Wines from Veneto

The deep garnet-red Recioto della Valpolicella releases a concentrated, sweet aroma of ripe fruit, caramel and chocolate. Its taste is dense, powerful and determined until the harmonious finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Palazzotto is the name of the two hectares of vineyard where only Cabernet Sauvignon is grown. Fausto Maculan vinifies a fine wine from these grapes. A pronounced, very multi-faceted bouquet of dark ripe fruit, cassis and nuances of fine spices and violets. The fruity flavour is full-bodied and soft, with a long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Maculan 2018 Breganze Cabernet Sauvignon Palazzotto makes a bold statement thanks to inky dark fruit, thick ripeness and dense extraction with black fruit flavors framed by lots of sweet oak. This full-framed red has an almost exotic quality with teriyaki or barbecue spice." Wine Advocate

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Palazzotto is spicy in the glass: cedar and ground ginger give way to dusty roses and redcurrants. It is elegant yet refined, with creamy textures lifted by vibrant acidity, while a wave of mineral-tinged wild berry flavours lightly wash over the palate. The 2018 leaves a tart note of citrus and raspberry and subtle, grippy tannins that frame the wine without slowing its momentum. Although it is already showing very well now, this wonderfully balanced version of Palazzotto should improve even more with medium-term cellaring." Vinous

"Ripe dark fruit with notes of walnuts, cedar wood and spices. Some leafy flavour. Medium to full-bodied with lots of firm, creamy tannins and a deep core of ripe and crunchy dark fruit. Velvety and long-lasting, with a firm, spicy finish." James Suckling

This white dessert wine with DOCG status is made from 100% Garganega grapes from selected volcanic plots in the Costeggiola vineyard in Soave, where the grapes are predestined for drying due to the advanced age of the vines (22 to 50 years) and the resulting very manageable yield. This takes place for three to five months in the "fruttaio", after which the wine is matured for 30 months in stainless steel tanks and 5 hl wooden barrels.

Very concentrated nose of stone fruit, lemon zest and honey. Opulent on the palate with a good balance of sweetness and acidity - overall, this dessert wine is very fresh and well-rounded, making it an excellent accompaniment to not-too-sweet desserts and perfectly matured soft cheeses. Just 2,666 numbered bottles go on sale with each vintage. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich, sparkling red gold colour. Inviting nose with notes of apricot jam, ripe pears and slightly resinous components that add playfulness. Lots of sweet, ripe fruit on the palate at first, again apricot, but also honeydew melon, then quite pronounced bitter components on the final, alternating between sweet and bitter." Falstaff

A very well-balanced Chardonnay with a strong personality and the clarity and depth you expect from Maculan. A summery, warm fruit bouquet of apricot and peach, with an appetising hint of fresh bread and very delicate vanilla. Uninhibitedly juicy, yet fine, creamy and elegant in flavour with a pleasant finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Beautiful Sauvignon Bianco from Maculan's famous Ferrata white wine vineyard on volcanic and tufaceous soils. Clear, fresh bouquet of citrus and gooseberry, then ripe tropical fruit, peach with a hint of saffron. Full and multi-layered on the palate with seductive flavours of lemon, orange blossom and mint. The finish is complex and long - a white full of character with a high recognition value. SUPERIORE.DE

Strong, bright straw yellow colour. Characterful, youthful and rich bouquet of dried nectarines, peach, yellow apple, mint and a fresh hint of almonds. The depth of its texture is in perfect contrast to the savoury acids, minerals and notes of sour apples, but a feeling of balanced ripeness always remains. The finish is long and structured and seems to melt slowly on the palate, leaving savoury spices and a fine tannin behind. It already has a lot to offer today, but should mature a little more in the bottle for more structure and elegance. A wonderfully exciting interpretation of Garganega from a small single vineyard in the Carbonare region. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich straw yellow with a green tinge. Delicate nose, apple and pear, some lemon as well as elderflower and dandelion. Elegant and balanced on the palate, precise, creamy, well-integrated acidity, lingering, juicy final." Falstaff

"Fermented entirely in the tank. A straightforward, medium-bodied force of minerals, quince paste, almond peel and Meyer lemon. Reductive in the best sense, with a tangy acidity and a latent vigour that suggests this wine will age very well." James Suckling

"The Inama 2021 Soave Classico Carbonare comes from a 1.5-hectare vineyard with volcanic basalt soils and is wonderfully fresh, lively and full of electric personality. The bouquet shows grapefruit, fruit, quince and spicy flavours with a hint of turmeric or dried ginger on a subtle, medium-bodied mouthfeel." Wine Advocate

"Like a burst of fresh sea air, the 2021 Soave Classico Carbonare opens with a salty blend of crushed rocks, lime zest and crushed green apples. This soothes with its round textures and fresh acidity, as a cascade of crunchy orchard fruits and mineral tones travels across the palate. Saline and full of tension, the Carbonare leaves a pleasant inner sweetness and a minty herbal thrust that lingers on. There is such purity and balance here. The 2021 was made entirely in stainless steel." Vinous

"This unique vineyard, cultivated using the historic pergola method, produces a Soave with aromas of fleshy yellow peach, jasmine, white tea and crushed stones. On the palate, it is structured and age-worthy with flavours of tart green apple, citrus and a mineral note on the finish." Wine Enthusiast

Very elegant distillate with a fresh fruit bouquet of cherries. On the palate a hint of berries and bitter almond, the finish is bittersweet and warm. SUPERIORE.DE

Brigaldara's Recioto presents itself wonderfully with a warm aroma spectrum of pickled cherries, roses, herbs and traces of honey. It shows its true class on the palate: wonderfully balanced with its fruit-acid play and never dominant sweetness, it presents distinctive notes of small dark berries, creamy spicy aromas and dark chocolate until a never-ending, warming finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Full-bodied with lots of sweet crushed blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, together with macadamia nuts and red licorice-like notes. The fine tannins add structure and density. Finishes quite firm." James Suckling

"Savory herbs, earth tones and crushed stone give way to lifting hints of mint and camphor as the 2019 Recioto della Valpolicella opens in the glass. This is less about fruit and more about depth and character, as a dense wave of balsam herbs and exotic spices rushes the palate. There is a lovely inner sweetness with zesty acids to balance and saline-minerals that create a salty-sweet expression. It’s incredibly long, adding vivid black cherries, blackberry preserves and hints of mint. The 2019 is a total wine of meditation." Vinous

An accessible, fruit-accentuated classic at a high level. A clear aroma of wild berries and flowers, with a mix of dark berry notes, fine spices and light tannins on the palate. Flavour and depth give this noble Valpolicella its wonderful drinking flow. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark, bright ruby red with a fine, brightening rim. Intense on the nose, cranberry compote, juniper and leather on the finish. Silky texture on the palate, with lots of ripe fruit, slightly spicy and with well-integrated tannins, long presence." Falstaff

"Aromas of dried fruit and nuts follow through to a medium-bodied palate with a dense bead of bright fruit and fine, slightly drying tannins. Very direct and concentrated with good forward acidity. Give this wine a little more time for the tannins to resolve further." James Suckling

"The 2020 Valpolicella Superiore Maternigo is wickedly fresh and floral, wafting up with suggestions of violet and lavender before giving way to crushed blackberries. This is a soft-textured mix of savory and sweet, with saline minerals complicating its tart wild berry fruits. It tapers off with tension, leaving a pleasantly tense sensation and hints of sour orange that pucker the cheeks. Don’t be afraid to lose the 2020 Maternigo in the cellar for a number of years." Vinous

The first year of production of the single-varietal Merlot Clos Roareti dates back to 2004. The grapes are harvested from the 2 hectare historic Rovereti vineyard in Negrar. In this 100-year-old vineyard, which is surrounded by equally old walls, Merlot has been cultivated since the 1990s and is perfectly adapted to the climate and the red clay soil. The palate is rich and full-bodied with complex and very aromatic notes. Maturation in oak barrels gives this wine its special flavour and certain opulence. SUPERIORE.DE

"Some dried berries, plums, baking spices, dark earth and peppercorn funk. Fluid and dense with some graininess on the palate, followed by a slightly gamey finish." James Suckling

"Sage and rosemary combine with wild blueberries and a hint of undergrowth when the 2020 Rosso Clos Roareti blossoms in the glass. On the palate, it is silky and supple, with mineral-tinged red and blue fruits accentuated by a hint of mocha towards the end. The finish is structured, long and lingers on balsamic herbs and tobacco." Vinous

"This wine comes from my family's historic vineyard. It is a wine that is the result of long reflection, study and experimentation, where nothing has been left to chance: Monte Grande is to be my great Soave wine." Graziano Prà

Monte Grande is the house's white cru and a blend of 70% Garganega and 30% Trebbiano di Soave of great complexity with ideal ageing potential. Deep bouquet of exotic fruits and rocks with a fine citrus note. Multi-layered and spicy on the palate, intense and sharply focussed, with mineral notes and a pretty salty core. Beautifully crafted acidity, with notes of orange zest and almonds on the long finish. A terrificmasterpiece! SUPERIORE.DE

"Ripe fruit on the nose, from pineapple to gooseberry and a hint of snowberry. Medium-bodied with a gentle honey note competing with stony minerals that colour the finish. A powerful Monte Grande." James Suckling

"A rich petrol note on the nose that underlines the flavours of blood orange, pink grapefruit granita, blanched almonds and white flowers on the palate. The generous, expressive profile of this wine is well tamed by well-balanced acidity and a hint of salinity on the finish." Wine Spectator

"A vibrant mix of wild flowers, yellow apples and ground ginger form a captivating bouquet as the Soave Classico Monte Grande 2021 blossoms in the glass. It is round and supple, with cooling minerality and fresh acidity that gives a wonderful lift to ripe stone fruit and minty herbal notes. A hint of lime and a saline note give the 2021 a lovely finish that is long and colourful, but graceful and floral. What a treasure." Vinous

"Aromas of an elegant bouquet of white blossoms, crushed stones and ripe apricots. Its palate elegantly navigates between a silky texture and a vibrant acidity, culminating in a flinty minerality that captures the essence of the Soave landscape." Wine Enthusiast

La Grola is the eponymous, historic vineyard where Corvina, the indigenous grape of Valpolicella, is believed to have originated. The replanting of the vineyard by Giovanni Allegrini triggered an agronomic revolution and laid the foundations for the success of this wine-growing region, which today stands for convincing, great red wines from north-east Italy.

Dense, dark ruby red in colour, very rich and powerful on the nose with notes of wild and overripe berries. The rich fullness of coffee to black cherries is underlined by present, pleasant tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich ruby colour with a dark core and fine garnet-red rim. Multi-layered bouquet of dark chocolate, cassis, underpinned by fine spice. Velvety texture on the palate, harmonious and round, concentrated fruit and pronounced length." Falstaff

"The 2020 La Grola shows ripe fruit, some herbal notes in the background, liquorice, tar and gentle spices. This simple red wine has a slightly wild side with fresh acidity and a whistling, clean finish. La Grola paints a more concentrated picture of Corvina, a grape usually used in traditional Amarone blends." Wine Advocate

"The 2020 La Grola is dark, brooding and complex, tempting the imagination with notes of spiced blood orange, cloves, dark chocolate and dried black cherries. It’s soft textured and more lifted than expected, with brisk acidity and a wave of tart wild berry fruit that slowly saturates. It tapers off with tension, puckering the cheeks with a primary concentration of fine-grained tannins that lingers on. The 2020 is an intense La Grola that will require patience." Vinous

"An elegant red wine with fine tannins that blend seamlessly with the ripe flavours of black and red cherries. Accents of smoked tobacco, rosehip, cocoa powder and aniseed run through the fruit profile, and a subtle, mineral hint of fresh earth and iron lingers on the finish." Wine Spectator

"La Grola has been an integral part of the Allegrini family since 1989. This blend of 90% Corvina and 10% Oseleta opens with aromas of black plums, preserved black cherries, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper and violets. As the wine progresses, notes of cedar, cigar box and tobacco develop. On the palate, rich, black-coloured fruit dances with taut, well-structured tannins, while savoury and earthy notes add to the fascination." Wine Enthusiast

"A single vineyard whose fruit comes from a historically important site that is quite steep and calcareous and slopes down towards the Adige. No dried grapes. The tannins of the Oseleta are hard, firm and powerful on the attack. However, the mid-palate is round and energetic, softening any impression of stiffness as it expands aniseed, mint, leather varnish and dark, saturated berry fruit. This is a very good wine made for the cellar." James Suckling

"Podere La Grola, Sant'Ambrogio in Valpolicella, Corvina with a small proportion of Oseleta, which undergoes malolactic fermentation and matures in barriques. Liquorice, blackberry jam and lime on the nose, salty-sweet on the palate, with a fruity finish and slightly iodised final." Luca Gardini

The Grappa di Prosecco Riserva is aged for over a year in small oak barrels, giving it its wonderful light golden colour. Appetisingly ripe fruit aromas and fragrant spice are a complete pleasure right through to the beautifully round finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Already the famous Italian wine critic Veronelli rated the Colli Berici together with Bolgheri as one of the best growing areas for the Bordelais grape varieties. This rare Merlot is dedicated to its creator Alfredo Lazzarini, whose vineyards Inama recently acquired, and it represents the history of the Colli Berici. Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate watery rim. Spicy nuances of black cherries, ripe plums, forest floor, some jasmine and a pleasant touch of precious wood. Juicy on the palate, with good complexity and a chocolaty texture, round tannins and a discreet extract sweetness on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Generous, seductive and very complex bouquet of cherries, plums, spices and other aromas. The taste of the "Vigneti Vallata di Marano" impresses above all with its elegance and length. A beautiful Amarone in which power and concentration go together harmoniously. SUPERIORE.DE

Grave di Stecca is Nino Franco's exposed single vineyard on the slopes of the Prealpi. The south-facing vineyard is planted exclusively with the Prosecco grape Glera. Brilliantly shiny white gold, gently emerging perlage, a bouquet of sage with a fresh fruit scent. Very pleasantly dry on the palate, silky and long - the undisputed great top growth of the renowned Prosecco forge. SUPERIORE.DE

"Powerful bright lemon yellow with green accents. Distinctive aroma of delicate herbs (thyme), ripe pineapple and passion fruit, plus fine brioche notes and nut butter. Builds up richly, fills the entire palate, delicate and multi-layered in the drink, coherent, also complex and long-lasting in the finish." Falstaff

"Lush aromas of glazed apples and baked nectarines are well defined by a bright, lively acid structure in this elegant example. The texture is soft and creamy, with fragrant notes of lime zest, Earl Grey tea and graphite in the mid-palate and finish, with a hint of fleur de sel melting on the finish." Wine Spectator

"On the nose, a rich blend of cider apple, yuzu and hints of green tea and almond. Very fruity on the palate too, with a medium fizz and a tasty, spicy finish. Lots of character." James Suckling

"The 2016 Brut Grave di Stecca displays a brilliant golden colour in the glass, with a stunning bouquet of peach jam and sweetly spiced flowers, contrasted by wild herbs and crushed stone. The texture is creamy yet edgy, with zesty acidity that pinches the cheeks, but also an abundance of ripe fruit trees and floral scents that arch across the palate. It leaves a hint of ginger and a bitter hint of roasted hazelnuts, but the finish is one of cleansing freshness. The 2016 is not about power or fruit, but delicacy and graceful impact. I love it. Grave di Stecca is a single vineyard in the hills of Valdobbiadene with old Glera vines." Vinous

"Light and airy, this lovely sparkling wine has inviting aromas of ripe white stone fruit, spring flowers and baking spices. On the dry, foamy palate, elegant perlage and fresh acidity accompany ripe yellow apples, Bartlett pear, vanilla cake cream and a hint of white almond." Wine Enthusiast

"Grave di Stecca represents both the best of Prosecco – specifically Valdobbiadene – and the best of what is not ‘Prosecco’; the authorities refused to certify it as DOCG due to its atypical style, so to this day Nino Franco bottles it as a vino spumante in protest. The grapes are sourced from the walled Grave di Stecca vineyard, the site of the family residence, purchased by Franco in 1991. Super-aromatic and exotically scented, with passion fruit and ripe banana, in the mouth it’s very mineral and earthy, intense and rich but well sculpted. Tropical and spicy, it’s slightly creamy – almost mushroomy – with a lip-smacking saline finish. This wine can age well thanks to extended lees ageing of the base wines then long maturation in bottle before release." Decanter

straw yellow with golden reflections. Epoca Prestige is the distilled essence of fine vinous aromas and fragrances, then aged for 4 years in selected used oak barrels, making this grappa graceful, spicy-soft and elegant. SUPERIORE.DE

A very elegant Recioto di Soave with an intense golden yellow colour. The fresh citrus bouquet and the delicately herbaceous-lovely taste form a ravishing symbiosis. A dessert wine full of character that lingers long. SUPERIORE.DE

Le Rive is a single-varietal Garganega made from grapes harvested late from volcanic soils. On the nose, the aromas of citrus fruit, almonds and exotic fruit are impressive. Its flavour is soft and powerful, with a wonderful freshness right through to the long finish, combined with an ebb and flow of minerals. A wonderful and highly distinctive wine with which the three sisters have once again put themselves at the forefront of their region. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Garganega Le Rive 2021 is a real treat for the nose. A bouquet of honeyed flowers gives way to dried apricots and peaches, embellished by an enriching note of lemon custard. It opens with a balanced inner sweetness that reveals lush, ripe stone fruit and a hint of candied lemon layered over a silky texture. On the long and dramatic final, the 2021 remains coloured in its primary concentration on the palate, lingering with its citrus notes while the mouth demands more. Le Rive is certainly not shy, but the balance is fantastic. Make sure you keep a few bottles in the cellar." Vinous

"An 85-year-old plot opposite Carbonare, late harvested and fermented in tonneaux. There is a striking resemblance to fine white Burgundy. Hints of tangerines, apricot pith and chamomile are underlain by a racy, stony freshness. Brilliant wine, alluding to sweetness while finishing dry, minerally and forceful. From organically grown grapes." James Suckling

The grapes for this graceful Valpolicella Classico come from the Miniere vineyard of Bertani's Villa Novare estate, a south-western site of just 4 hectares consisting of two terraces. Bright ruby red, notes of fresh fruit, cherry, wild berries on the nose, with elegant hints of white pepper. Spicy, juicy and tasty on the palate, with remarkable persistence and great length! SUPERIORE.DE

"Young light red; reductive, fresh, fruity, peach; round, juicy, fruit deep, long, very nice." (JLF) Merum

"Juicy, crisp, light and playful, with exuberant energy running on a trail of white peppery acidity and a gentle drive of herbal tannins. Red limestone. Strawberry, mountain herbs, crushed musk and lilac. A great substitute for a Cru Beaujolais. A delicious drinking pleasure that reflects the current zeitgeist of quality fruit without dryness, tension and joyful immediacy." James Suckling

"Lively and spicy on the nose, with notes of strawberry sweets. Nervous and structured on the palate, very long and pure." Decanter