Masciarelli

The Gianni Masciarelli line is intended to embody the typicality of the region and this Rosato is therefore strong and full-bodied, as you would expect from the grape variety and terroir. Intense cherry pink colour. Delicately fruity and spicy aroma, robust on the palate with plenty of structure. A fine minerality and berry fruit on the finish, a fabulous rosé. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark salmon red with copper-coloured reflections. Pronounced bouquet of lime, grapefruit and some orange zest." Falstaff

Classic Trebbiano d'Abruzzo with fresh flavours of citrus and flowers. Young, agile and typical varietal flavour. Correctly vinified at an unbeatable price. SUPERIORE.DE

Classic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, very straightforward and not too heavy. Small red berries and spices on the nose, harmonious, round and juicy flavour. Great value. SUPERIORE.DE

"Deep dark purple-red colour with lightening edges. Light, reductive nose of dark fruit and cold smoke. More present on the palate, spicy and powerful, broad fruit composition and firm tannins, above-average length." Falstaff

"On the nose, spicy aromas of earth and pencil shavings are balanced with fruity notes of cherries and plums. On the palate, a stream of chocolate brings out the sweetness of the cherries before a warm finish follows. The tannins and acidity are both lean and graceful." Wine Enthusiast

The white Villa Gemma cuvée, made predominantly from Trebbiano, has a pleasant aroma of peach, mint and flowers. Structured and graceful, with a mineral note, the fresh flavour is flattering and long. Excellent value! SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2023 Bianco is sweet, floral and fresh, with a pretty mix of chalk dust, raw almonds, spring flowers and sliced pears. It glides across the palate with ease, soft and round, with a saline note up front that frames the ripe orchard fruit well. The 2023 finishes crisp and with a pleasantly bitter hint of spice and lemon peel." Vinous

"A clean and fruity white with notes and fresh apples, lemon rind and citrus blossom. Medium-bodied, sleek and textural with crunchy acidity and a zesty, refreshing aftertaste." James Suckling

Castello di Semivicoli is a great Rosso from the Chieti area and Masciarelli's first red wine cuvée. The vines in the vineyards of the province of L'Aquila were planted by Gianni Masciarelli in 2003. Medium-bodied purple red. On the nose black berries and nice peppery notes with some tobacco, violets and vanilla. Powerful and silky on the palate, polished tannin and a wonderfully fruity finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"There's a lightly decadent, floral edge to the mixed berries on the nose that translates into bright berries, fresh herbs and minerals on the medium-bodied palate with lightly firm tannins and clean acidity that together spur it on." James Suckling

Pecorino Castello di Semivicoli presents itself in a radiant straw yellow. Aromas of fresh citrus fruits, apricot and melon are complemented by floral nuances and beautiful herbal-spicy tones. Clear and fruity on the palate, with good richness and lovely length. A prime example of the grape variety that has been almost forgotten for a long time. SUPERIORE.DE

Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Superiore has a light ruby red colour and exudes a pretty bouquet of wild strawberries, roses and sweet smoke. The flavour is soft and round, with a stimulating acidity and a sweet-tart tension. The finish is long and structured and ends with a delicious final with hints of spiced citrus fruits. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intense, radiant cherry red colour. Inviting nose of juicy cherry, cassis and juniper berries. Very present on the palate, linear and direct in the drinking flow, invigoratingly fresh through to the lingering finish." Falstaff

"The 2023 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Superiore Villa Gemma is a fine, delicately fruity, delicate wine. Raspberry, mint, sweet lavender, crushed rock and round, ripe red berry fruit run throughout the core. Refined and polished, this is a gorgeous Cerasuolo that reflects the beauty of the style. The 2023 has what it takes to improve with bottle age, as evidenced by an extremely fine structure and fine tannins that are still hidden behind the pure fruit concentration at the moment. Marvellous." Vinous

"A focused, tactile and delicious Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo with notes of redcurrants, forest berries and fresh raspberries. Medium-bodied with a well-driven, lively center-palate and a flavorful finish with excellent length." James Suckling

Dark ruby, finely spicy bouquet, juicy cherry notes and delicate caramel. Elegant texture, with firm tannins and well structured. A round wine and ideal food companion. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby red. A nose of ripe cherries and ripe plums, plus a hint of blackberries and milk chocolate, reverberating on dried rose petal. Fleshy and juicy on the palate, showing creamy fruit core with great tension, reverberating with savoury tannin and fine pressure." Falstaff

"Sweet herbs mix with peppery florals and freshly crushed blackberries as the 2017 Merlot blossoms in the glass. This envelopes the palate with mineral-tinged red and blue fruits as zesty acidity keeps the expression amazingly fresh, yet decidedly savory. A staining of primary concentration lingers through the lightly structured finale, along with a salty flourish that keeps the mouth watering for more. Very nice." Vinous

The name Iskra comes from the Slavic language and means "spark". The name emphasises the uniqueness of a pair of wines that are able to seduce from the very first glass. Both Iskra wines have one characteristic in common: they have a great personality and their grapes each come from a single vineyard. With grapes typical of central Italy - Malvasia and Montepulciano from two of Abruzzo's favourite terroirs, Colline Teramane and Colline Pescaresi - both wines stand for their clear identity and origin.

Iskra Bianco is a wine that reminds Marina Cvetic of her childhood in Croatia. It is the result of the Malvasia Istriana grape variety, which is not native to Abruzzo but is well acclimatised and whose first rows of vines were planted in Loreto Aprutino's vineyard in 2010. This intense white wine, fresh and balanced, delights the palate with an exquisite balance between floral and hydrocarbon notes. An ideal accompaniment to Asian or transalpine raw food such as raw fish, sushi and Normandy oysters. SUPERIORE.DE

Marina Cvetic's Trebbiano Riserva - a dream and cult wine for lovers of full-bodied and complex white wines. Aromas of golden delicious, nougat, almond, honey, coconut and vanilla spread across the nose and palate. The balsamic-like texture gently conquers the palate and ends, flanked by fresh, lemony notes, in a long finish on crème caramel. SUPERIORE.DE

"The nose is acidic and textured, yet not without sweetness, with aromas of yellow apple, pineapple, lemon and vanilla. These notes all continue on the rich palate." Wine Enthusiast

"It has flavours of pineapple, smoked almonds, lemon cake and pralines. A hint of white chocolate. Creamy, medium to full-bodied and complex, with plenty of texture and depth and a long, nutty finish." James Suckling

Trebbiano Castello di Semivicoli, matured without the use of barrels, exudes an aromatic fragrance of ripe peach, mint and flowers, with mineral notes. Firm, rich, graceful and elegant on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Lemons, chopped herbs and beeswax on the nose. Crushed stones, too. So fresh, with a medium body and lots of texture leading to a long, waxy and tangy finish." James Suckling

Powerful, concentrated Montepulciano with an elegant woody note and multi-layered fruit flavours, true to the terroir and modern. Impressive richness that offers further palate pleasures with every sip. Equally impressive is the long and complex finish. One of the most emphatic Montepulciano wines in the region every year, it requires a little patience, but this will be handsomely rewarded. SUPERIORE.DE

"Shiny, dark purple red with a fine rim. Complex, spicy bouquet of juniper berries and black cherry, saddle leather, mocha and some iodine in the finish. Silky and persistent on the tongue, firm tannins, concentrated fruit and dark chocolate." Falstaff

"The 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva San Martino Rosso is a dark, floral wine with a forest-inspired bouquet that blends floral undergrowth with crushed ash stones and dried black cherries. It is round and supple with ripe red and blue fruits accompanied by a hint of pepper. Purple flowers swirl around inside. The wine finishes pleasantly, long and colourful. Strong tannins give it a youthful tension without slowing down the momentum." Vinous

The name Iskra comes from the Slavic language and means "spark". The name emphasises the uniqueness of a pair of wines that are able to seduce from the very first glass. Both Iskra wines have one characteristic in common: they have a great personality and their grapes each come from a single vineyard. With grapes typical of central Italy - Malvasia and Montepulciano from two of Abruzzo's favourite terroirs, Colline Teramane and Colline Pescaresi - both wines stand for their clear identity and origin.

The grapes for Iskra Rosso come from a vineyard in Controguerra in the province of Teramo. With its velvety softness and intense aromas of ripe red fruit, it represents one of the most famous terroirs in Abruzzo. It first matures in French oak barriques and then for a long time in the bottle. Complex and full-bodied with lively notes of blackberries, plums, blueberries and berries. Goes perfectly with roasts, stews or rich and flavoursome dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

"On the nose, there is a balance between earthy herbs and fruity undertones of strawberries, candied cherries and dried cranberries. On the palate, dense, taut tannins and impressive acidity provide the framework for a strong, salty bitter chocolate note, but also dried red berries, which provide some lightness on the finish." Wine Enthusiast

"This plush red has a round creaminess, although sculpted tannins and balsamico acidity provide fine definition. Offers a ripe profile of plum pudding, blackberry coulis and vanilla elements, with savory notes of iron, Mediterranean macchia and fresh earth." Wine Spectator

"The grapes for the Iskra come from a vineyard in the Colline Teramane. It is aged for 18 months in new barriques, which gives it spicy, tobacco and balsamic undertones on the nose. On the palate, it is structured, with enough softness to smooth out the assertive tannins and good ageing potential." Decanter

"Dark and brooding, the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Iskra 2019 develops slowly. Hints of cloves and mocha complicate the flavours of dried black cherries and sage. It is elegant and refined, with polished red and blue fruits supported by a mineral core, while sweet wood spices emerge towards the finish. The 2019 is structured with fine-grained tannins that saturate as cocoa and balsamic spices slowly fade away. This tight Iskra is made for the cellar." Vinous

Irresistible and complex Chardonnay, scented with tropical fruits and sweet spices. Opulent taste, in which a pleasant acidity builds up. Harmonious, luxurious Chardonnay from the barrique and one of the classics of Southern Italy. SUPERIORE.DE

Seductive bouquet of exotic sweet spices, pickled cherries and minty herbs. Juicy and deep on the palate, with an abundance of ripe red fruits stimulated by a lively acidity, while rosy tones build inside over a layer of fine but sweet tannins. In the long and lightly structured final, bitter notes mix with sour citrus fruits, which in combination with the fine extract sweetness creates all kinds of tension. Very energetic and complex. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark violet with minimal lightening rim. Medium expression on the nose, on roasted malt, walnuts, plus chocolate powder, reverberating on Amarena cherry and pickled plums. Nice creaminess and compact tannin on the palate, spans a wide arc, savoury in attack and progression, rich finish with minimal aftertaste." Falstaff

"The 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva is a dark beauty with balsam herbs giving way to spiced cookie, hints of cinnamon and citrus-kissed black cherries. It’s incredibly elegant in character with silken waves of ripe red and black fruits complemented by sweet spice. This saturates the palate with sweet tannins that create a structured feel, yet fail to slow the 2017’s momentum throughout the long and dramatic finale. There’s so much balance and intensity here, making the 2017 a sure bet for the cellar." Vinous