Wines from Marche

The white wines from La Monacesca are among the most exciting Verdicchio in the DOC region, with freshness and race in the glass. Clear, fruity, mineral, round and long. Typical varietal character and loyalty to the terroir, paired with depth and length, good ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

Brilliant and intense straw yellow colour with bright reflections. Fine citrus fruit, white-fleshed fruit and wild flowers on the nose, followed by a hint of herbs, then slightly spicy and very elegant. Elegance, longevity and freshness on the palate with a return of the bouquet flavours and a great spiciness, ending with the minerality characteristic of the Pecorino grape variety, simply delicious! SUPERIORE.DE

"A saline and bright white that has aromas and flavors of lemon rind, white grapefruit, rock salt and chamomile. It’s medium-bodied with excellent balance and focus. Salty, refreshing finish." James Suckling

Deep red colour, the nose is dominated by the scent of ripe cherries with hints of spices, plums and tobacco. On the palate, the same powerful aroma play, extract-rich, powerful and with juicy soft tannins. An organic wine in a class of its own! SUPERIORE.DE

Bright straw yellow with a sparkling centre. Vecchie Vigne from a vineyard over 40 years old has a seductive aroma of almond petals, white flowers, meadow herbs, lemon and white peach, with a green apple aftertaste. Lively minerality and a slight hint of aniseed on the palate. The expressive flavour is of fabulous elegance and length. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright straw yellow colour with green-golden tones. Delicate bouquet of smoky notes of white stone fruit and jasmine. Presents itself with a soft texture in the mouth, very juicy, invigorating acidity, glides with gentle pressure into the long finish, great." Falstaff

"A savoury, mineral white wine with notes of biscuit, crushed stones, salted almonds and dried apples on the nose. It is medium to full-bodied, biscuity and complex, with plenty of texture and flavour." James Suckling

Amber-coloured red. Finesse-rich notes of game, tobacco and undergrowth frame the sour cherry on the nose. Soft and ripe on the palate, very precise and pure, with medium pressure and well-proportioned tannins that flank a wonderfully long finish. 100% Sangiovese from the Marche, 100% performance from Bisci! SUPERIORE.DE

"The Rosso Villa Castiglioni 2018 begins with a dusty and delicate bouquet of dried roses, chalk dust and blackcurrants. It is silky-soft and round on the palate. Juicy acidity and peppery wild berry fruit accompany it. The wine finishes with a lovely inner sweetness and a surprising length, leaving a slight hint of fine tannin. Very beautifully made. On the palate and in the finish, the 2018 exceeds all expectations." Vinous

"This 100% Sangiovese, fermented in stainless steel, aged in used tonneaux and refined in concrete, has aromas of wild strawberries and flowers, with a hint of plum. In the mouth, it shows cherry fruit and firm tannins. Earthy, ripe and concentrated, with a long, fresh finish." Decanter

The famous anise liqueur Sambuca from green aniseed. Its mild taste is appreciated above all purely as a digestif (lit and with coffee bean) or in mixed drinks. SUPERIORE.DE

Limoncello by Meletti is an Italian lime liqueur made according to traditional craftsmanship. Fresh, not too sweet and with a pleasant bitter note, the alcohol is well integrated. SUPERIORE.DE

Misco, the estate's second top white product and a Verdicchio matured in stainless steel, exudes an elegant bouquet of floral and aniseed notes. On the palate, it is a magnificent interplay of juice and vigour, spicy tension, fresh citrus notes and aromatic firmness. It is one of the best in its denomination every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, pale straw yellow with white-golden tendencies. Restrained on the nose, reminiscent of summer rain on hot stone, with white flowers and stone fruit. Soft fruit centre on the palate, beautiful fresh, juicy and salty notes on an above-average long finish." Falstaff

"The 2022 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Misco is intense, with hints of chalk dust and dried flowers that dissolve to reveal yellow apples and ginger spice. It is pleasantly round and enveloping, with an oily note that lingers over the palate with a wave of lime-flavoured nectarines. The 2022 finishes crisp and concentrated, leaving a hint of minerality and herbs." Vinous

The Verdicchio Podium has a strong personality with its aroma of citrus fruits, broom and lime blossom, tropical fruits and almonds. The flavour is perfectly structured, balanced and dynamic in its various components, spicy, mineral and with an unbeatably harmonious, spicy finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Pale straw yellow with green-gold nuances. Salty, mineral bouquet with notes of salt lemon, almond blossom and a touch of fumé. Silky texture on the palate, with tart fruit, very juicy and a subtle mineral finish." Falstaff

"The Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Podium 2021 is delicate and restrained, it needs to be coaxed to reveal its pretty bouquet of young peach, raw almond and sweet smoke. It is elegant, with a silky texture and admirable weight, but retains its wonderful energy. Fresh acidity and saline minerals enliven its rich, ripe nectarine and pear centre. The 2021 finishes long and colourful, leaving a youthful tension as vanilla custard and candied citrus fade away. Even though it is very pleasant to drink today, this is a vintage for the cellar. It's worth noting that the Podium is made without oak, just stainless steel and cement, so we taste the pure fruit." Vinous

Bright yellow-green colour. Ripe peaches, herbs, apricots, minerals, smoke, nougat and honey closely interwoven in the aroma. Beautifully proportioned, intense, creamy, with a beautifully light and elegant flavour in which the barrel wood is masterfully integrated. Great ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"Layered and complex nose here, with ripe stone fruit, mangoes and hints of wafers, pastry crust and cream. Medium- to full-bodied with a structured, well-formed palate, offering tense acidity and fine tannins. Lingering and focused." James Suckling

The company's flagship product is Anisetta Meletti, a regional speciality made exclusively from the best green aniseed from the Ascoli Piceno area. The cone plant Pimpinella anisum, from which the clear, refreshing, sweet and mild liqueur takes its name and which gives it its characteristic aroma, is cultivated in the loamy hills at the foot of Monte dell'Ascensione. SUPERIORE.DE

The more alcoholic and dry version of the company's flagship: Anisetta Meletti Dry is a regional speciality, for the production of which only the best green aniseed from the Ascoli Piceno area is used. The umbelliferous plant Pimpinella anisum, from which the water-clear, sweet and mild liqueur takes its name and which is responsible for its characteristic aroma, is picked in the clayey hills at the foot of Monte dell'Ascensione. SUPERIORE.DE

Garofoli's Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva Serra Fiorese is initially rather restrained in the glass with delicate nuances of yellow flowers, peach skin and a hint of spices. It is then powerful on the palate with rich peach and nectarine notes accompanied by zesty citrus fruit. It leaves an aftertaste of tension and whets the appetite for more with its salty minerality and a hint of baked apple that lingers for a long time. The Serra Fiorese, vinified in small batches, is a barrel-matured and fermented Verdicchio that needs to be given a certain amount of time to experience its undisputed greatness, and then it is great! SUPERIORE.DE

"Strong ruby red with light violet reflections. Rich nose with notes of sour cherry, blackberry jam, liquorice and Mediterranean maquis. Soft, supple and balanced on the palate between freshness, juiciness and well-integrated tannins." Falstaff

"The 2018 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Centovie rises from the glass with a wild and exotic blend of crushed rose petals, sweet herbs, wet stone and strawberries. It fills the palate with a soft, almost fleshy texture held together by a lively acidity that enlivens the tart wild berries within. The 2018 is long-lasting, just lightly textured with a hint of sour citrus that contrasts nicely." Vinous

"This is an organic wine whose fruit comes exclusively from the Umani Ronchi vineyards. The 2018 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Centovie represents some of the fruit from two hills facing each other. The wine shows beautiful dark fruit and rich concentration with soft layers of black cherry, plum, spice and leather. The 2018 vintage offers plenty of freshness to cleanse the palate." Wine Advocate

Every year, Cùmaro is one of the great Montepulciano wines from the Conero cliffs, which dip into the Adriatic Sea on a small headland, where the sun and sea breeze caress the vines. Radiant in a rich, dark garnet red colour. The expressive bouquet is dark berry with cassis, blueberry and ripe wild raspberry. Opens up on the palate with grippy tannins, juicy, powerful, multi-layered and with a savoury, spicy finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"A chewy and firm red showing black cherries, nutmeg, cedar, coffee beans and orange peel on the nose. It’s full-bodied and compact, with a sturdy tannin frame. A little woody for now, but long and with potential." James Suckling

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

Grosso Agontano Riserva rises dark, floral and earthy from the glass, with notes of undergrowth and tobacco that fade into blackberry and crushed stone. Its velvety texture leads to a sophisticated presentation of red and black fruits, underpinned by cool herbal notes, while the fine tannins slowly saturate towards the end. The finish is long, youthfully structured and with a pleasant inner sweetness, while nuances of tangerine and sour cherry linger under a hint of violet blossom.

Agontano is a 100% Montepulciano that is refined in barriques in the second passage. It is a very attractive interpretation of the grape variety and still needs some time in the cellar to show its best side. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark shiny purple red colour, fine rim. Spicy bouquet of juniper and sweet cherries, followed by leather and a hint of espresso in the finish. Silky texture on the palate, savoury fruit clothed in chocolate, with firm tannins and gentle pressure." Falstaff

"The Conero Riserva Agontano 2020 is dark and intense. A cascade of violet flowers and lavender gives way to crushed blackberries accompanied by hints of cocoa and camphor. The wine is soft and enveloping, with polished red and black fruits accompanied by lively acidity. Fine tannins build slowly towards the end. The Agontano leaves behind chalky mineral tones and a bitter espresso note that lingers until the long and structured final. The 2020 is complex and beautifully balanced, but also very young. We will have to be patient." Vinous

Maximo is a Sauvignon Bianco made from grapes grafted with Botrytis cinerea and smells and tastes incredibly complex. Golden with amber highlights, distinct aromas of honey, apricot and peach, followed by notes of ripe figs and candied citrus. Rich and balanced with crisp fresh persistence and wonderful length. SUPERIORE.DE

The quality of Italian white wines has risen sharply in the last 20 years, and this also applies to Verdicchio. There are still quite a few bad old-fashioned wines, but the good ones can be a revelation. The region around Matelica in particular has made Verdicchio famous, as the best representatives of its type come from here - and mostly from the higher vineyards: complex, mineral, fresh and long-lasting.

Vigneto Fogliano is produced only in the best years from a careful selection of Verdicchio grapes from the best vineyard of the Biscis. On the nose, it presents green fruit with beautiful notes of honeydew melon and summer jasmine. Its deep, multi-layered flavours of apples, pears, fresh citrus fruits and a hint of menthol caress the palate creamily, before a salty minerality and fresh acidity take over and help the wine achieve a perfection that is second to none. Fogliano spends 18 months on the lees in a cement tank before being bottled in numbered bottles. In a nutshell, it is a great white wine! SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2021 Verdicchio di Matelica Fogliano is impossible to ignore with its captivating bouquet of lemon oil, tangerine, minty herbs and sweet smoke. It’s soothingly round with a pretty inner sweetness, displaying notes of nectarine and orange. Saline mineral tones add a tactile feel toward the close. The 2021 finishes wickedly fresh and perfumed, ending on a salty flourish. This is a remarkably pretty rendition of Fogliano that I can’t get enough of." Vinous

Verdicchio Riserva in a rich, sensual style with plenty of dynamism in the glass. Ripe peaches, flowers, sweet herbs, orange peel and minerals in a complex yet typical varietal bouquet. First-class impressions on the palate and already easy to drink today, but with good potential for the coming years. SUPERIORE.DE

"Here is a pretty white wine that delivers on both fronts: aromatic complexity and mouthfeel. The Monacesca 2020 Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva Mirum sees fruit from a three-hectare site on heavier clay soils. This unoaked Riserva starts off with a decisively mineral-driven bouquet with dustings of crushed stone and powdered terracotta. A swell of primary fruit appears on second nose with candied lemon, Darjeeling tea and waxy fruit." Wine Advocate

Libenter, which means "with pleasure", is an extremely refined Rosso Piceno with a broad bouquet of fruit, spices and flowers. Balanced, juicy, fresh and tangy and not only extremely typical in flavour, but also with remarkable depth and complexity. We are very fond of this high-quality red wine with its distinctive seductive qualities. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark ruby red with brightening edges. Intense nose of blackberry and plum, spice and a hint of tobacco. Mouth-filling on the palate, fresh with a firm tannin structure, lingering final with hints of mocha." Falstaff

"A mentholated freshness introduces the Rosso Libenter 2020, while a bouquet of sage, white pepper, chalk dust and blackberries develops in the glass. It is soft and round, with fragrant inner flowers and balsamic spices cascading through. The 2020 has a long floral finish that must be experienced, balanced by a hint of acidic citrus." Vinous

Rosso Piancarda is intensely flavoured and perfumed, with medicinal cherries and raspberries complemented by dusty roses and sweet cedar wood notes. On the palate, Piancarda turns to the savoury spectrum. Salty and full of savoury minerality, it shows spicy red fruits, a hint of plum and a lively acidity that keeps the expression fresh. The grippy tannins remain until the final, while the notes of sour citrus fruits and tart berries slowly fade away. SUPERIORE.DE

Elegant Metodo Classico without dosage, dry and very vinous, with aromas of apple, pear, walnut and almond. Full body, beautiful fruit, delicious and long. An ideal and puristic companion to light Mediterranean dishes. SUPERIORE.DE