Wine

Il Randagio (the stray) is wonderfully complex and nuanced. Initially quite closed, the delicately spicy nose creeps up with increasing aeration and opens further into a wonderfully complex bouquet of dark red to black berries. Rising floral, savoury and spicy accents point to a wine that says more about the style of the house than anything else. The palate is wide-ranging with delicate wild berry flavours, perfectly polished tannins and a fresh, very invigorating acid wire that uninhibitedly enhances the drinkability of this once again typically different red. The best days of this wine still lie in the future. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling ruby with violet shimmer. Opens with notes of dark smoke, then lots of blackberry and elderberry. Firm tannins, spicy and savoury, crisp fruit, still a little rough on the final." Falstaff

"A very juicy and drinkable Toscana, with fresh red berries, cherries, chopped herbs and subtle dark earth funk to encourage drinking. Fluid and bright, with lively strawberry fruit and chunky tannins. Firm, juicy and quite relaxed." James Suckling

"The 2022 Il Randagio, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is fabulous. Bright acids and floral nuances adorn this exquisite, nuanced red wine. The 2022 spent four months on the skins in cement tanks and open vats. Above all, the freshness and purity of this wine stand out. What a great wine this is." Vinous

"The Tenuta di Carleone 2022 Il Randagio is a blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc and comes in a screw-top bottle with a drawing of a one-eyed bulldog on the label, which is surely the alter ego of Sean O'Callaghan. He experiments with long maceration times and alternative cement containers. There's a lot of creative spirit in a wine like this, which reveals fresh, bright berry tones. The style is full of energy. This is a good value red wine that I'm happy to recommend, especially if you're looking for a casual but spirited expression." Wine Advocate

Fresh rosato with a flavour of dark berries and a hint of lavender. Clear fruit on the palate, with elegant suppleness, a fine mineral note and, last but not least, an appealing palatability. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2023 Etna Rosato smells of wild strawberries, dusty rose and crushed stone. Round and juicy in character, it presents ripe stone fruit, green melon and a hint of candied citrus. The 2023 leaves a crisp and refreshed palate and finishes with medium length and a hint of minerality." Vinous

"Very perfumed with sliced apples, peaches and hints of citrus. Medium-bodied, this has bright acidity and a long, flavorful finish. Vibrant." James Suckling

Every year, Istine's Chianti Classico is one of the most racy and authentic representatives of its genre. Its weightlessness and at the same time precision make up a large part of its appeal. A finely knit bouquet of red berries, flowers, chalk and white pepper. Medium-bodied on the palate, its fine fruit, creamy tannins and plenty of personality come to light with further aeration. A red wine that takes hearts by storm with its lively, dancing and extremely fine nerve! SUPERIORE.DE

"Deep, lustrous crimson. Brooding cherry with minerally hints. Great purity on the nose. Energetic, tangy fruit layered with grainy tannins. The fruit is light of touch yet very long." Jancis Robinson

"A dense, taut red, whose cherry, strawberry and rose flavors are lifted by lively acidity and dusty tannins. This linear version flirts with elegance and will get there if the tannins integrate nicely." Wine Spectator

"The 2022 Chianti Classico is juicy, forward and delightful. A burst of sweet red cherry fruit, rose petal, spice and orange peel gives the 2022 tons of immediacy. The 2022 looks to be an early-drinking wine." Vinous

The history of the sophisticated Gewürztraminer goes back to the early Middle Ages. The autochthonous grape variety thrives best on airy slopes between 250 and 450 m on clay and sandy soils with plenty of sunlight. And then the wine can be as convincing as this one: straw yellow with pale green reflections, with a distinctive bouquet of roses, some clove and vanilla and an independent character on the palate. A Gewürztraminer with support in the body, with a lot of elegance and harmony and a very well-crafted finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling golden yellow. Intense, aromatic nose, lots of ripe fruit exoticism, lychee and pineapple, rose petals and vanilla. Punchy and full-bodied on the palate, creamy texture, pleasantly warming, moderate acidity, mouthwatering, medium-long final." Falstaff

Broad and rich, with aromas and flavours of plums, blackberries, clay and spices. La Braccescas Nobile di Montepulciano is a finely balanced, beautiful wine with all the elements in the right place. It is aromatically persistent, complex and nuanced in its balance. The winemaking team has done everything right here. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano opens with a mentholated freshness, blending cedar shavings with dried herbs and black cherries. This is elegant, nearly velvety in feel, with medium-bodied weight and polished red and black fruits. It tapers off with a pleasantly bitter tinge and is slightly chewy, leaving a coating of sweet tannins to frame the experience quite nicely." Vinous

"In the far east of the Vino Nobile zone, the La Braccesca vineyard borders Umbria. The vineyards extend over 340 hectares and reach as far as the neighbouring municipality of Cortona. Expressive aromas combine subtle oak spice with the scent of lavender and orange against a background of dark red cherry. On the palate, it is round, rich and velvety and is carried by a juicy acidity. The sandy tannins give the wine its shape and show a strong spiciness on the finish. Clean and well-defined." Decanter

"Aromas of ripe mulberries and blackberries with dark spices, burnt orange peel and earth. Full and structured with a deep core of ripe dark fruit and firm, chalky tannins. Long lasting finish." James Suckling

The successful composition of Merlot and Cabernet, both vinified separately and only married after a year of ageing, is bursting with density, strength and fruitiness. Silky tannins and expressive length delight wine lovers. SUPERIORE.DE

Monte Carbonare comes from red volcanic iron soils with plenty of black basalt in the centre. Six hectares of 60-70 year old vines in cooler sites, which continue to rise to the crème de la crème of the top sites as the climate warms. A richer wine than the younger Classico, but without the same cheeky vitality. While the Classico is an unbeatable everyday wine, the Monte Carbonare is a complex wine that demands food and a little more contemplation. Mirabelle plum, apricot pit, a hint of dried mango and plenty of smoky, sharp mineral grip, with dutiful freshness that brings marvellous length. SUPERIORE.DE

"Golden light yellow; yeasty-fruity notes; round, full-bodied, yeasty, complex and deep, juicy acidity, length, drinky." (JLF) Merum

"A serious and very precise Soave with subtle citrus flavours and notes of orange blossom, hay and crushed stones. Finely balanced and concentrated, with a medium body and fine texture. Spicy and exciting with a gentle phenolic note and a hint of lemon peel and ginger on the finish." James Suckling

Classic Barbera from the house of Vajra. Garnet red colour, very pleasant nose with light cherry notes and aromas of fine spices. The flavour is rich with the typical effervescence of a traditional and sophisticated wine from the Alba region. SUPERIORE.DE

Intense ruby red colour. Opulent in the glass with notes of dark fruit flesh, flowers and liquorice. Very smooth and seductive on the palate with a very precise fruit-acid balance for the noble Nice denomination and a remarkable freshness. Complex and long in the further course, beautiful potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"Vanilla and cream mingle with black cherry and sweet spices in this forward leaning nose reminiscent of a luscious cherry pie. Soft, fine tannins and a hint of acidity on the finish make this wine a luscious, creamy treat for those who like to indulge." Wine Enthusiast

The concept is as simple as it is ingenious: Christoph Künzli wanted to create a Nebbiolo that is fresh and easy to drink, whose beguiling sweetness and richness is convincing right up to the last sip and which nevertheless represents the Alto Piemonte in a typical and unmistakable way. The convincing result is fresh, with a rich bouquet of berries and flowers, crisp and velvety in the mouth. Be sure to enjoy it a little cooler and you will be surprised how quickly the bottle is empty! SUPERIORE.DE

Chianti Classico Rubiolo shows its delicately spicy side on the nose with cloves, cinnamon, lavender, wild dark cherries and blackberries that are beautifully ripe but not overripe. There are also floral hints. The fruit for this extremely good value wine comes from Castellina and Panzano, whereby the fullness and richness of the Panzano region are clearly noticeable. The finish is soft and velvety. It is the exceptional balance of the wine that really sets it apart. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium to deep carmine red colour. Concentrated, full yet cool nose of cherry fruit. Spicy cherry fruit with a layer of grainy tannins. Great balance and length." Jancis Robinson

"The Chianti Classico Rubiolo 2021 is a soft, fruity wine that should be drunk now and over the next few years as long as the flavours remain vibrant. Juicy red cherry fruit, orange peel, mint and white flowers burst from the glass. This exuberant, juicy Chianti Classico is a delight." Vinous

"Aromas of ripe red fruit, liquorice, spices and pink peppercorns. Medium to full-bodied, juicy and exciting with lively acidity and polished tannins. Notes of walnuts and savoury herbs on the finish." James Suckling

"The 2021 Chianti Classico Rubiolo from organic farming is a wine with an excellent value. The wine is made exclusively from Sangiovese from three vineyards in Castellina, Panzano and Badia a Passignano. The wine has a dark ruby red colour, and although the aromatic intensity is not very pronounced, there are delicately fragrant notes of cherry, raspberry and blood orange that are powerful and bright to the touch. There are also beautiful floral notes." Wine Advocate

"The idea of drinkability and home freshness, without sacrificing complexity. The nose is faceted, red currant with touches of wild mint and nuances of carnation. The mouthfeel is savory, with hints of small red fruits and a balsamic-floral return." Luca Gardini

True to the house style, Nerojbleo offers a generous load of ripe fruit with maraschino cherry and blackberry jam at the centre. Its texture is dense, soft and carried by a slight sweetness. A juice and power package with a nice drinking flow and a typical Gulfi interpretation of the grape variety. SUPERIORE.DE

Bright light red colour. Bouquet of red cherries, aromatic herbs and some tobacco. Big and powerful on the palate in typical Campogiovanni style, with lush red cherries and aromatic herbal flavours that echo for a long time on the soft, slightly warm finish. A Rosso that gives a good foretaste of the more persistent and multi-layered Brunello. Very successful and charming and accessible even at a young age. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Campogiovanni 2021 Rosso di Montalcino has a dark ruby colour and immediately shows powerful fruit flavours and plenty of dark cherry. This is a nicely saturated Sangiovese with enough texture on the mid-palate to pair with a savoury bean soup or roast pork. The fresh acidity rounds it out. This is a good value proposition." Wine Advocate

"Earthy berries, oranges and a hint of dried bark on the nose. Juicy and beautifully flavoursome on the palate with a medium body and firm tannins." James Suckling

"Black raspberries, exotic spices, sage and cloves make the 2021 Rosso di Montalcino a total pleasure on the nose. It's silky and refined with cooling mineral tones and ripe red and blue fruits that easily wash across the palate. This takes on a savory edge through the finish, with tart raspberry and brown spice that linger through the lightly structured finale. I love the contrasts and early appeal of this darkly alluring Rosso." Vinous

Beautiful, single-varietal white from Carricante from Planeta's Etna Dependence. A youthful, exuberant growth full of freshness, energy and minerality. Grown under exclusive conditions on volcanic soils and at an altitude of 870 metres, this wine is an exceptional pleasure. SUPERIORE.DE

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

This very typical Sauvignon bianco grows on glacial limestone soils at an altitude of up to 900 metres. Bright lemon yellow colour. Intense, well-articulated nose of gooseberry, kiwi, lemon curd and lilac. Medium pressure on the palate, creamy texture with balanced acid wire, great fruit components with hints of paprika and green papaya. A taut minerality emerges on the finish, ending with flint and dried lemon peel. A typical Sauvignon bianco with everything that delights the heart. Medium-bodied, flavoursome and a bright, fruity finish. SUPERIORE.DE