Dino Illuminati

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

"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

"The 2021 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Campirosa keeps me at the edge of the glass with a slightly confectionary bouquet of sweet and sour melon, rose petals and candied lime. It’s silky-smooth and round with hints of sour citrus and stimulating acids to balance. Notes of licorice and hard red candies linger long, as the Campirosa finishes fresh and with a pleasant inner sweetness." Vinous

"Pleasant, floral nose with bright red cherries and hints of red flower petals. Medium-bodied with a nicely controlled balance of fruit, acidity and just a hint of tannin. A rosé with backbone." James Suckling

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

"Fresh nose of lemon and sherbet, following through to a medium-bodied palate with lots of energy, bright fruit and a stony texture at the end. I like the long, citrus and mineral finish. Super fresh." James Suckling

Straw yellow, finely and richly scented with ripe fruit and white flowers, memories of meadow herbs and citrus fruits. Slightly spicy taste, full-bodied and nicely persistent. Good balance between structure and softness. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, with yellow-fruit, pineapple and typical, savory character. Medium-bodied, tasty and focused palate. Turns stony on the finish with some candied pineapple in the aftertaste." 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

"Clean, mixed berries on the nose and palate. A well-poised, medium-bodied red with a good, fluid feel and some medium oak and fruit tannin adding structure. Slightly dry finish for now. Give it a year to meld all together and expand mid palate. Try 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

"Rich red and black berries with hints of sea shells, dried herbs and a touch of balsamic. Medium-to full-bodied with a relaxed palate, where the firm, fine and polished tannins bring out a drier aspect of the fruit. This needs another year to meld together better. Try from 2023." James Suckling

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

"Rich red and black berries with hints of sea shells, dried herbs and a touch of balsamic. Medium-to full-bodied with a relaxed palate, where the firm, fine and polished tannins bring out a drier aspect of the fruit. This needs another year to meld together better. Try from 2023." James Suckling