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Autumn 2018 began with bad press. After the glowing vintages of 2015, 2016 and the tough 2017 came a cool, rainy year – and the experts shrugged their shoulders. But if you listened carefully, you could hear something subtle: elegance. The quiet kind. The kind you don't immediately recognise. San Filippo lies east of Montalcino, at 260 to 280 metres above sea level, in a gently north-east facing hollow. Here, the vines grow in red clay over limestone and slate – soils that absorb heat and retain freshness. 2018 was not a year for muscles. But for nerves. Fermentation in steel and concrete, ageing in large wooden barrels – paolo Caciorgna keeps his hand steady. No wood that drowns out. No intervention to correct. The wine should speak.

Graci's third vintage, Sopra il Pozzo, is a "selection from the selection" and comes from the Arcurìa vineyard. It is the red archetype of an Etna Rosso, a Nerello cru with the clear DNA of the volcanic-stony terroir. Pale ruby with orange highlights, the nose has candied fruit, cooling firewood, some aniseed and herbs. On the palate, it is silky without being slippery, its subtle wood and delicate acid wire harmonising perfectly with the flanking tannin into an unforgettable, mineral-salty finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Campo del Drago is a single vineyard of just 1.5 ha and is situated on a high plateau in the Montalcino appellation with a view of the Thyrrenian Sea. The grapes from here are only vinified separately in the best years to produce the Brunello of the same name, and the result is then eagerly awaited about 5 years later.

A study commissioned by Francesco Ricasoli has shown that there are 19 different types of soil on Brolio. This made it possible to precisely define the sites that are particularly good for Merlot, from which wines with a unique structure and unmistakable flavour emerge. With the 2018 vintage, Francesco Ricasoli is now presenting the "new" Casalferro, whose grapes come from the three different vineyards Vigna Casalferro, Vigna Pecchierino and Vigna Sodacci. The production volume has been drastically reduced, but the result is impressive!

One of the best vintages of the last twenty years and San Polo's first single vineyard Brunello. Ruby red colour, not too deep, with light garnet reflections. In the nose floral aromas of violet, cyclamen and jasmine, notes of fresh fruit and spice. In the mouth it is round, full of harmony, with good structure and acidity and very soft tannins, which show an excellent persistence overall. A wine of almost endless length, depth and with a distinct character that will be remembered. SUPERIORE.DE

Barolo Riserva Ravera Vigna Elena is a beautiful wine from Elvio Cogno and, not surprisingly, as is so often the case, the best from the collection of the family-run winery from Novello. It is aged in large Slavonian oak barrels and produced only in selected vintages. It exudes delicate truffle notes and aromas of wild berries with a hint of exotic spice. The wine is soft, lush and well-structured, and it makes your mouth water. This Barolo shows the power and inner structure of the Ravera Cru and should age beautifully over the next two decades. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for Roberto's "entry-level Barolo" come from four of his best vineyards, which are harvested a few weeks earlier than those reserved for his Grand Crus. It is also the most balanced of his Barolo wines, even if the fruit and acidity are anything but restrained, but the proportions are just right here. The structure is great, its length and elegance inspiring - the refined layered components such as raspberry, cherry and its subtle salty vein make it without doubt one of the most serious wines of the entire appellation - a real Voerzio for comparatively little money. SUPERIORE.DE

Matteo describes it as a wine that has as much to do with the place as it does with his family roots: coincidentally, his surname Ascheri is also the official name of the vineyard located in the municipality of La Morra. As with the Coste & Bricco, the same applies to this top wine from the estate: Barolo Ascheri is only produced in the best years. Its bouquet and multi-layered flavour make it the most complete wine of the house. Wonderful in its precision and structure, this Barolo has the highest recognition value in this top vintage and at the same time represents the signature of the house in an impressive way. SUPERIORE.DE

Barolo Ravera comes from a single vineyard with almost 50-year-old vines. In the glass, it impresses with a strong, aromatic opening aroma. Bright, precise and finely chiselled, the Ravera captures all the goodness the vintage has to offer. Cherry, sweet mint, candy and expressive floral notes get an extra kick of inner sweetness from the Ravera's natural energy. There is so much to look forward to as the wine develops over the next few years! SUPERIORE.DE

Gallule is the flagship of the compelling Chianti Classico range and is extremely finely balanced and precise. The Sangiovese grapes are harvested from an old terraced vineyard in Castellina in Chianti. It offers depth and a long sequence of delicate nuances with dark fruits, balsamic herbs, liquorice and freshly ploughed potting soil. This Gran Selezione is a complete and beautiful wine, executed in a very classic style to boot. Gallule is all about the little details, which reveal themselves with each sip. SUPERIORE.DE

This is the third vintage of what is currently the only Bolgheri Superiore produced outside of the classic French Bordeaux grape varieties. It consists of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Syrah. These are two grape varieties that the Sattas have studied over several decades and whose quality has impressed us and international critics for many years. Marianova combines great aromatic breadth with a gigantic drinking pleasure and at the same time emphasises the great individuality of the winery like no other wine.

Pure Burgundian elegance and Tuscan flavour. A Sangiovese in Riserva quality that impresses with its long, continuous course of flavoursome fruit and carefully extracted tannins. Light ruby colour with garnet-red reflections. Clear nose with notes of pomegranate, raspberry and a hint of saffron. Fresh, juicy and superbly unadulterated on the finish and with great ageing Storage potential. SUPERIORE.DE

Since Guidalberto has been vinified from its own grapes, most of which also grow in the Sassicaia DOC monopoly position, San Guido's "second wine" has grown beyond itself. Spicy, earthy bouquet with hints of tobacco, clove and lavender, dense and juicy on the palate with fresh red and black berry fruit. The tannins are well balanced and the finish is complex with a majestic elegance that will become even more refined with years of ageing in the bottle. SUPERIORE.DE

Altesinos Montosoli is always a crowd pleaser and a beautiful wine. It shows depth, intensity and plenty of authenticity both in terms of the grape variety and the area. Dark cherries and blackberries rise from the bouquet with spices, pipe tobacco and damp earth in tow. The wine is complex and nuanced. The authenticity of the Sangiovese comes through clearly on the palate. It is a medium-bodied wine with polished but firm tannins and distinct acidity. The finish shows a touch of freshness, minerality, notes of mint and great depth. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep, full red with a fine sheen. The La Morra edition from Vietti's famous Barolo family convinces with an impressive aroma of red berries, cherries, wild herbs, mint, minerals and rose petals, rounded off with a hint of blood orange. The palate is opulent, full, with fine sweetness and structure, and the multi-layered, long final is accompanied by downright aristocratic tannin. A typical Vietti cru with a lot of class. SUPERIORE.DE

Barolo Lazzarito impresses every year with its precision and class - two qualities not often found in the Nebbiolo of the Serralunga area. Iron, smoke and white pepper flow into the nose, in the glass these impressions are prolonged by a hint of pomegranate, red cherry jam, wild flowers and blood orange. Vietti's Lazzarito always stands for power and finesse and has been in no way inferior to its "colleagues" from Ravera and Rocche for quite some time. SUPERIORE.DE

Vietti's Ravera is one of the very big stars of Piedmont in its precision and structure. Rose petals, chalk, pepper and a hint of pomegranate make this Barolo one of the most sought-after in the appellation every year. With a little ageing, the strong tannins give way to an elegant impression that does not deviate one millimetre from the coveted style of this great vineyard. A monument of Barolo, which only a few other winemakers in Piedmont besides Vietti and also Giacosa bottle with such consistency! SUPERIORE.DE

We are overjoyed that we were able to obtain a few wooden cases of this extremely rare wine, which is only produced in the very best vintages. It is not for nothing that it leads the exclusive selection of Matteo's "collectible wines". Sparkling ruby-garnet colour. Clearly characterised, fine nose with pronounced notes of raspberry and plum, with thyme in the background. Very polished and delicate on the palate, with an incredibly complex flavour of wild berries, cherries, spices and herbs. Firm pressure on the palate, very juicy and an unrivalled elegance and potential on the finish. Anyone who does not allow this already almost perfect wine to mature in the cellar for another five or more years will miss out on a lot! SUPERIORE.DE

Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is arguably the richest wine in Vietti's vintage roster. It is a monument based on performance, intensity and power. At the same time, Rocche is incredibly precise and complex every year. It is precisely this interplay of fullness and finesse that makes Rocche so enticing. Rose petals, mint and sweet red berries form a crescendo of aromas and textures that appeals to all the senses. In the almost endless reverberation, everything comes back into harmony as if by magic, leaving behind a Nebbiolo experience of the third kind. SUPERIORE.DE

Dark red with light reflections. On the nose, this great Riserva shows lots of sweet red cherry, wild berry, Asian herbs and notes of undergrowth. Firm and still very austere on the palate with a well-defined fruit and present acidity. The exceptional structure is flanked by a good tannin framework, which reinforces the austerity and precision. This Riserva is not an easy-drinking wine, but will only find its full expression after a few years of maturation. All components indicate that it will then be one of the best Brunellos that this exceptionally full-bodied vintage has produced. SUPERIORE.DE

Dark cherries, menthol, flowers and tar are just some of the classic notes in the complex bouquet of the Bricco Pernice from the Ravera single vineyard. On the palate, the austere structure and great power are joined by a fine inner sweetness. In the long finish, memories of damp earth, dried herbs and wild flowers. SUPERIORE.DE

Dark ruby with garnet-coloured inclusions. Beautiful dark fruit, plus plum, spice and tobacco. Le Lucere has a subtle oak flavour and the power and persistence of the Sangiovese grape. It is already a worthy representative of its appellation at a young age and will become even more elegant over the years. SUPERIORE.DE

If one were to assign a quality to this wine, it would be sincerity. In the sum of its parts, this disarming Super Riserva is not only a wine full of contrasts, but also full of soul. It reflects its terroir, the exceptional 2015 vintage and the clear stylistics of the house in a self-confident and highly credible way. Fruit, alcohol, tannin and also spice are perfectly coordinated and present in very generous quantities. With each glass, the exuberant impressions become more unravelled and a Brunello emerges that, in addition to all its complexity, amiability and persistence, has a personality that secures it a place among the best of this vintage. SUPERIORE.DE