Umbria

Tradition, innovation and typicity are the keywords 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 drinkable - and anything but banal. SUPERIORE.DE

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

"Sparkling ruby red with a dark core. On the nose ripe blackberries, blackcurrants and blueberries as well as slightly earthy notes. Well-integrated acidity on the palate, powerful with gripping tannins and lingering drinkability." Falstaff

"Pretty violets, roses, wild berries and hints of wet stone waft up from the 2020 Montefalco Rosso. This is juicy and playful, with balanced acids enlivening its crunchy red berry fruits, which leaves a slight mineral twang toward the close. The 2020 finishes fresh and perfumed with a spicy flourish. The Rosso Montefalco is a fun and vibrant blend." Vinous

"Aromas of grilled meat, baked plum and cooking spice. Full-bodied with dense tannins. Savory and layered with notes of coffee, iodine, clove and paprika." James Suckling

"Sweet herbs, dusty black cherries and a hint of smoke make the 2020 Montefalco Rosso Vigna Flaminia a real pleasure on the nose. It feels silky and elegant, with red and blue fruits carried by a saline acidity and balsamic herbs that build towards the finish. A slightly bitter aftertaste lingers, while the mouth remains watery and the blackcurrant notes slowly fade." Vinous

"Aromas of grilled plums, figs and roasted herbs. Full-bodied with grainy tannins. Woody spice on the palate is supported by well ripened red and black fruits. Dense." James Suckling

From Castello della Sala, located not far from Orvieto at an altitude of 500m, come without exception excellent wines, as already proven by the inexpensive "entry-level wine" San Giovanni della Sala. The wine is produced on the vineyards of the ancient castle of Castello della Sala from the combination of the autochthonous grape varieties Grechetto and Procanico with Pinot Bianco and Viognier and interprets the Orvieto Classico in a new style. Its freshness, richness and balance are remarkable, with notes of yellow flowers, green apple, sage and ginger. Then on the palate, a tremendously silky texture and juicy acidity that lead this juicy white into a beautiful, mineral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Rich, beautifully balanced bouquet with notes of kumquats. On the palate, yellow stone fruit, graphite, minerals and a delicate vanilla note. This fresh and immensely charming white is already elegant, balanced, full-bodied and persistent on the palate; further bottle ageing will round it off completely. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep violet-red colour, on the nose nuances of juniper berries, tar, smoke and liquorice. The Montefalco Rosso Riserva offers plenty of juiciness and brings an attractive combination of elegance and structure, richness in the aromas and polished tannin. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark ruby violet. Black pepper, curry, pickled cherries and very ripe plums on the nose, blackberry jam on the finish. Grip and power on the palate, showing dark fruit and rich, tight tannin, currently still a baby but will come together nicely, put away and enjoy fully in a few years." Falstaff

"Aromas of dried sage, coriander and dried plums. Full-bodied with firm tannins. Spicy. Extended and dense, with layers of fruits and spices. Very good intensity and depth. Needs more time to develop." James Suckling

"The 2019 Montefalco Rosso Riserva shows us how much depth and complexity can also be achieved with this combination of local varieties. The wine is intense and especially concentrated thanks to ripe fruit and careful oak aging. You feel the force of Sagrantino's tannic imprint, but that power is well managed and contained. With dark and chewy fruit, this is a wine you sink your teeth into." Wine Advocate

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

Fine late harvest from the house of Antinori: Complex fragrance and silky taste with aromas of sweet, juicy peaches, ripe pears, jasmine, caramel and honey. Muffato della Sala is one of Italy's most famous and delicious sweet wines. SUPERIORE.DE

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

"Sparkling, dark ruby. Appealing nose with notes of sour cherry and blackberry, very clear. Lots of juicy fruit on the attack, opens with grippy, well-integrated tannins, salty and with good drinking flow." Falstaff

"Here I'm finding ripe black cherries laced with peppery herbs, as notes of sweet white smoke and purple flowers evolve in the glass. On the palate, silky textures coast across a core of juicy acids, delivering ripe red and blue fruits, and hints of fine tannin slowly collect upon the senses. The finish is long and youthfully structured, resonating on a mix of wild berries and sweet spice. The 2018 Montefalco Rosso from Arnaldo Caprai is cool-toned and really quite pretty, while keeping its fruit front and center. Very nice." Vinous

"Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, bay leaves and baking spices. It's medium-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and a chalky texture. Flavorful, savory finish." James Suckling

Black red and almost impenetrable in the glass. On the nose blackberry, black cherry, some rum pot and tobacco. Generous and ripe on the palate, flanked by taut tannin, which is pleasantly flanked by the fleshy core. Once again, Marco Caprai has succeeded in taming the Sagrantino grape and helping it to the highest dignities - a grape variety that demands a great deal of tact every year even from the "bedrock" from Montefalco. SUPERIORE.DE

"Impenetrable, deep ruby. Deep, sweet, intense and with savoury hints. Quite a big nose, but more composed on the palate. Suave, supple, but not exactly short of fruit. Long, finely ground tannins." Jancis Robinson

If you ever have the chance to taste a Sagrantino Passito from Montefalco, time stands still! Sensual bouquet of blueberries, liquorice and undergrowth. Firm and racy on the palate, with beautiful acidity, juice and power. Very melting and not a bit sticky, it delights with an irresistible taste of wild berry confit, dark berries and a subtle hint of nougat. World class! SUPERIORE.DE

In Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni, all the elements of a wine full of character multiply exponentially: space-filling aromas of sweet berries, perfectly integrated wood tones, on the palate a cornucopia of ripe fruit, powerful and sensual. Caprai's top growth, which gives incredible pleasure and must definitely be aerated for 3-4 hours when young. SUPERIORE.DE

"24 months in barrique for the 'definitive' Sagrantino, the culmination of years of research: sour cherry, balsamic notes and star anise, with hints of wild iris, the palate is dense, juicy, spicy, with notes of undergrowth, black fruits and sweet spices." Luca Gardini

"Rich ruby red with garnet rim. Intense and complex nose with notes of ripe blackberries and Amarena cherries, reverberating with hints of violets, dark chocolate and malt, slightly ethereal. On the palate with powerful but well integrated tannin, builds up multilayered, with a very long final." Falstaff

For many years, Castello della Sala has been delivering one of Italy's most famous white wines, the Cervaro. In recent years, it has become fresher and at the same time deeper, without the conservative, broad style that still characterised older late harvest editions of this wine. On the nose, apple compote, cream, notes of oak bark, mango and peach. On the palate, full of tropical fruits with a fine vein of acidity and precise mineral components. A long-lasting, beautiful white and every year rightly one of the most sought-after white wines in the wine world. SUPERIORE.DE

"This wine consists mainly of Chardonnay and about 7% Grechetto. The proportion of Grechetto has decreased somewhat in recent vintages. Given these changes to the winemaking formula, the 2021 Cervaro della Sala promises an exceptionally crisp and straightforward presentation with salty mineral tones, plenty of stone fruit and tart apple. No malolactic fermentation or oak is used for the Umbrian grape, which always gives the wine a touch of rusticity and Umbrian authenticity." Wine Advocate

"It is attractive and fresh with notes of glazed lemons and apples as well as young hazelnuts, spicy herbs and custard. Some spices too. Full-bodied and complex with consistent acidity giving shape to every detail of the fruit. Some attractive spicy nuances before a mineral finish. A complex but very approachable wine that is already nice to drink but can last a long time." James Suckling

"A perfectly proportioned blend of Chardonnay and Grechetto aged for 5 months in barrique. Cedar, white peach and hints of thyme on the nose, closing with touches of white pepper, crisp-dense mouthfeel with savouriness and persistence, closing with a fruity aftertaste." Luca Gardini

Aroma of dried black berries with nutty tones, tar, tobacco, candy, dark caramel and light woody notes. Powerful in the mouth, ripe, again partly dried fruit with a little cocoa spicy wood aromas, slightly compote on the palate, dense and persistent, warming alcohol, present, predominantly crumbly tannin, some tar, tobacco and herbs behind. 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 taut tannin on the palate, opens up in many layers, not a palate pleaser either, but doesn't dry, dark chocolate on the final." Falstaff

"Darkly alluring notes of plum and cherry sauce give way to balsamic spices and hints of mocha as the 2016 Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano blossoms in the glass. This is a deeply textural yet youthfully dense and poised expression, a wave of ripe black fruits, encased in a web of minerals, coasting along a core of brisk acids. Cooling hints of mint add lift through the massively structured finale, where sweet tobacco, baker’s chocolate and currants linger incredibly long. This is a towering yet sleek vintage of Collepiano that will enjoy a long life, though it will require a number of years to come fully into focus." Vinous

"A fresh and elegant red, showing aromas and flavors of cut hay, strawberry, cherry, iron, eucalyptus and tar. Lithe and intense, with a long, savory aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"With a dark, full-bodied color and ripe aromas of blackberry preserves and dark marmalade, the 2016 Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano packs a powerful punch at 15.5% alcohol. There are dustings of baking spice or bitter chocolate. Here is a full, big-bodied and brooding Sargrantino." Wine Advocate

Marco Caprai once again sets 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 fruits, tobacco and smoky barbecue. The real protagonist, however, is the almost Christmas-like warm spiciness. The finish shows a firm structure and the astringency typical of Sagrantino, which will give way to impressive elegance and depth with further ageing 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." Wine Advocate

In Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni, all the elements of a wine full of character multiply exponentially: space-filling aromas of sweet berries, perfectly integrated wood tones, on the palate a cornucopia of ripe fruit, powerful and sensual. Caprai's top growth, which gives incredible pleasure and must definitely be aerated for 3-4 hours when young. SUPERIORE.DE

"24 months in barrique for the 'definitive' Sagrantino, the culmination of years of research: sour cherry, balsamic notes and star anise, with hints of wild iris, the palate is dense, juicy, spicy, with notes of undergrowth, black fruits and sweet spices." Luca Gardini

"Rich ruby red with garnet rim. Intense and complex nose with notes of ripe blackberries and Amarena cherries, reverberating with hints of violets, dark chocolate and malt, slightly ethereal. On the palate with powerful but well integrated tannin, builds up multilayered, with a very long final." Falstaff

For many years, Castello della Sala has been delivering one of Italy's most famous white wines, the Cervaro. In recent years, it has become fresher and at the same time deeper, without the conservative, broad style that still characterised older late harvest editions of this wine. On the nose, apple compote, cream, notes of oak bark, mango and peach. On the palate, full of tropical fruits with a fine vein of acidity and precise mineral components. A long-lasting, beautiful white and every year rightly one of the most sought-after white wines in the wine world. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, light straw yellow with slight green notes. Initially quite playful on the nose, banana, peach and mango, then becomes increasingly complex, some flint and anise. Juicy on the palate, shows beautiful yellow fruit notes, racy, well-integrated acidity, gives liveliness, discreet smoky notes in the final, salty, still seems very young." Falstaff

"Nosing the 2020 Cervaro della Sala is like waking into a French bakery in the early morning, with notes of lemon oil, butter cream, crusty bread, fresh dough and vanilla bean contrasted by a whiff of crushed oyster shell, which may not be on the menu, but still works perfectly here. This glides effortlessly across the palate with the silkiest of textures, steadily gaining in tension, as mineral–drenched orchard fruits give way to sour melon and, finally, pretty inner florals. The 2020 lingers impossibly long and lightly structured, displaying notes of candied citrus enriched by almond custard. I'd love to toss this blend of 92% Chardonnay and 8% Grechetto into a blind tasting of white Burgundy. Beautifully done." Vinous

"Complex nose of toast, charred pineapple, green papaya, kaffir lime and lemon. Crushed stones and white pepper, too. Full–bodied with vibrant acidity. Textured. Long and layered. Delicious and concentrated." James Suckling

In Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni, all the elements of a wine full of character multiply exponentially: space-filling aromas of sweet berries, perfectly integrated wood tones, on the palate a cornucopia of ripe fruit, powerful and sensual. Caprai's top growth, which gives incredible pleasure and must definitely be aerated for 3-4 hours when young. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark ruby violet with a black core. The nose is open-hearted and inviting, of chocolate powder, malt, vanilla, then of rich blackberries as well as Amarena cherries, with a delicate aftertaste of butter biscuits and dried violets. The palate is rich and radiant, showing dark and ripe fruit wrapped in rich and tightly woven tannin, building in many layers, final very long." Falstaff

"Aromas of black walnut, blackberry and licorice, following through to a full body with chewy tannins and lots of dark, inky fruit. Some walnut and coffee-bean undertones. Needs two or three years to soften." James Suckling

"An exotic and smoky mix of dusty dried flowers, allspice, sage and dried black cherries emerges from the hauntingly dark 2018 Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni. This is densely textural and weighty in feel, yet the balance is on point, as brisk acids maintain momentum, and a saturation of ripe red and black fruits permeate the palate. Balsam, mint, tobacco, dark chocolate and licorice can all be found through the long and utterly dramatic finale, as the 25 Anni finishes structured, yet more approachable than I’ve come to expect. Arnaldo Caprai did a great job in creating a highly successful wine in 2018; however, don’t expect it to take the usual ten years (or more) that this bottling usually does to come around." Vinous

For many years, Castello della Sala has been delivering one of Italy's most famous white wines, the Cervaro. In recent years, it has become fresher and at the same time deeper, without the conservative, broad style that still characterised older late harvest editions of this wine. On the nose, apple compote, cream, notes of oak bark, mango and peach. On the palate, full of tropical fruits with a fine vein of acidity and precise mineral components. A long-lasting, beautiful white and every year rightly one of the most sought-after white wines in the wine world. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, light straw yellow with slight green notes. Initially quite playful on the nose, banana, peach and mango, then becomes increasingly complex, some flint and anise. Juicy on the palate, shows beautiful yellow fruit notes, racy, well-integrated acidity, gives liveliness, discreet smoky notes in the final, salty, still seems very young." Falstaff

"Nosing the 2020 Cervaro della Sala is like waking into a French bakery in the early morning, with notes of lemon oil, butter cream, crusty bread, fresh dough and vanilla bean contrasted by a whiff of crushed oyster shell, which may not be on the menu, but still works perfectly here. This glides effortlessly across the palate with the silkiest of textures, steadily gaining in tension, as mineral–drenched orchard fruits give way to sour melon and, finally, pretty inner florals. The 2020 lingers impossibly long and lightly structured, displaying notes of candied citrus enriched by almond custard. I'd love to toss this blend of 92% Chardonnay and 8% Grechetto into a blind tasting of white Burgundy. Beautifully done." Vinous

"Complex nose of toast, charred pineapple, green papaya, kaffir lime and lemon. Crushed stones and white pepper, too. Full–bodied with vibrant acidity. Textured. Long and layered. Delicious and concentrated." James Suckling