Masciarelli

The Gianni Masciarelli line is intended to embody the typicality of the region, and so this Rosato is powerful and full-bodied, as you would expect from the grape variety and terroir. Intense cherry pink. Delicately fruity-spicy aroma, robust on the palate with plenty of structure. Finishes with a fine minerality and berry fruit, a fabulous rosé. SUPERIORE.DE

"Wildly fresh yet vividly fruity, the 2022 Rosato lifts with a perfumed blend of wild strawberries and citrus zest. It's soft and round with ripe wild berries energized by juicy acidity. Mineral underpinnings add a gentle grip. The 2022 finishes with medium length and is pleasantly chewy as lemon oil and inner rose tones fade." Vinous

Classic Trebbiano d'Abruzzo with fresh aromas of citrus and flowers. Young, agile and varietal in taste. Correctly vinified at an unbeatable price. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2022 Trebbiano d'Abruzzo offers tremendous value. Crushed yellow apples, raw almonds, lemon oil and stone dust form its beautiful bouquet. This is soothingly soft and round with a burst of saline minerality up front that gives way to lush orchard fruits. It finishes crisply refreshing and crunchy in feel, leaving hints of candied lime to linger. Nicely done." Vinous

Classic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, very straightforward and not too heavy. Small red berries and spices on the nose, harmonious and round and juicy on the palate. Great value. SUPERIORE.DE

The white cuvée Villa Gemma made of predominantly Trebbiano smells pleasantly of peach, mint and flowers. Structured and graceful, with a mineral note, flattering and long flowing fresh taste. Excellent value! SUPERIORE.DE

"Tangy and fleshy fruit with white apricots, chopped apples, fennel and lemons. Some white pepper character. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a vibrant, zesty and mineral finish." James Suckling

"The 2021 Bianco is lifted and spicy with sharply focused notes of green apple, spearmint and hints of menthol. This fills the palate with round textures, yet possesses a salty core of minerality that stimulates the senses, as lime zests and young pear evolve toward the close. It tapers off long yet fresh and full of tension, leaving the mouth watering for more. The Gemma Bianco does a wonderful job of combining power with refinement." Vinous

Castello di Semivicoli is a great Rosso from the Chieti area and Masciarelli's first red wine cuvée. The vines in the vineyards of the province of L'Aquila were planted by Gianni Masciarelli in 2003. Medium-bodied purple red. On the nose black berries and nice peppery notes with some tobacco, violets and vanilla. Powerful and silky on the palate, polished tannin and a wonderfully fruity finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"There's a lightly decadent, floral edge to the mixed berries on the nose that translates into bright berries, fresh herbs and minerals on the medium-bodied palate with lightly firm tannins and clean acidity that together spur it on." James Suckling

Pecorino Castello di Semivicoli presents itself in a radiant straw yellow. Aromas of fresh citrus fruits, apricot and melon are complemented by floral nuances and beautiful herbal-spicy tones. Clear and fruity on the palate, with good richness and lovely length. A prime example of the grape variety that has been almost forgotten for a long time. SUPERIORE.DE

Trebbiano Castello di Semivicoli, matured without the use of barrels, exudes an aromatic fragrance of ripe peach, mint and flowers, with mineral notes mixed in. Firm, rich, graceful and elegant on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, rich straw yellow. On the nose of rich yellow peach, ripe citrus, also on white flowers, and subtle touches of toasted hazelnut and wet stone. Great tension and gentle creaminess on the palate, shows nice play, comes back juicy, with nice length." Falstaff

"Super fresh and vibrant trebbiano here, offering lemony citrus fruit and gooseberries, together with a friendly mineral perfume. Medium-bodied with good mineral and acidity drive that add some length to the crisp finish." James Suckling

Powerful, concentrated Montepulciano with elegant wood notes and multi-layered fruit aromas, true to the terroir and modern. Impressive richness that offers further palate pleasures with every sip. Equally impressive is the long and complex finish. Every year one of the most emphatic Montepulciano of the region. SUPERIORE.DE

"Malty black plums, coffee and muscavado sugar. Masses of black pepper at the heart of the wine, which has the paradoxical effect of making it taste darker but also fresher; it gives it both sharpness and grace. Ruby fireflies glow in the tiny folds and corners of this dark and brooding wine, a touch of spice and energy. Dense tannins that feel like they were tailored from velvet and ink dust. Long and haunting. Very nice." Jancis Robinson

"On the nose, chocolate cherries, stewed plums, cedar and grilled rosemary. The palate is chewy and fleshy, with firm tannins and a medium to full body. Lots of bite and chewiness on a long finish. Try it from 2024." James Suckling

"Mentholated herbs lift depths of medicinal black cherry and clove as the 2019 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva San Martino Rosso makes itself known. This is a deep and powerful effort with masses of dark red fruits and exotic spices underscored by saline minerals as fine tannins mount toward the close. It finishes with tremendous length and structure, as a mix of clove, pine shavings and mint resonate. This powerful rendition of the Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Riserva from Marina Cvetic will require patience." Vinous

"Dark violet with a minimally lightening rim. Opens up on the nose with earthy notes, bitter chocolate, dried violet, blackberry, some malt, cherry in the finish, fine interplay. Great juice on the palate, stretches out crisp and compact, straightforward, the tannin is superbly integrated, comes back juicy on the final." Falstaff

Dark ruby, finely spicy bouquet, juicy cherry notes and delicate caramel. Elegant texture, with firm tannins and well structured. A round wine and ideal food companion. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby red. A nose of ripe cherries and ripe plums, plus a hint of blackberries and milk chocolate, reverberating on dried rose petal. Fleshy and juicy on the palate, showing creamy fruit core with great tension, reverberating with savoury tannin and fine pressure." Falstaff

"Sweet herbs mix with peppery florals and freshly crushed blackberries as the 2017 Merlot blossoms in the glass. This envelopes the palate with mineral-tinged red and blue fruits as zesty acidity keeps the expression amazingly fresh, yet decidedly savory. A staining of primary concentration lingers through the lightly structured finale, along with a salty flourish that keeps the mouth watering for more. Very nice." Vinous

Irresistible and complex Chardonnay, scented with tropical fruits and sweet spices. Opulent taste, in which a pleasant acidity builds up. Harmonious, luxurious Chardonnay from the barrique and one of the classics of Southern Italy. SUPERIORE.DE

The name Iskra comes from the Slavic language and means "spark". The name highlights the uniqueness of a pair of wines that are able to seduce from the very first glass. Both Iskra wines share a common characteristic: they have great personality and their grapes each come from a single vineyard. With grapes typical of central Italy - Malvasia and Montepulciano from two of Abruzzo's most popular terroirs, Colline Teramane and Colline Pescaresi - both wines stand for their clear identity and origin.

Iskra Bianco is a wine that reminds Marina Cvetic of her childhood in Croatia. It is the result of the Malvasia Istriana grape variety, which is not native to Abruzzo but is well acclimatised and whose first rows of vines were planted in 2010 at the Loreto Aprutino winery. This intense white wine, fresh and balanced, enraptures the palate with an exquisite balance between floral and hydrocarbon notes. Ideal companion for Asian or transalpine raw foods such as raw fish, sushi and Normandy oysters. SUPERIORE.DE

"A relatively easygoing malvasia with some refinement to the grilled pineapple and mineral aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with some phenolic presence that turns the wine crisp and minerally." James Suckling

Marina Cvetics Trebbiano Riserva - dream and cult for lovers of full-bodied and complex white wines. In bouquet and taste, aromas of Golden Delicious, nougat, almond, honey, coconut and vanilla spread out. Gently, the balsamic-like texture conquers the palate and ends, flanked by fresh, lemony notes in a long finish on crème caramel. SUPERIORE.DE

"This has aromas of pineapples, smoked almonds, lemon pie and praline. Touch of white chocolate. Creamy, medium- to full-bodied and layered, with plenty of texture and depth and a long, nutty finish." James Suckling

The name Iskra comes from the Slavic language and means "spark". The name highlights the uniqueness of a pair of wines that are able to seduce from the very first glass. Both Iskra wines share a common characteristic: they have great personality and their grapes each come from a single vineyard. With grapes typical of central Italy - Malvasia and Montepulciano from two of Abruzzo's most popular terroirs, Colline Teramane and Colline Pescaresi - both wines stand for their clear identity and origin.

The grapes for Iskra Rosso come from a vineyard in Controguerra in the province of Teramo. It presents one of the most famous terroirs of Abruzzo with its velvety softness and intense aromas of ripe red fruits. It matures first in French oak barriques and then for a long time in the bottle. Complex and full-bodied with lively notes of blackberries, plums, blueberries and berries. Perfect with roasts, stews or rich and spicy dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark and brooding, the 2019 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Iskra slowly evolves. Clove and mocha hints further complicate the dried black cherry and sage aromas. It's elegant and refined with polished red and blue fruits carried across a mineral core as sweet wood spice sensations form toward the close. The 2019 is structured with fine-grained tannins that saturate as cocoa and balsamic spice slowly taper off. This strapping Iskra is built for the cellar." Vinous

Seductive bouquet of exotic sweet spices, pickled cherries and minty herbs. Juicy and deep on the palate, with an abundance of ripe red fruits stimulated by a lively acidity, while rosy tones build inside over a layer of fine but sweet tannins. In the long and lightly structured final, bitter notes mix with sour citrus fruits, which in combination with the fine extract sweetness creates all kinds of tension. Very energetic and complex. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark violet with minimal lightening rim. Medium expression on the nose, on roasted malt, walnuts, plus chocolate powder, reverberating on Amarena cherry and pickled plums. Nice creaminess and compact tannin on the palate, spans a wide arc, savoury in attack and progression, rich finish with minimal aftertaste." Falstaff

"The 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva is a dark beauty with balsam herbs giving way to spiced cookie, hints of cinnamon and citrus-kissed black cherries. It’s incredibly elegant in character with silken waves of ripe red and black fruits complemented by sweet spice. This saturates the palate with sweet tannins that create a structured feel, yet fail to slow the 2017’s momentum throughout the long and dramatic finale. There’s so much balance and intensity here, making the 2017 a sure bet for the cellar." Vinous