Veronelli

Fiumana di Predappio – sangiovese has had its home here since the Middle Ages. The estate's lowest vineyards between 80 and 150 metres provide the grapes for the Federico, named after the family's long-time employee. Fermentation and nine months of ageing take place 70% in stainless steel and 30% in oak wood – enough structure without masking the fruit. Bright ruby red colour. The nose literally leaps out of the glass: fresh cherries, raspberries, a hint of herbs and violets. Lean and juicy on the palate, with fine tannins that invite you to take another sip. A charming Sangiovese that does not make you ponder, but is a pleasure to drink – uncomplicated in the best sense of the word, certified organic and exactly what an everyday wine should be. SUPERIORE.DE

The dense, well-articulated Rigoleto made predominantly from organically grown Sangiovese grapes is extremely drinkable. The bouquet beguiles with beautiful aromas of dried plums and dark cherries. Opens with a lively bouquet of wild strawberries, rhubarb, violets and crushed stones. Silky to the touch, Rigoleto has impressive weight yet wonderful energy as a wave of ripe red and blue fruit swirls under the scent of lavender and spice. SUPERIORE.DE

Three grape varieties, three characters, one wine: Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon share the Cretum Rosso in equal parts – an assemblage that could not be more typical of southern Tuscany. Each variety is vinified separately and only then do they come together in the tonneau. The Sangiovese thus retains its lively acidity and cherry fruit temperament, while Merlot contributes fullness and Cabernet structure.

Rosso Piancarda is intensely flavoured and perfumed, with medicinal cherries and raspberries complemented by dusty roses and sweet cedar wood notes. On the palate, Piancarda turns to the savoury spectrum. Salty and full of savoury minerality, it shows spicy red fruits, a hint of plum and a lively acidity that keeps the expression fresh. The grippy tannins remain until the final, while the notes of sour citrus fruits and tart berries slowly fade away. SUPERIORE.DE

The vines are planted where the Piedmont slopes gently at Canelli and the Barbera grape can develop its depth. The name is reminiscent of Cesare Pavese, the great son of these hills – and his most famous work "La Luna e i Falò". Like the novel, this wine also carries a quiet melancholy, paired with expression, maturity and identity. Matured in barriques and large casks for around a year, this is a Barbera full of character and at the same time modern.

A bestseller and classic with a reputation: "Duca Sanfelice" is a flagship for the indigenous Gaglioppo grape variety and demonstrates the expressive wines that can be produced from the sun-kissed hills around Cirò. The Riserva comes from old vines on clayey and calcareous soils, vinified in steel tanks and then matured in stainless steel for 24 months. Deep ruby red in colour. Dark cherry, dried plums, herbs, some liquorice and a hint of tobacco on the nose – spicy and Mediterranean flavours. Dry on the palate, with ripe fruit, pithy tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is long, powerful and carried by earthy warmth and fine spice.

Dolcetto d'Alba Augenta is another outstanding wine from Giorgio Pelissero. Rich, voluptuous and enveloping, it offers generous dark red fruits, spices, leather and liquorice, all enhanced by a short ageing period in wood. Expressive with good intensity and maturity and a good finish. Has enough complexity and structure to harmonise with almost anything at dinner. SUPERIORE.DE

Intense ruby red with a sparkling centre. Suculé immediately shows that it wants to be more than a classic Barbera. The fragrance caresses the senses with ripe sour cherry, blackberry, rose petals and a fine hint of vanilla – a complex, inviting bouquet. Velvety and dense on the palate and perfectly balanced: juicy red fruit meets a harmonious structure, a supporting sweetness and a subtle hint of minerality on the finish. Maturation for 18 months in barriques ensures velvety depth and length. A powerful but elegantly interwoven Barbera with format and accessibility. SUPERIORE.DE

The volcanic soils of Monte di Colognola give Monte Ceriani a mineral framework, a symmetrical matrix of flint and phenol in which the fruit flesh is deeply embedded. White pears, almond cream, white peach and lime. A hint of finely ground pepper. The finest silvery streaks of acidity thread the whole into a glittering carpet of light. Harmonious aroma of citrus fruits, especially grapefruit. Powerful flavour, fresh, long-lasting and accompanied by a wonderful almond/peppery mineral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Silìneo – a neologism born from the fusion of "sinuoso" (supple) and "lineo" (linear). The name epitomises what this wine is all about: elegance, suppleness, balance and harmony. It is the most classic wine from Fattoria del Cerro and has been the most successful for years. Silìneo is made from 90 per cent Sangiovese (locally called Prugnolo Gentile) and ten per cent Merlot and Colorino, from vineyards in Acquaviva di Montepulciano on soils of marine Pliocene origin with clay and silt between 250 and 400 metres above sea level. After manual harvesting, fermentation takes place with maceration at 24 to 28°C with daily overflow and délestage. The wine then matures for seven months in tonneaux, followed by eleven months in large Slavonian oak barrels.

Mongrana Rosso epitomises Querciabella's visionary approach in the southern Tuscan coastal region - a vibrant, vintage-driven cuvée that has continuously earned international acclaim since its debut vintage in 2005. The Wine Spectator named this wine one of the "Top 100 Wines of the World" back in 2013. The vineyards are located in Alberese near Grosseto, just a few kilometres from the sea and surrounded by the unspoilt nature of the Uccellina Nature Park. Here, on iron-rich soils of sandy silt and gravel at an altitude of 20 to 50 metres, the vines thrive in ideal Mediterranean conditions. The proximity to the sea provides cooling breezes that give the grapes their characteristic freshness and minerality.

Cornorotto is a fascinating, lively and extremely drinkyred wine made from Marzemino, an indigenous grape from Veneto that is related to Refosco and Teroldego. SUPERIORE.DE

Intense ruby red colour. Harmonious interplay of fruit, barrel and spice flavours on the nose, hearty and engaging on the palate, reminiscent of dark fruit, violets and spices. Despite its seriousness, the final is full of warmth and elegance. As always with the completely organic-certified winery: top value. SUPERIORE.DE

Castelnuovo Berardenga marks the southernmost tip of the Chianti Classico, where the gentle hills of the historic centre merge into the austere beauty of the Crete Senesi. Here, on south-facing slopes at an altitude of 280 metres, the Sangiovese finds the warmth that gives it fullness without losing its lively acidity. Poggio Bonelli presses its Chianti Classico as a genuine expression of this grape variety: 90 per cent Sangiovese, supplemented by a small proportion of other red varieties. After temperature-controlled fermentation and ten days of maceration, the wine matures for ten months in French oak barrels.

Subtle ruby red colour with light reflections. Warm, well-dosed bouquet of wild berries, cherries and some smoke. Fine tannins on the palate, with plenty of juice and fruit at the core, floral and spicy notes, compact. A fine salty vein in the harmonious finish. SUPERIORE.DE

In 2010, Marco Cirese, grandson of Noelia Ricci, started a project within Tenuta Pandolfa: nine hectares of the best plots, a radical focus on Sangiovese, back to the origins. The label is adorned with a wasp – the insect that lives in the vineyard like no other. The vines are planted at an altitude of 250 to 300 metres, on ochre-coloured clay soils with limestone marl, in 2002. Spontaneous fermentation, 18 days of maceration, then six months in stainless steel – without clarification, without filtration. Purism as a principle.

After two years of ageing in Slavonian oak barrels, San Rocco, which is partly vinified using the appassimento or Amarone method, invites you to enjoy its warm, sincere character and rich, dark fruity and expressive flavour. SUPERIORE.DE

Trentanni was first produced for Falesco's 30th anniversary and combines equal parts Merlot and Sangiovese from the high altitudes around Montecchio and Orvieto. The mild climate and chalky soils give the cuvée elegance and structure. Intense ruby red colour in the glass. Ripe plum, dark cherry and blackcurrant on the nose, accompanied by Mediterranean herbs and a hint of vanilla from the six months of ageing in barriques. Balanced and juicy on the palate, with a fine tannin structure, lively acidity and clear fruit. The finish is long, savoury and subtly mineral. A wine with character and harmony that convincingly combines tradition and modern drinking pleasure. SUPERIORE.DE

The highest parcels of the estate, between 200 and 275 metres, ochre-coloured limestone soils, reduced yields of just 5,000 kilos per hectare – this is where the Riserva is created. While the normal Pandolfo remains on the skins for 14 days, here it is 22 days. Then 18 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, followed by at least eight months of ageing in the bottle. Deep ruby red in colour with violet reflections, which will mature to garnet over the years. The nose is layered: dark berry fruits, stewed plums, tobacco and leather, with fine herbs and sweet spices on top. The palate is dense and full-bodied, with tannins that are present but never intrusive. The complexity unfolds over several levels, the final is long and reminiscent of everything the nose has promised. A Sangiovese that shows what Romagna can be if you give it time – and proves that Riserva level does not necessarily mean Riserva prices. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bronzone" is the powerful yet elegant Riserva from Tenuta Belguardo – a Morellino di Scansano that epitomises the modern class of the Maremma. The Sangiovese grapes, known here as Morellino, come from south-facing slopes on clay and limestone-rich soils near Grosseto. Old vines, low yields and consistent manual harvesting form the basis for this Riserva with a strong character. The 2021 vintage in the Maremma was characterised by a cool spring, followed by a warm, dry summer with cool nights, which produced perfectly ripe, aromatically concentrated berries. After temperature-controlled fermentation, the wine matured for around 14 months in French oak barriques and tonneaux before finding its harmony in the bottle.

Pian di Nova embodies a sophisticated blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Sangiovese, which combines the international vigour of the Syrah grape with the lively fruitiness of Tuscan Sangiovese. It represents a new generation of Tuscan red wines that harmoniously balance tradition and innovation. The hand-picked grapes come from organically cultivated vineyards at the foot of Monte Pratomagno, where loamy-sandy soils at an altitude of 200 metres offer optimal drainage. After cooling to 5°C at night, the grape varieties are vinified separately: two days of cold maceration, ten days of controlled fermentation at 25-28°C, followed by a further 20 days of skin maceration. Six months of ageing in Allier oak barriques, one month in steel tanks and a further six months of bottle ageing complete this elegant blend.

The Barbera vines for Sentieri are over 30 years old and grow at an altitude of around 300 metres on predominantly calcareous soils in the natural amphitheatre of Monleale. It is the complete opposite of an opulent, dense style. Sentieri has a wonderful Italian freshness and is 100% focussed on the primary fruit of the Barbera grape. It presents plenty of race and a personality that is elegantly restrained and very balanced. For us, this is Barbera in its purest form and here Walter Massa impressively proves that he is not only capable of top performance with the white Timorasso. And once again we are more than impressed by the excellent value of his wines. SUPERIORE.DE