Umbria

Tradition, innovation and typicity are the key words of the daily efforts at the Arnaldo Caprai winery. And so this white wine from the old, local variety Grechetto is traditional, straightforward and pleasantly palatable - and anything but banal. SUPERIORE.DE

Caprais Montefalco Rosso is an attractive red from predominantly Sangiovese with small portions of Sagrantino and Merlot. In the fragrance unmistakable black cherries and violets, power and freshness on the palate, firm structure, elegant finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep purple-red colour, in the bouquet nuances of juniper berries, tar, smoke and liquorice. The Montefalco Rosso Riserva offers great juiciness and brings an attractive combination of elegance and structure, richness in aromas and polished tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2016 Arnaldo Caprai Montefalco Rosso Riserva blends 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Merlot to create a powerful but deeply alluring expression, showing crushed blackberry and cherry offset by spiced orange, with sweet and savory herbs, crushed stone and hints of animal musk. On the palate, soft textures envelop the senses, contrasted by tart red fruits, grippy minerality and fine tannins, yet for all of the youthful tension, there’s a cooling, subtle sweetness here that provides balance. The finish is long and structured, resonating on sweet herbs, with hints of mocha and tobacco. It’s not a shy wine, yet if you enjoy the style, a few years of cellaring will unlock even further depth." Vinous

"Here’s a very floral and "postmodern” Montefalco that shows dried violets, lavender, bay leaf, pine cones and some dried meat. It’s still warm and hearty on the full-bodied palate, but bolstered by carefully wrought tannins and direct acidity. Drink from 2021." James Suckling

Aroma of dried black berries with nutty tones, tar, tobacco, candy, dark caramel and light wood note. Powerful in the mouth, ripe, again partly dried fruit with a little cocoa spicy wood flavors, slightly compote on the palate, dense and persistent, warming alcohol, present, predominantly crumbly tannin, some tar, behind tobacco and herbs. Wonderful, partly salty finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich, dark ruby with a light garnet rim. Lots of dark fruit of blackberry and ripe plum, plus spicy rosemary. Lots of tight tannin on the palate, opens up in many layers, not a palate pleaser either, but doesn't dry, dark chocolate on the final." Falstaff

Caprais Montefalco Rosso is an attractive red from predominantly Sangiovese with small portions of Sagrantino and Merlot. In the fragrance unmistakable black cherries and violets, power and freshness on the palate, firm structure, elegant finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Fine Spätlese: Complex fragrance and silky taste with aromas of sweet, juicy peaches, ripe pears, jasmine and honey. Muffato della Sala is one of the most delicious sweet wines to be drunk fresh in Italy. SUPERIORE.DE

"That was a cool and wet vintage, and although the Botrytis cinerea set in easily enough, the 2014 vintage is noticeably thinner and weaker in terms of intensity. The 2013 Muffato della Sala (packaged in a 500-milliliter bottle) takes that intensity way up, thanks to the normal, or classic, weather seen in this growing season. The bouquet delivers honey, acacia flower and touches of caramel. The wine's texture is rich and beautifully enhanced by dried apricot and quince." Robert Parker

Black red and almost impenetrable in the glass. In the bouquet blackberry, black cherry, some rum pot and tobacco. Generous and ripe on the palate, flanked by firm tannin, which is pleasantly flanked by the fleshy core. Marco Caprai has once again succeeded in taming the Sagrantino grape and helping it to reach its highest dignity - a grape variety that demands a great deal of sensitivity every year, even from the "primitive" Montecalco. SUPERIORE.DE

"Aromas of blueberry brandy, underbrush, dark spice and eucalyptus take shape in the glass. On the tightly knit, brawny palate, assertive, close-grained tannins support dried black cherry, licorice and clove alongside the heat of evident alcohol." Wine Enthusiast

"The plush elderberries and hints of peperoncino and balsamic work rather well with the dried cedar and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and nicely indented in furrows of chewy tannins revealing dark fruit and detailed acidity." James Suckling

"Though tightly knit and well-defined by sculpted tannins, this fresh red shows overall elegance, featuring a lovely, fragrant range of plumped cherry and strawberry fruit, with star anise, graphite and cardamom notes, ashy smoke accents and hints of dried mint and marjoram. Creamy finish." Wine Spectator

"Black fruit, spice, tar and cured tobacco open the bouquet of the 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino Valdimaggio. You also get slightly more mature aromas of rum cake or cherry liqueur from this warm and sunny vintage. This is a complete and generous wine that shows tight tannins at the back. Despite that evident muscle and brawn, the tannins are carefully managed so that they don't taste bitter or astringent. In fact, quite the opposite." Robert Parker

If one has the chance to ever get a Sagrantino Passito from Montefalco in a glass, then the time practically stops! Sensual bouquet of blueberries, liquorice and undergrowth. Firm and racy on the palate, with nice acidity, juice and power. Very melty and not at all sticky, it inspires with an irresistible taste of wild berry confit, dark berries and a fine tart nougat note. World class! SUPERIORE.DE

In the Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni, all the elements of a drop full of character multiply exponentially: room-filling aromas of sweet berries, perfectly integrated wood tones, on the palate a cornucopia of ripe fruit, powerful and sensual. Caprais is a top plant, which gives incredible pleasure and must be aired for 3-4 hours when young. SUPERIORE.DE

"Aromas of baked plum, purple flowers, exotic spices and French oak form the nose on this full-bodied red. The firmly structured palate shows focus and finesse, delivering ripe black cherry, spiced blueberry, licorice and tobacco alongside tightly knit, fine-grained tannins that leave a rather drying finish. Give it time to fully develop. Drink 2023–2035." Wine Enthusiast

"Although this is ripe and decadent, it’s also very polished and inviting. Dried plums, tar, menthol, licorice and caramelized oranges and cedar are all in play. The tannins are enormous, but they’re covered in dark-chocolate notes and enhanced by vibrant dark fruit. Full-bodied and long on the luxurious finish." James Suckling

"This is a baritone beauty. The 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni is a darkly extracted and thick expression with inky-black fruit aromas that are followed by finer accents of licorice, smoke and tar. The bouquet is deep and complex. There is dark spice here as well, but those spicy tones are mixed with balsam herb, barbecue smoke and teriyaki. The wine is full-bodied and layered, with rich textural fiber. This vintage will award those who wait." Robert Parker

For many years Castello della Sala has been producing one of the most famous white wines in Italy, the Cervaro. In recent years, it has become fresher and deeper, without the conservative, broad style that older late-harvest editions of this wine have been characterised by. In the bouquet apple compote, cream, notes of oak bark and peach. The palate is full of tropical fruits with a fine acid vein and precise mineral components. A long-lasting, beautiful white wine and every year, rightly one of the most sought-after white crescents in the wine world. SUPERIORE.DE

"Clear, bright straw yellow. In the nose of flintstone, delicate fumé, elegant wood insert, ripe pear, quince, banana, in the aftertaste of mango. On the palate elegant and with a compact body, spreads a wide fan, mineral undertone, light fruit, with pressure and salt, keeps growing." Falstaff

"The 2018 Cervaro della Sala is a blend of 92% Chardonnay with a splash of Grechetto, showing a rich and alluring bouquet, leading off with a hint of vanilla bean and giving way to peach, a dusting of confectioner’s spice and dried yellow flowers. On the palate, silky textures flesh out across the senses, carrying flavors of ripe apple, apricot and sweet herbs, as minerals and acids mingle toward the close. The finish is long and almost salty, buzzing with energy and making the mouth water for another sip. The balance here is impeccable, as is the use of barrel fermentation to create such textural richness." Vinous

"Compared to the 2017 vintage that shows a more accessible and full-bodied style, the 2018 Cervaro della Sala is a classic edition—it's about as classic as I have ever tasted this landmark white from Umbria to be. This cooler vintage prizes finesse and elegance, and those traits are matched by efforts in the winery to accomplish that same goal. On many levels, the 2018 vintage opens a new chapter for Cervaro della Sala, with a stronger emphasis on preserved lemon, crisp pear and crushed mineral. The wine offers beautiful freshness and linearity. I must also mention that this vintage is released while the fruit is still a bit closed or shy. That slightly reductive approach bodes very well for the wine's future evolution." Robert Parker

"Focused and complex on the nose with stone, sliced cooked apple and hints of toffee. Full-bodied, with a density and freshness and liveliness. Vivid and energetic. All about class here." James Suckling

Aroma of dried black berries with nutty tones, tar, tobacco, candy, dark caramel and light wood note. Powerful in the mouth, ripe, again partly dried fruit with a little cocoa spicy wood flavors, slightly compote on the palate, dense and persistent, warming alcohol, present, predominantly crumbly tannin, some tar, behind tobacco and herbs. Wonderful, partly salty finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich, dark ruby with a light garnet rim. Lots of dark fruit of blackberry and ripe plum, plus spicy rosemary. Lots of tight tannin on the palate, opens up in many layers, not a palate pleaser either, but doesn't dry, dark chocolate on the final." Falstaff

Marco Caprai is once again setting benchmarks in his region with this vintage. The 2014 edition of his top wine is a darkly saturated and almost viscous wine in an opulent and generous style. The wine smells of dark fruit, tobacco and smoky barbecue. However, the real protagonist is the almost Christmassy, warm spice. In the finish it shows a firm structure and the astringency typical of the Sagrantino, which will give way to an impressive elegance and depth as it ages further in the cellar. SUPERIORE.DE

"A rich and flavorful red with ripe fruit, as well as meat and wood undertones. Medium to full body. Polished and chewy tannins. Slightly austere. Flavorful finish." James Suckling

"The 2014 Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni is a steady and rich wine that shows dark primary fruit that is followed by a long succession of spice, smoke and tar-like aromas. You get the full Sagrantino package here, with ample muscle power and brawn. However, the wine's overall length and persistence is somewhat clipped in this challenging vintage." Robert Parker