Dino Illuminati

Fresh cuvée of predominantly Trebbiano and thus typical for Abruzzo. Very harmonious and beautifully fruity in aroma and taste. SUPERIORE.DE

The rugged, red-tinged rocky landscape of Ripe in the immediate vicinity of the vineyards gave its name to the Riparosso. Its intense bouquet of delicately fresh character is beguiling, the velvety and mild taste absolutely seductive. SUPERIORE.DE

"One of the prettiest mixes of blackberries tinged with violet candies and spiced orange peels wafts up from the 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riparosso. It’s juicy and fun, yet also silky with medium weight textures; ripe red and hints of blueberry fruits wash across the palate. A staining of minerality lingers, along with a pleasant inner sweetness to balance, as nuances of lavender fade. While not the deepest Montepulciano, the value here is unprecedented. I would drink this any day of the week." Vinous

"Graham cracker and cocoa aromas meld with rich black cherry cordial on the nose, with tobacco and dewy herb accents grounding it all. It's pleasantly plump in feel, with pliant tannins and bright acidity framing the juicy cherry fruit and spicy accents."  Wine Enthusiast

"Ripe brambleberries and a tinge of coffee on the nose and palate. Medium–bodied with firm, coffee–chocolate tannins that give a lightly chewy finish. Nice flavors to this, but give it a little time for the tannins to mellow." James Suckling

Campirosa Cerasuolo only gradually unfolds its fresh strawberry and cherry notes adorned with sweet flowers. On the palate, silky-soft and very convincing with its ripe red fruits and juicy acids. Hints of liquorice, exotic spices and nuanced tannins emerge on the finish and seem to linger for almost a minute. Campirosa is a charming favourite wine young, but can also age for another year in the cellar. SUPERIORE.DE

"Wild strawberries and peppery roses waft up from the 2022 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Campirosa. This balances candies citrus against tart orchard fruits, all energized by zesty acidity. The 2022 cleans up quite well, leaving a subtle mineral tinge and licorice to fade slowly." Vinous

Passerina is a widespread autochthonous grape variety, especially in Abruzzo or Marche, which has awoken from its slumber in recent years. Pale yellow in colour, fresh citrus bouquet with exotic notes and equipped with a beautiful acid structure, it is an ever-reliable companion to Mediterranean cuisine and also a joyful pleasure on its own. SUPERIORE.DE

"Aromas of citrus fruit and fresh ferns. Medium body with a pleasant, silky texture that gives a smooth overall feel. Loses a bit of intensity towards the end, then it leaves you with a fresh, saline note." James Suckling

Deep red colour, fascinating complex aroma spectrum on the nose. Dominated by the ripe berry scent, with hints of plums and tobacco. Powerful and intense on the palate, rich in extract, with juicy soft tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

"A bouquet of menthol and crushed stones gives way to blackcurrants and a hint of rosemary, making the 2019 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Ilico a real head-turner. It is silky and smooth, contrasting spicy black fruits and minerals with a core of vibrant acidity. It finishes lightly textured with hints of sour citrus and plum that linger. The balance here is really lovely." Vinous

"The Illuminati 2019 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Ilico opens to medium dark consistency and a full load of dark fruit that extends from blackberry to dried prune. The wine shows an earthy quality with autumnal leaf and peat moss. It extends richly over the senses with soft tannins." Wine Advocate

"Clean, mixed berry fruit on the nose and palate. A well-balanced, medium-bodied red with a good fluid feel and some medium oak and fruit tannin adding structure. Slightly dry finish at the moment. Give it a year to meld and expand the mid palate. Try it from 2023." James Suckling

Deep dark ruby red. Full, deep and explosive bouquet reminiscent of dark berries, tobacco and liquorice. Illuminati's single-vineyard classic Zanna, with its elegant, very complex taste and delicate oak spice, leaves nothing to be desired every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Zanna, with its dark purple hue, slowly comes to life in the glass. A blend of blackberries and currants is complemented by nuances of mint, chalk dust and exotic spices. The palate is washed by mineral red berries and mentholated herbal notes that unfold towards the end. A layer of fine-grained tannins saturates the palate and gives it a youthful structure, supported by a touch of residual acidity that maintains balance. Give it another year of ageing for best effect." Vinous

"Rich red and black berries with notes of shellfish, dried herbs and a hint of balsamic. Medium to full body with a relaxed palate where the firm, fine and polished tannins bring out a drier aspect of the fruit. This wine needs another year to come together better. Try it from 2023." James Suckling

"This balanced, polished red wine displays rich aromas of red cherries dipped in alcohol with accents of menthol and tobacco. The palate is soft and supple, with a perky cherry flavour wrapped in dewy herbs and cigar box accents. Gentle tannins and bright acidity give this red wine a coherent texture." Wine Enthusiast

"The Illuminati 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane Riserva Zanna has a dark appearance and the bold concentration of a hot vintage, playing up its dense aromas of black fruits, spices and sweet earth. The bouquet is very generous, and this big-bodied approach gives this wine plenty of scope for grilled meat dishes." Wine Advocate

The intoxicating Lumen from Montepulciano and Cabernet Sauvignon combines a deep colour with a full bouquet and reminds of blackberries, raspberries and plums. A dense structure supports the soft, flattering taste with ripe fruit and well-integrated wood components. Solidly built, with sympathetic tannins and a long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Rosso Riserva Lumen is deeply alluring. A dark and rich display of crushed rocks give way to black cherries, plum sauce, brown spice and minty herbs. This is velvety and elegant, balanced by cool-toned black fruits and brisk acids, with balsamic and savory herbal tones resonating over a fine layer of grippy tannins. The 2015 Lumen is persistent, staining to the senses, yet also youthfully structured, tapering off dry with a mineral thrust. This impressive blend of 70% Montepulciano and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon needs some time to flesh out and integrate its oak, but it will be worth the wait." Vinous

True to the style of the house, the Riserva Pieluni has an excellent structure. Spicy, interwoven fruit aromas, underpinned by a fine hint of vanilla, intensify in the strikingly deep and long taste. The dense, pleasant tannin underlines the elegance of the top product of Illuminati from the Colline Teramane, probably Abruzzo's best denomination for Montepulciano. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Pieluni opens up with a seductive display of rich plums, crushed black cherries, mentholated herbs and Indian spice. This is silky and textural, soothing the palate with ripe black fruits, as a complex web of minerals and fine-grained tannins settle in. Blueberries, currants, mocha and hints of tobacco linger throughout the long and structured finale. The 2015 Pieluni is nicely balanced and classy, yet it needs another year or two of cellaring to show its best." Vinous

Deep dark ruby red. Full, deep bouquet reminiscent of dark berries. Its classic and elegant taste with a delicate oak spiciness leaves nothing to be desired. SUPERIORE.DE

"On the gentle hills of the Colline Terramane subzone in northern Abruzzo, the Illuminati family cultivates its vines: Inviting aromas of wild berries, tobacco and liquorice; balanced in the mouth, the tannins well integrated, finishes with a long fruity finish full of character. Goes well with game dishes." Vinum

"Aromas of crushed herbs and spiced cherry show a pleasing depth on the nose. Medium in weight, the palate brings juicy red cherry, tobacco and earth, with slightly sandy tannins rising up on the finish. Sourced from a single vineyard in the Colline Teramane DOCG, it shows very good vibrancy and concentration." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2015 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Zanna explodes from the glass with a seductive mix of crushed blackberries and Marasca cherries, infused with exotic brown spices, notes of rosemary and shaved cedar. Silky textures coat the palate, yet they are quickly contrasted by tart wild berry fruits and minerals as brisk acids tug at the cheeks. This The Zanna closes long and structured, clenching the senses in grippy tannin, while blue and purple-toned fruits and florals linger. The 2015 needs at least a few years of cellaring to help ease its tannic clout, at which point it should be a stellar rendition of Illuminati's Zanna." Vinous

Deep dark ruby red. Full, deep and explosive bouquet reminiscent of dark berries, tobacco and liquorice. Illuminati's single-vineyard classic Zanna, with its elegant, very complex taste and delicate oak spice, leaves nothing to be desired every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Zanna, with its dark purple hue, slowly comes to life in the glass. A blend of blackberries and currants is complemented by nuances of mint, chalk dust and exotic spices. The palate is washed by mineral red berries and mentholated herbal notes that unfold towards the end. A layer of fine-grained tannins saturates the palate and gives it a youthful structure, supported by a touch of residual acidity that maintains balance. Give it another year of ageing for best effect." Vinous

"Rich red and black berries with notes of shellfish, dried herbs and a hint of balsamic. Medium to full body with a relaxed palate where the firm, fine and polished tannins bring out a drier aspect of the fruit. This wine needs another year to come together better. Try it from 2023." James Suckling

"This balanced, polished red wine displays rich aromas of red cherries dipped in alcohol with accents of menthol and tobacco. The palate is soft and supple, with a perky cherry flavour wrapped in dewy herbs and cigar box accents. Gentle tannins and bright acidity give this red wine a coherent texture." Wine Enthusiast

"With a dark appearance and the bold concentration of a hot vintage, the Illuminati 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane Riserva Zanna plays up its dense flavors of black fruit, spice and sweet earth. The bouquet is very generous, and this large-scale approach gives this wine plenty of latitude for grilled meat dishes." Wine Advocate