Matured

Garofoli's vintage spumante in radiant rosé opens with a surprisingly complex bouquet in which a fine yeasty note is surrounded by wild berries, cassis and dried raspberry. The perlage is creamy, the wine glides gently over the palate. Delicate and powerful at the same time. SUPERIORE.DE

The Pratzner family retains several hundred bottles of each good vintage, which are then matured for another 6 years in the cellar. These refined wines are then sold in small quantities as "Private Reserve" to selected retailers and the gastronomy industry, thus demonstrating the impressive maturing potential of the wines matured on fine yeast for 10 months.

Strong straw yellow. Intense bouquet of gooseberries with a restrained peppery note. Full and juicy on the palate with grapefruit, citrus and an interesting stimulating spice. With an almost youthful freshness and juiciness, this multi-layered Riserva also glides into a wonderfully long, mineral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

The Pratzner family keeps a few hundred bottles of each good vintage, which are then matured in the cellar for a further 6 years. These refined wines are then sold in small quantities as "Private Reserves" to selected retailers and restaurants, demonstrating the impressive ageing potential of their wines, which are matured for 10 months on the fine lees.

Medium pale yellow in colour. Complex nose of pomaceous fruit and lychee, the further 6 years of ageing in the bottle have given the wine a wonderful fullness and depth. We are delighted with the freshness and vigour that this Riserva radiates today. The final has an animating minerality with a pleasant smoky component. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for the rare St. Ursula Pinot Nero come from a small plot of land known in dialect as "Urschele Egg". This is where the house chapel of St Ursula originally stood. This spontaneously fermented and unfiltered Pinot Noir delights with elegant, delicate cherry flavours, subtle hints of raspberry and a lovely lingering freshness and acidity on the remarkable finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Pagus Cerbaia is the name of a first-class small plot of land with sedimentary soils. This is where the small quantities of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon come from, 50% of which is fermented in amphorae and 50% in oak barrels after the harvest. The "Selection Rosato", which is only bottled in a few hundred bottles, has an intense floral aroma and captivates the palate in a lively and cheerful way with a lingering spicy note and a wonderfully complex finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright copper colour with a sparkling core. Aromas of orange peel, ginger, honey and dried figs on the nose. Soft on the palate, expansive, carried by striking acidity, right through to the lingering finish." Falstaff

"This is complex and layered with dried strawberry bush, pastry crust, dried flowers and caramel. Medium-bodied, textural and polished with a gentle phenolic edge to it and chalky minerality." James Suckling

"Youthful, creamy aromas of red fruits open up to wonderfully ripe notes of peach, dried apricots, honey and cream, as well as hints of oak with nutmeg and cloves. Perhaps the proximity to the sea contributes to the salty, mineral notes that combine with the oak structure. The oak adds a subtle spice, the ripe fruit adds weight, the fresh acidity is perfectly balanced and gives the wine outstanding length without shouting." Decanter

For some years now, Matteo Catania has been holding back a few hundred bottles of his wines in the best vintages in order to offer them to his most loyal importers after a few years. From this "private reserve" comes Neromaccarj 2011, which is now - in spring 2023 - offered in small quantities with 8 years of further bottle ageing quasi in Riserva quality.

Dark colour, beautiful bouquet of Mediterranean herbs and balsamic notes, ripe, fruity morello cherry and date fruit, rich in silky tannins, that's how it is, the magnificent and expressive Nero d'Avola single-vineyard wine Neromaccarj. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2011 Neromàccarj is the wine that, in my opinion, best encompasses the overall winemaking philosophy at Gulfi. Like the other Nero d'Avola selections presented, this wine boasts a super enriched and concentrated style. On top of black fruit and cherry marmalade, the bouquet offers Teriyaki, barbecue smoke and asphalt-like aromas. Neromàccarj presents a more balanced and complete picture because its large bulk is spread evenly in proportioned elements. In other words, the opulence of the bouquet is perfectly matched to the large footprint left on the finish." Wine Advocate

If the Vin Santo is vinified from 100% Sangiovese or Prugnolo Gentile, it bears the addition Occhio di Pernice. Amber in colour, dried fruit, candied orange and hints of hazelnuts on the nose. Full and dense on the palate, with a subtle but never broad sweetness and a wonderfully long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep dark ruby with radiant edge. Animating bouquet of red berries, cherries and exotic herbal spices. On the palate a captivating tension between extract sweetness, acidity and a surprisingly cool fruit component, which gives this exceptional wine an impressive personality and elegance. Blindly tasted, this red wine would hardly be identified as a typical Primitivo di Manduria - here the team around Gregory Perrucci has succeeded in creating a great wine! SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, bright garnet red. Tender nose, ripe raspberries, some pomegranate. Smooth and round on the palate, unfolds with unexpected elegance, fine-meshed tannin, reverberates for a long time. Falstaff

"Very pale and sweet and charming. Very Pinot-esque – quite different from other wines. Red cherries and ripeness. 2010 saw lots of sirocco and bigger grapes and high yields. Lisa Gilbee admires his courage and experimentation. The fact that the wine was on the skins for so long may have reabsorbed the colour – a technique usually used for Nebbiolo." Jancis Robinson

"Good deep, bright red. Sexy red cherry, iron, violet, earth tones, and Asian spices on the captivating nose, with a mineral component building with air. Sweet and plush but with penetrating, harmonious laser-like acidity really lifting and extending the red cherry, sweet spice, and floral flavors. A beauty, finishing long and smooth as silk; so light on its feet it is almost Pinot Noiresque. This was the first vintage ever of this wine, created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first ever Primitivo made by Felline; it has been made only a second time since, in the 2016 vintage." Vinous

The Popoli vineyard bears witness to the fact that the Valle Reale plateau has been a wine-growing area since time immemorial. Several rows of this vineyard stretch out in front of the ruins of a cave cellar dating back to 1300. This is where the Benedictine monks from the monastery of San Benedetto in Perillis produced and stored their wine. The larger part of this very old site, where Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is cultivated, extends southwards towards the entrance to the valley.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Vigneto di Popoli presents itself with an earthy, slightly rustic but very pleasant aroma that blends musky raspberries with dusty dried flowers, cedar wood and a hint of undergrowth. Its textures are silky and supple, yet with a sense of lightness that brings out a juicy and pure expression of tart red berries as the fine tannins settle in towards the end. Finishes with an almost youthful grip and balance, with nuances of mineral strawberries slowly fading away. A fabulous and extremely valuable Montepulciano d'Abruzzo that will continue to improve over the next few years. SUPERIORE.DE

Pagus Camilla comes from a small parcel called "Camilla" near the Sondraia vineyards. Here, the Vermentino and Petit Manseng grapes experience greater concentration and complexity during the ripening process. This "project wine", produced in very small quantities, is a unique example of the potential for white wines from Bolgheri. Pure, deep and beautiful, citrus flavours, salt, minerality and with full, creamy fruit, balanced, long and with very good ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intense, sparkling lemon yellow colour. Elegant on the nose, with fine woody spice, ripe yellow fruit and a slightly buttery finish. Expansive on the palate, with a strong presence, fine fruit flavour and pronounced length." Falstaff

"This has a perfumed and complex nose of grapefruits, star fruit, rosemary, white pepper, nutmeg, peaches, dried flowers and cumin. It’s medium- to full-bodied with an oily texture. Layers of tropical fruit and spice, all held together by a zesty freshness. Fantastic Vermentino." James Suckling

"Rich, deep and convincing: Colle Sant'Antonio is a small selection of Garganega that I carefully choose in the vineyard and patiently wait for in the cellar." Graziano Prà

Intense yellow with golden reflections. The complex bouquet is reminiscent of ripe yellow fruit, cinnamon, fresh vanilla, acacia and chestnut honey. Its freshness is in perfect balance with its alcohol content and powerful body. Sweet roasted almonds and candied apricots come to the fore in the terrificfinish. The tertiary aromas created by ageing in French oak barrels contribute to the complexity of the flavour and round off the unique drinking experience perfectly. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, light golden yellow with a clear green colour. Great playfulness on the nose, rich notes of apricot and peach, some sage in the background, plus flint. Sparkling on the palate, rich, ripe fruit, paired with juiciness and mineral freshness, long finish." Falstaff

"This light-footed white wine is both lusciously creamy and well polished, with mouthwatering acidity and a fine textural interplay that carries a beautiful array of flavours of baked white cherries and apricots, candied ginger, dried basil and grilled macadamia nuts. Long and juicy on the finish, with hints of honey, minerals and spice." Wine Spectator

"Golden Delicious apples, pressed yellow flowers, acacia honey and wet stone aromas waft from the glass of this heady Soave. The palate is round and structured, with baked fruit, white peach, roasted citrus and mixed spices leading to the mineral finish." Wine Enthusiast

"The Soave Classico Colle Sant'Antonio 2018 has an intense golden yellow colour and shows a rich bouquet of baked apples and pears in the glass, complemented by a hint of aromatic herbs. It soothes with its soft and enveloping texture, remaining wonderfully perfumed and energetic, while ripe orchard fruits and a hint of green melon settle on the palate. The Colle Sant'Antonio tapers off for a long time, allowing hints of white peach and candied lime to slowly fade away. The balance of this wine is exceptional and promises many years of steady development." Vinous

"The wholesome flagship made using a cordon-cut technique to concentrate the fruit in a fusion of three different top crus into a swirl of mandarin, mango chutney, salted quince and pineapple spice. Medium-bodied, luscious, almost exotic, yet with a hint of quinine bitterness on the finish." James Suckling

Ruby red, with a fine cherry scent, in which there are also hints of nuts and wild berries, vanilla, cinnamon, sage and tobacco. Concentrated, rich flavour with harmonious tannins and a long, velvety final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich, sparkling ruby with a slight violet shimmer. Multi-layered nose, rich notes of ripe plums, some blueberries, cedar and resin in the background. Juicy and round on the palate, spreads out with powerful, well-integrated tannin, describes a wide arc, firm pressure, long and firm." Falstaff

"Deep crimson. Deep, minty nose with cardamom pod, dark fruit and black-pepper notes and hints of dark earth. I suspect this was aged in chestnut casks. With aeration, increasingly multilayered and growing in stature. Hedonistic dark fruit and finely chiselled tannins on the palate. Very long, generous and complex, but in order for this wine to show its real potential I would put it away for at least five yeas. You don't immediately see it but the bottle has a beautiful shape." Jancis Robinson

"Scorched soil, leather, mature black-skinned fruit and Mediterranean scrub are just some of the aromas you'll find on this blend of Nero d'Avola and Perricone. The enveloping, full-bodied palate delivers ripe blackberry, black cherry, black spice and dried herb alongside firm, fine-grained tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"Good dark red. Ripe, vibrant nose offers kirsch, coffee, chocolate and a whiff of black pepper. At once silky-sweet and tangy, with lovely inner-mouth perfume to the fine-grained red/black fruit flavors. Finishes broad, very smooth and long, with harmonious acidity and ripe tannins giving the wine solid structure for aging. A powerful but already approachable red that will have many fans." Vinous

"Complex and decadent aromas of dark berries, walnuts, licorice, and tar follow through to a full body with rich and ripe fruit and a soft and lightly velvety finish." James Suckling

"This is an iconic Sicilian red that celebrates its 40th anniversary with this handsomely styled bottle. The 2015 Sicilia Contea di Sclafani Rosso del Conte Tenuta Regaleali definitely delivers the goods, but it also delivers a few surprises along the way. There's a lot going on in terms of aromas with softly ripened fruit that is plush and succulent. With a good amount of clarity I might add, you also get varietally true aromas of olive, anise and toasted Bronte pistachio. At the tail end, there is a meaty or savory tone of smoked pancetta or cured ham. The wine shows beautiful intensity and depth with textural richness and integrated tannins." Wine Advocate

For some years now, Matteo Catania has been holding back a few hundred bottles of his wines in the best vintages in order to offer them to his most loyal importers after a few years. Nerosanloré 2014 comes from this "private reserve", which will now - in spring 2023 - be offered in small quantities in Riserva quality with a further 5 years of bottle ageing.

Precise aromas of ripe red cherries, flint, orange peel, lavender and violets. Silky and juicy on the palate, with a refined but very concentrated extract that almost crushes the taste buds, yet remains lively and not at all heavy, giving the flavours of red cherries, raspberries, flowers and minerals beautiful definition and lift. The finish is very deep and long, with very soft tannins, a beguiling perfume and extreme finesse; very Barolo-like. A beautiful, multi-layered wine that shows the elegant side of Nero d'Avola that few producers are ever able to present. SUPERIORE.DE

"Complex nose of black plums, dark chocolate, balsamic vinegar, candied oranges and a variety of baking spices. After all this extravagance, one might expect a soft and voluptuous wine, but this full-bodied red has a very solid core of healthy tannin and is decidedly dry. Surprisingly crisp finish." James Suckling

"The 2014 NeroSanloré blends dark earthy tones with exotic spices and hints of worn leather, plum sauce and sage as it rises from the glass. The palate is round and supple, with cool acidity and mineral notes that fade into dried black cherry and dark chocolate. Despite its depth and concentration, the finish is very clean. The final is long and structured, yet remarkably fresh, closing with a hint of tart cranberry that gives it a crisp feel. The 2014 is simply stunning and will age beautifully." Vinous

"This wine shows a medium, dark concentration, a characteristic feature of this vintage. The aromas have taken on an elegant tertiary definition with dried fruit, dark plum flavours, spice, earth and smoky tar. The wine is drinking beautifully now and gives us valuable and encouraging insights into the ageing potential of this popular indigenous grape variety from Sicily." Wine Advocate

For some years now, Matteo Catania has been holding back a few hundred bottles of his wines in the best vintages in order to offer them to his most loyal importers after a few years. From this "private reserve" comes Nerosanloré 2013, which is now - in spring 2023 - offered in small quantities with 6 years of further bottle ageing quasi in Riserva quality.

Bright red-ruby. Perfumed aromas of violets, red cherries, raspberries, Mediterranean herbs and thyme. Then dense but juicy, with harmonious acidity that nicely lifts and prolongs the juicy, very pure, overripe red cherry and berry flavours on the long, mineral finish. Despite its maturity, the wine seems supple and is a real beauty! SUPERIORE.DE

"I love the intense herb-liqueur and balsamic-vinegar character on the nose, also because its married to delicious richness. Still very lively for a five-year-old red and the balance of ripeness and rather supple tannins is impressive. Long finish." James Suckling

"The 2013 Sicilia Nerosanloré is a rich and plush red wine with a mid-weight approach backed by lots of rich fiber and fruity thickness. The house style at Gulfi always prizes ripeness and higher-than-average concentration. Blackberry preserves and cherry confit are backed by spice, sweet tobacco and sticky tar. The San Lorenzo vineyard site enjoys the highest altitude of all these cru sites. It is located at 600 meters above sea level and has red sandy soils." Wine Advocate

For some years now, Matteo Catania has been holding back a few hundred bottles of his wines in the best vintages in order to offer them to his most loyal importers after a few years. From this "private reserve" comes Nerosanloré 2012, which is now - in spring 2023 - offered in small quantities with 7 years of further bottle ageing quasi in Riserva quality.

An exceptionally characterful and powerful Nero d'Avola is the Nerosanloré. From a beautiful vineyard in Pacchino, the area of origin of the famous vine. Mineral, vital, ripe, elegant, long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Deep ruby red. Refined, highly complex aromas of blueberries, flint, exotic spices, faded flowers, cumin and cardamom. Bright, juicy and penetrating on the palate, with great mid-palate energy and a brooding quality to the very deep but currently subtle spicy red and blue fruit flavours. It rises impressively on the back palate, which is elegant and perfumed, with soft, fine-grained tannins, a restrained sweetness and a lingering flinty nuance. A remarkably deep, complex NeroSanlorè." VINOUS

For some years now, Matteo Catania has been holding back a few hundred bottles of his wines in the best vintages in order to offer them to his most loyal importers after a few years. From this "private reserve" comes Nerosanloré 2010, which is now - in spring 2023 - offered in small quantities with 9 years of further bottle ageing quasi in Riserva quality.

Bright red. Precise, brooding aromas of ripe red cherries, flint, orange peel, cinnamon, lavender and violets, complicated by iodine and earth. Silky and juicy with a refined but very concentrated extract that tantalises the taste buds but remains lively and not at all heavy, adding lovely definition and lift to the red cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral flavours. The finish is very deep and long, with very soft tannins, a fascinating fragrance in the mouth and extreme finesse. SUPERIORE.DE

"Fully saturated ruby. Pure, very deep aromas of black cherry, red plum, medicinal herbs and minerals. Rich, dense and suave, with complex flavors of saline red berries and dark plum complicated by repeating botanical herb and balsamic nuances. Finishes seamless an long. A wine of noteworthy purity, with an excellent balance of sweetness, acidity and tannins. This is Gulfi's closest vineyard to the sea and almost always gives the estate's most elegant, refined wine." Vinous

60 months bottle fermentation: The quintessence of Franciacorta and the winery's top product - full-bodied, elegant and extremely fine. The optimally developed bouquet of tropical fruit and dried fruit is manifold, the terroir and the winery's signature are unmistakable. Powerful and fresh on the palate, the taste is an explosion of nuanced flavours, the length and depth are impressive. Only 7,000 bottles of this Riserva are produced each year. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright straw yellow with a delicate copper tinge and finest perlage. In the nose beeswax, light honey, quince, a little baked apple, blueberries and candied fruits in the aftertaste. On the palate with great melting and crisp fruit, shows itself very vertical and purposeful, in the final firm pressure." Falstaff

"Over 100 months on the lees, a Chardonnay 4/5 Pinot Noir 1/5 blend. Yellow plum at the nose, then jasmine and bergamot in the background. The mouthfeel is salty, fragrant and crunchy, enhanced by a fruity return and long-lasting finish." Luca Gardini

"The 2013 Oseleta is dark and brooding, but also seductive, with balsamic spices, cocoa and mentholated herbs giving way to cinnamon-dusted blackcurrants. It envelops the palate with a silky fruit texture, but quickly gains tension as a stimulating acidity and sour citrus nuances meet under a hint of rosy inner flowers. It finishes structured and coats the cheeks with fine-grained tannins, while traces of liquorice and tobacco fade. The 2013 Oseleta is a wild wine that is still years away from its optimal drinking window. That said, I doubt the acidity will ever recede, so plan to enjoy it with a savoury stew or a fatty cut of meat." Vinous

"Tantalising aromas of baked cherries with dried red and purple flowers follow through to a tight and concentrated, medium-bodied palate with plenty of fruit and still active tannins. The finish is crisp and quite tart. For a 10-year-old red wine, it seems so young. It comes from one of the traditional red grapes in the Amarone blend and shows here what it can do as a soloist." James Suckling

Elegant Pinot Nero with a complex bouquet of blackberry and raspberry, with candied orange peel in the background. On the palate it is clear and straightforward, with fine, polished tannins and a very long final. SUPERIORE.DE

What begins with a seductive bouquet of delicate plums and a hint of mint gains volume and depth as grilled sage and rum-soaked blackcurrants mingle with sweet tobacco and allspice. Its texture is silky and fleshy, accompanied by a nervous acidity, while ripe black cherries and a hint of cranberry sauce create a sweet and sour tension on the palate. The concentration is astonishing, yet the energy remains incredibly high, even if the grippy tannins increase towards the end. Notes of sour citrus fruits, savoury herbs and tart wild berries linger incredibly long in the structured yet remarkably fresh final. Only around 3,000 bottles of this cru are produced and it is a real must-have for all Aglianico lovers! SUPERIORE.DE

"Very dark carmine red colour. The first impression is oak spice, but no sweetness. Spicy black fruits with a hint of smoke. Powerful yet very elegant, fine tannin structure, with the tannins increasing on the finish. Refined and long and yet so youthful." Jancis Robinson

"You certainly won't regret it if you give the Aglianico Siope 2016 some time to open up in the glass. What starts as delicate plums with a hint of mint gains volume and depth as grilled sage and rum-soaked blackcurrants mingle with sweet tobacco and allspice. To be honest, you could get lost in this bouquet. Its texture is silky and fleshy, accompanied by a nervous acidity, while ripe black cherries and a hint of cranberry sauce create a sweet and sour tug-of-war on the palate. The concentration is amazing, yet the energy remains incredibly high, even as the grippy tannins pick up towards the finish. Notes of sour citrus, savoury herbs and tart wild berries linger incredibly long on the structured yet remarkably fresh final. Only 3080 bottles of this cru bottling were produced, and lovers of Aglianico owe it to themselves to discover this wine." Vinous