tar. Those bright and lively aromatic components fold gracefully within the wine's tight texture, its sheer power and the silky nature of the tannins. This wine promises a long and steady aging future ahead." Wine Advocate

"Sumptuous, offering ripe aromas of plum, cherry, spice, earth, iron and tobacco. Velvety in texture and elegant, this nonetheless has an ironclad structure underneath. Firm and long, fresh, echoing tobacco and mineral. Seductive, yet reserved too." Wine Spectator

"A wine with superb finesse and depth. So subtle and understated yet powerful and long. The tannin intensity is amazing. It just builds like a massive wave. Superb. Give this time in the bottle. The length is endless." James Suckling

"The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is shaping up to be a real beauty. Powerful and dramatic, but also remarkably polished for such a big wine, the 2010 has a lot going on. Raspberry jam, wild flowers, spices, new leather, smoke and tobacco are laced into the powerful intense finish. The 2010 is an especially finessed Madonna del Piano with a bright future." Vinous

This is a special Riserva from Michele Chiarlo that is late to the market. The Barolo Riserva Cerequio is a great wine, with particularly taut tannins and a concentrated richness that permeates its substantial textile fibre. The flavours of dark fruits such as blackberries and dried cherries are accompanied by spices, leather, tar and ashes from the bonfire. The wine shows the concentration and density of long oak ageing with tannins that definitely need more ageing before this exceptional wine will fully convince its connoisseurs! SUPERIORE.DE

"Beautiful nose of dried red fruits, cherry chocolate, bergamot and bark with hints of citrus blossom and dry earth. So polished and refined with medium to full body and a compact tannin structure. It has savoury nuances in the fruit character and a minerality of gravel on the finish. Already attractive now, but can age further." James Suckling

"The 2016 vintage is still young. Held back for further aging at the winery, the Michele Chiarlo 2016 Barolo Riserva Cerequio has only begun to move away from primary intensity. Flavours of dried fruit and pressed roses follow through to a long, polished mouthfeel. The Cerequio is a full-bodied wine with rich fruit and savoury oak tannins." Wine Advocate

"Enchanting aromas of spiced cherry preserves, baking spices and rosewood just scratch the surface of what can and will emerge from this stunning Barolo. The palate strikes a firm tone with a foundation of tannins and acidity built for the cellar while tart red berries, aged tea and herbal flavors give an alluring aura to this wine." Wine Enthusiast

Occhio di Pernice means eye of the partridge and refers to the salmon red colour of this lightly vinified Vin Santo from the red grape variety Prugnolo Gentile. Dense and dark after 10 years of barrel ageing, rich in aromas of dates, dried plums and fruitcake. Sweet aroma with sensual flavours of lemon, salted caramel with warm French pastry. This wine lingers in the memory long after the last sip. SUPERIORE.DE

Occhio di Pernice means eye of the partridge and refers to the salmon red colour of this lightly vinified Vin Santo from the red grape variety Prugnolo Gentile. Dense and dark after 10 years of barrel ageing, rich in aromas of dates, dried plums and fruitcake. Sweet aroma with sensual flavours of lemon, salted caramel with warm French pastry. This wine lingers in the memory long after the last sip. SUPERIORE.DE

Madonna del Piano is the top vineyard of Valdicava, named because of the small church there. A great Riserva with lovely tobacco notes and hints of sour cherries, the taste reveals a lovely texture and wonderfully resolved tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

"Here's a dark and well concentrated Brunello Riserva with meaty tones of smoked ham or bresaola backed by black cherry and prune. You'll get loads of leather and tobacco and the wine is bright and tart on the close with a fresh fruit finale. Excellent." Wine Enthusiast

"Offering a ripe bouquet of cherry and raspberry, this is the fruitiest of this decade. The primary fruit flavors are allied to a velvety texture, backed by a solid layer of tannins. Despite the feel of surmaturité here, the finish is fresh and superlong." Wine Spectator

"The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano continues to develop very positively. This huge, concentrated Madonna del Piano dazzles for the richness of its fruit and the delineation of its aromas. The clean, vibrant finish suggests many years of cellaring potential. The Valdicava Brunellos are often misunderstood when young because they possess so much richness, but with time in bottle the wines turn more delicate and complete." Wine Advocate

"A full-bodied, firm and chewy wine with very polished and caressing, juicy tannins. Shows youth and prowess in its structure. Flavorful and persistent." James Suckling

Currá is an archaic long-distance runner and presents itself very aristocratically with increasing bottle maturity or also good aeration even when young. Then it reveals dark berries and a fine chocolate note in the bouquet. In its style, it is edgy at first, but then at no point denies its greatness and harmony. Tobacco, plums, smoke and tobacco: with every glass, this exceptional wine reveals new facets and a firework of impressions. This is Nebbiolo from 65-year-old vines at the highest level! SUPERIORE.DE

"Tasted blind. Medium ruby red with orange reflections. Pretty nose of cherries and raspberry jam with hints of oak and liquorice. Generous fruit that is not yet fully open on the palate, with a fine nerve of ripe acidity. Ripe, chewy tannins frame the fruit on the long finish." Jancis Robinson

"This red is concentrated and packed with cherry, plum, tar, iron and underbrush flavors. It's fluid and supple, with a mass of sinewy tannins guarding the finish." Wine Spectator

"Fragrant and concentrated, it offers enticing aromas of roses, violets, wild berries and Asian incense. Firm and straightforward, the angular palate evokes red cherry, cranberry, star anise and a hint of white pepper, accompanied by tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. It is still young and austere, but balanced, with lively acidity. Give it plenty of time to develop fully." Vinous

"Fragrant and concentrated, it offers enticing aromas of roses, violets, wild berries and Asian incense. Firm and straightforward, the angular palate evokes red cherry, cranberry, star anise and a hint of white pepper, accompanied by tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. It is still young and austere, but balanced, with lively acidity. Give it plenty of time to develop fully." Wine Enthusiast

"Here is a little leap back in time to a vintage with great personality and character. The Sottimano 2015 Barbaresco Currá is a majestic expression that unfolds to reveal dark fruits, spices and carefully developed aromas of tar, liquorice and spent embers. Previous vintages of this wine started slow and closed (this is one of the age-worthy characteristics of Currá), but the warm and sunny 2015 vintage starts with high aromatic intensity." Wine Advocate

The lily is the flower of all flowers in Valpolicella and this exceptional Riserva is dedicated to the best of them. The grapes for this new flagship of the winery, produced in very small quantities, grow on 300-metre-high soils of mainly limestone with some sandy silt in the Monti Garbi district of the municipality of Mezzane di Sotto. The vines have an average age of 40 years and produce only small yields. After harvest, the grapes are selected twice by hand. The Lilium Est is aged for three years in new Bordeaux barriques, the laths of which have been dried outdoors for 36 months. Before it goes on sale, it remains in the bottle for at least another four years.

Dense ruby red, clear and consistent, olfactory very powerful, extensive and fine. The first impression is of balsamic, almost iodine-like notes, transported by the remarkable alcoholic content, to immediately reveal the characteristic scent of ripe cherries, plums, vanilla and ginger. Tertiary aromas of cocoa, chocolate, tar, almonds, roasted hazelnuts and pipe tobacco follow on the heels. The palate is dry, warm and soft, well supported by a remarkable acidity, of great palatability and equipped with an enveloping tannic structure. As it progresses, it is balanced, very persistent and fine. Undoubtedly a highly elegant, complex wine monument - a strong companion with broad shoulders that will defy time. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich and compact garnet red with ruby reflections. Complex and intense nose with notes of pickled plums and sour cherries, rum pot and some coffee. On the palate with powerful and at the same time supple tannin, with lots of ripe cherry fruit, juicy and with a long final." Falstaff

"Black dates, green tea, shellfish, seaweed, bark, melted dark chocolate and liquorice on the nose. Full-bodied and flavourful on the palate, a little old-fashioned, but complex and distinctive. It starts dry, but then becomes a little more generous, with a refined, bittersweet accent, before a long finish. A conservative Amarone that exudes quality. Beautiful now, but it will age for a long time." James Suckling

"Released 10 years after the harvest, the Tenuta Sant'Antonio Famiglia Castagnedi 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva Lilium Est is packaged in a very heavy glass bottle with a red wax capsule. The wine has definitely started along its evolutionary track, although there is still some of that dark and opulent Amarone fruit to behold. Dried fruit aromas are wrapped within ample spice, leather, tar and a potent 16% alcohol content." Wine Advocate

"My goodness what a beguiling nose, wood, caramel, parma violet, floral with coffee/mocha tones. Full bodied and full of life, tannins make the immediate impact, massive and fleshy but also powdery so you get depth of flavour on the tongue and a fine coating of texture around the cheeks. A powerhouse of a wine, layers of vibrant acidity, rich concentration and lingering freshness with lovely aspects of coffee, toffee, star anise, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper and balsamic leather. The fruit is crisp with a high-toned toasting element, all of which seems to work in harmony to deliver a nuanced wine with so many facets." Decanter

"The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva Lilium Est delights from the first swirl of the glass with a seductive bouquet of sweet spices, sugary blueberries, sweet smoke and oak. This is pure elegance, almost opulent but not quite, with a balance of ripe red fruits and a bitter hint of cocoa to balance it out. The finish is smoky and firm, with fine-grained tannins that frame the wine without slowing its momentum, while nuances of coffee grounds and cloves slowly fade away. The 2012 could do with some ageing to further integrate the oak (it matured for four years in new barriques), but the use of wood is skilful." Vinous

Marco Casolanetti does not fill 1,200 bottles per vintage with his Kupra. It comes from the Bordò grape variety, a clone of Grenache. Extremely concentrated, rich in extract and capable of developing: Kupra is a firework. Temperamental, pure fruit, muscular body, firm tannin, yet racy-elegant and long on the palate. Inimitable! SUPERIORE.DE

Three years after the Annata, Romano and his sons launch a small edition of the same vintage in large formats. As every year, the secret star of the house gives the Dominator in Dal Forno style. Dark and dense, it reveals an intense bouquet with marmalade-like aromas of red and dark fruits, alongside which spices and wood, tobacco and chocolate echo. At the same time, the youthful and stormy taste is an overwhelming demonstration of power. SUPERIORE.DE

"A very rich and spicy nose of kirsch, sweet morello cherries, spice box, hazlenuts and vanilla beans with dried dark cherry cake and lots of cedar, too. Full body, sweet fruit, vibrant acidity, ripe and round tannins and a fruit-forward finish. Always excellent." James Suckling

Three years after the Annata, Romano and his sons launch a small edition of the same vintage in large formats. Dark and dense, it reveals an intense bouquet with marmalade-like aromas of red and dark fruits, alongside which spices and wood, tobacco and chocolate echo. At the same time, the youthful, stormy taste is an overwhelming demonstration of power. SUPERIORE.DE

"A harmonious Valpolicella in a richer style, displaying a lovely range of plumped black cherry, star anise, espresso crema, cured tobacco and fragrant smoke notes. The sinewy tannins are well-meshed, but lend weight and definition, and the lightly juicy acidity keeps this focused through to the lasting finish." Wine Spectator

"A remarkably concentrated red, redolent of dark-cherry ice cream, stuffed with chocolate-chip flakes that turn into meatier, earthier nuances of steak tartar and forest floor. Full-throttle and lavishly chewy, the tannins pucker all sides of the mouth with mesmerizing intensity; nevertheless they remain polished and acutely detailed, like an extravagant, wool-woven, Moroccan veil." James Suckling

"This is a terrific wine that stood out - and stood tall - despite the fact that it was tasted alongside some of Dal Forno's most important vintages of the top-shelf Amarone. If that's not a full-on recommendation, I don't know what is. The 2013 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta oozes forth with thick concentration and an inky black color. The mouthfeel is thick and impenetrable, and the senses are treated to a long succession of black fruit, tar, spice, smoke, mesquite and barbecue flavors. The wine is full-bodied and very opulent, but it carries that massive intensity with grace and precision. This Valpolicella Superiore is very nicely done." Wine Advocate

"From one of the most iconic wineries in the Orientale, this is aged for two years in oak and a further three in bottle. A proper meditation wine, great with game, strong cheeses or a cigar. It has a huge nose of stewed red fruits, ethereal bramble forest fruits and blackberry jam. Generous, with spicy, bitter cherry-stone freshness. Full-bodied with a rich, intense, spicy undertone." Decanter

Dark ruby red with a brick-red-orange tapered rim. The nose of the 2003 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is powerful and concentrated with notes of Grand Marnier, plum jam, stewed fruit and a little port at the start. The maturity of the vintage condenses in the concentrated fruit in joyful interplay with the tart aroma of ripe tannins. With increasing aeration, the ripe notes integrate into the overall appearance and are complemented by mild spices such as cloves, allspice, black pepper and green cardamom as well as the distinctive umami impression of beef jerky. Open-hearted on the palate and, despite the expansive ripe fruit, stringent and taut on the palate. Tobacco and leather aromas join the extract-sweet fruit of Amarena cherries and fully ripe plums. In addition, there is the impression of dark chocolate, whose bitterness tips over into a slightly astringent sweetness. Extremely drinkable, it shines on the palate with silky, glistening tannins and an expansive hedonistic nature. Further proof that 2003 gains in greatness with increasing maturity. SUPERIORE.DE

"In the philosophy of our company, the ageing of the wines has always played a decisive role. This is the reason why we are proud today to be able to offer many of the oldest vintages directly from our cellar. We differentiate as follows: In each year we make two bottlings. Younger vintages that we put on the Italian market come from younger vineyards and the wines from the old vines we let mature in our cellar for at least 5 years and then only gradually put them on the global market. For better differentiation, the latter wines bear the seal 'Selezione Vecchie Vigne'. Another important aspect is that all bottles that are more than 10 years old are decanted and individually checked before they start their journey to our customers, re-corked." Emidio pepe

"Ripe and aromatic, with an undercurrent of cured olive, grilled rosemary, sanguine and dark roasted espresso running through the concentrated black cherry fruit. Well-defined, as juicy acidity keeps the long finish moving." Wine Spectator

pep’s 2003 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a bomb. Tar, leather, scorched earth and black fruit emerge from this dark, imposing Montepulciano. The wine comes together beautifully in the glass, as the aromas and flavors gain breadth and dimension. Despite the rich style, there is nothing excessive or over-ripe here, just exceptional balance of ripe fruit as captured by a traditional approach to vinification. A final blast of tar informs the long finish." Wine Advocate

Only nine years after the harvest is this great wine released for sale: The slow drying of the fully ripe harvested grapes gives this cru its immense power and density as well as the extraordinary character with massive ripeness, fruit fullness, beautiful concentration and great elegance. On the palate, Bertani's Amarone demonstrates freshness, noble lightness and great dynamism. An exciting wine and for decades probably the most classic Amarone - the archetype, so to speak - of the entire appellation. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, very intense ruby. Opens with light mineral notes, then after pickled cherries and rich red berry fruit, underlaid with fine blood orange in the background. Very precise in attack and course, elegant cherry fruit, grippy, dense tannin, opens in many layers, fine melting, now already easy to drink, very juicy, very great development potential." Falstaff

"Medium garnet red. There is so much going on in the nose! Fruits and dried spices. Next time I'm in an Indian restaurant with a good wine list, I want to try an Amarone. Really very complex and exciting. So fresh and clean! Dry finish. So very different from the commercial Amarone norm. Really quite exciting." Jancis Robinson

"The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico takes its time opening in the glass, slowly evolving with a rich blend of crushed black cherries complemented by dusty violet florals and exotic spice. This coasts across the palate, silky-smooth yet with cooling minerality and brisk acids that add an energetic feel as a saturation of red fruits and fine tannins collect toward the close. The 2012 finishes lightly structured with a resonance of balsamic spice and bitter hints of cocoa that linger on and on - a fantastic and genuinely harmonious rendition of Bertani's Amarone Classico." Vinous

"Wow, what a complex bouquet, with a base of dried cherries spiced up with hints of mild coffee and walnuts. There are also dried flowers, wild herbs and spices such as tarragon and cloves. Subtle hints of dried banana and apricot. The palate is full-bodied, very smooth, intense and balanced, with firm, spicy tannins that drive everything forward. Long, long finish. It's nice to taste it now, but this wine, already almost ten years old, will be in your cellar for a long time." James Suckling

Just 500 bottles were bottled of this Barolo Riserva from the top year 2000. During his lifetime, Pio Boffa always put away a few bottles of the best vintages for many years, in order to drink them with good friends at some point. For the 140th anniversary of the winery and in honour of the enfant terrible of Piedmontese viticulture, who died much too early in the same year, these are now being distributed by hand to only a few importers around the world. Daughter Federica explains: "This wine is a tribute to the longevity of our Barolo and to our family tradition. The label shows my grandmother with a picture of the cellar key she always wore on her necklace. When we open a bottle with friends and long-time customers, we honour her heritage and our family's winemaking philosophy." SUPERIORE.DE

"Showing some maturity in the form of woodsy, mushroom, leather and spice aromas and flavors, this red also delivers sweet, ripe cherry and plum fruit. This is at or near its peak, with most of its tannic structure resolved, exhibiting harmony and fine mineral length." Wine Spectator

"From the winery's private cellars, this limited edition, just-released Riserva has aromas of forest floor and blue flowers enhanced with delicate whiffs of tar and French oak. Combining the freshness of youth and the complexity of age, the elegant, full-bodied palate delivers dried cherry, cranberry compote, licorice and tobacco alongside underbrush notes. Tightly knit, silky tannins give it a smooth, enveloping texture. Drink through 2030." Wine Enthusiast

"Bottled in 2005 after spending over four years in oak, 500 bottles of this 2000 Riserva have been re-released in 2021 in celebration of the estate's 140th anniversary. A delightful, characterful nose of macerated berries, menthol, chocolate, Parma violets, tobacco, leather, earth and wood lead to a silky, lively palate. Time has allowed the tannins to integrate but they still provide filigreed structure. There's a touch of yeast extract as well as notes of truffle, damp earth, black cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry and hedgerow fruits. It's very balsamic on the mid-palate, with smooth wood and chocolate notes emerging, followed by a long black and white pepper finish. Extraordinarily beautiful." Decanter

"An fresh yet aged Barolo, showing the wealth and glory of the great 2000 vintage. Aromas of ripe strawberry, tart and mushroom and some bark undertones. Full-bodied and very powerful with a depth of fruit and chewy tannins that are ripe and round. Some smoke and bark, too. A fantastic wine now and will continue to age beautifully. Only 500 bottles made. A new program with aged wines from the family reserve. This was bottled in 2005." James Suckling