Basilicata

The lily in the name is no coincidence: Flordelis – fleur-de-lis – refers to the coat of arms of the Hohenstaufen family, to whom the winery owes its name. The Rosato comes from a six-hectare vineyard in Maschito at an altitude of 550 metres and shows the modern side of Aglianico. After brief contact with the skins, the noblest must is drawn off by saignée as soon as the typical coral colour is reached. This is followed by cold decanting like a white wine and fermentation at low temperatures with selected yeasts.

A wine of contrasts: Müller-Thurgau (70%) and Gewürztraminer (30%) – typically Nordic grape varieties – find a surprisingly ideal terroir on the slopes of the extinct volcano Monte Vulture. Founded in 1998, the Terre degli Svevi winery near Venosa, named after the Hohenstaufen dynasty and their king Manfred, utilises the volcanic soils and the strong day-night fluctuations to fully exploit the aromatic properties of these varieties. The grapes are harvested by hand at the beginning of September, left briefly on the skins and fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel. Two months of ageing on the lees round off the wine.

"Il Preliminare" - "The Preliminary Remarks". The names of Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti's wines are reminiscent of his father's world as a notary.

The name reveals the secret: in Taglio del Tralcio, the shoot is cut just before the harvest so that the grapes wilt slightly on the vine – a technique reminiscent of Amarone, but used more carefully here. The Aglianico vines grow at an altitude of around 500 metres on volcanic soils at the foot of Monte Vulture. Controlled dehydration concentrates sugar and flavours without sacrificing freshness. After fermentation, the wine matures for six months in oak wood.

Verha Rosso is a single-varietal Aglianico produced by Elena Fucci in a seductively fresh style. In the glass, it presents an abundance of ripe raspberries and blueberries, accompanied by minty herbs and a hint of smoke. On the inside, it is juicy and perfumed, with energising notes of mandarin orange balancing the wild berry fruit. A delicately bitter citrus flavour and a salty note make every sip an unforgettable experience. This must be THE wine for every day, and that's exactly what Elena meant, a thousand thanks for that! SUPERIORE.DE

"L'Atto" - "The deed". The names of Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti's wines are reminiscent of his father's world as a notary.

Re Manfredi is a masterpiece made from the indigenous Aglianico grape variety. Its label is emblazoned with the coat of arms of the ruling house of Emperor Frederick the Hohenstaufen, who was at home here. Deep ruby red in colour, fragrant, intense and multi-layered bouquet, rich fruit, robust structure, fine tannins and clean, pleasant bitter tones in harmony, very dense, elegant, spicy and complex with a subtle woody note. A wonderful, characteristic red! SUPERIORE.DE

"Il Repertorio" - "The Register". The names of Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti's wines are reminiscent of his father's world as a notary.

Dark and initially a little brooding, Sceg shimmers from the glass with a rich and earthy blend of plum sauce, brown spices and crushed autumn leaves. The wine is silky smooth and balanced by vibrant acidity, while a contrasting wave of black fruit with citrus flavours washes over the senses. Smoky nuances and hints of ash resonate. Nevertheless, it finishes remarkably fresh, leaving a subtle hint of mineral tannins that remind the Basilicata connoisseur that this is a young Aglianico in its purest form. The grapes for Sceg come from several small plots with old vines in Barile. SUPERIORE.DE

The rare Titolo Rosato is not only a feast for the eyes, but also makes a first-class impression with its fresh and spicy bouquet of mandarins, cherries, sage and sweet smoke. On the palate, this freshness is again combined with a taut yet silky texture, followed by tart, lemony notes and a lovely saltiness that provide plenty of excitement and drinking flow. This rosato is anything but banal and ends in an exciting finish with green apple and exotic spices. Put it away for a year, because it is an Aglianico. Very well done! SUPERIORE.DE

The Serpara is elegant, intense and long-lasting every year. Its grapes come from a single vineyard and the wine matures in a combination of new and used French Allier oak barrels. In the glass, it exudes aromas of blackberries, tobacco, sage, thyme and a hint of smoked meat. It has a soft, almost creamy texture and juicy acids that keep the balance, while ripe black fruits and minerals move effortlessly across the palate. The bold tannins make their presence felt on the final, but are more of an accent that frames the experience well, while hints of dark chocolate and balsamic spices slowly fade away. SUPERIORE.DE

"La Stipula" - "The Conclusion of the Contract". Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti's wines recall his father's notarial world with their names.

"La Procura" - "The Public Prosecutor's Office". The names of Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti's wines are reminiscent of his father's world as a notary.

Elena Fucci's exceptional Titolo wine is built for the long haul. It will continue its steady development for at least the next 20 years, which is why it is particularly enjoyable when aged in magnum format. Dark ruby red in colour, the bouquet has aromas of ripe red fruit and a fine woody spice. The wine is assembled with enormous precision, offering a balanced intensity and a beautiful degree of fruit purity that speaks both in favour of the Aglianico grape and the extreme region that produces it. Titolo impresses with its fine texture and elegantly integrated tannins. This is the kind of masterful Aglianico performance we love. SUPERIORE.DE

"La Firma" - "The signature". The names of Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti's wines are reminiscent of his father's world as a notary. La Firma is a single-varietal Aglianico that matures in natural caves made of volcanic tuff, carats and French oak barrels. Beautiful ruby red colour with bright violet reflections. Complex bouquet with aromas of small black berries, liquorice and hay. Powerful and very harmonious on the palate, characterised by velvety tannins and a long, balsamic finish. Great ageing potential! SUPERIORE.DE

"Il Sigillo" - "The Seal". Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti's wines recall his father's notarial world with their names.

This genuine Aglianico speciality from 70-year-old vines is aged in terracotta amphorae for 18 months, giving it greater juiciness, freshness and depth. Intense ruby red in colour with garnet hues. Spicy hints of pepper and fruit jam, blackcurrant and tobacco on the cautiously reductive nose. Great structure, complexity and a certain originality on the palate, which, together with a fine minerality, makes it an exceptionally drinkyred. SUPERIORE.DE

Titolo Superiore is a selection that is refined for 12 months in tonneaux, followed by 12 months in used barrels and finally 12 months in the bottle. It has a dark, musky style and reveals an earthy bouquet intermingled with grilled herbs and blackcurrants. It flows across the palate like pure silk, gaining further tension as the mineral fruits of the forest slowly come to the fore. Firm and well-proportioned tannins glide into the finish, which is structured, long and almost salty. Citrus fruits and residual acids provide a refined freshness. Wonderful! SUPERIORE.DE

This strictly limited Riserva is only bottled in the best years. The bouquet is perfect and profound with aromas of dried fruit, blackberries, white smoke and crushed rock. Wonderfully structured on the palate with exact proportions and an almost weightless elegance that makes it one of the best red wines in southern Italy. Still youthfully intense, it still has plenty of time ahead of it. SUPERIORE.DE

Elena Fucci's exceptional Titolo wine is already built for the long haul in its "basic version". It will continue its steady development for at least the next 20 years, which is why it is particularly enjoyable when aged in magnum format. Dark ruby red in colour, the bouquet has aromas of ripe red fruit and a fine woody spice. The wine is assembled with enormous precision, offering a balanced intensity and a beautiful degree of fruit purity that speaks both in favour of the Aglianico grape and the extreme region that produces it. Titolo impresses with its fine texture and elegantly integrated tannins. This is the kind of masterful Aglianico performance we love. SUPERIORE.DE

The Serpara is elegant, intense and long-lasting every year. Its grapes come from a single vineyard and the wine matures in a combination of new and used French Allier oak barrels. In the glass, it exudes aromas of blackberries, tobacco, sage, thyme and a hint of smoked meat. It has a soft, almost creamy texture and juicy acids that keep the balance, while ripe black fruits and minerals move effortlessly across the palate. The bold tannins make their presence felt on the final, but are more of an accent that frames the experience well, while hints of dark chocolate and balsamic spices slowly fade away. SUPERIORE.DE