Decugnano dei Barbi

Just the thing for fans of mineral and drinkable white wines: bright straw yellow with a golden shimmer. On the nose, the Frammento (formerly Villa Barbi) opens with green melon, candied lime, fresh mint and wet stone. Streamlined and vertical on the palate, with salty tones flanked by yellow stone fruit. Finishes fresh, with good acidity, medium length and a cheeky salty-spicy note. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2022 Frammento, previously known as the Villa Barbi Bianco, opens with a delicate blend of crushed stones, apricots and hints of fermented ginger. It’s soft and round with a pretty inner sweetness, mixing candied lime with green apples to form a display of contrasts. The 2022 tapers off potent and long yet still relatively fresh. A green melon note sticks around." Vinous

"Aromas of green apples, Meyer lemons and a hint of golden kiwi, followed by peppery green herbs. Hints of rocket and wet stones. Medium body with refreshing, crisp acidity. Tangy, savoury and chalky finish." James Suckling

Powerful ruby colour. Beautiful interplay between earthy notes, tobacco and dark berry fruit on the nose, finely characterised. Juicy on the palate and on the palate, flows calmly, grippy, well-integrated tannins, fine drinking flow. Much fresher and airier than expected, but still powerful. A harmonious all-rounder with ambition. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dense, impenetrable ruby red colour. The nose has a strawberry jam aroma, followed by leather, tobacco, mocha, sage and caramel, with a rum pot aftertaste. Youthful tannins with seductive fruit on the palate. A pithy, juicy finish on the palate, with minimal dryness on the final." Falstaff

"Crushed wild berries, white pepper, rose petals and lavender form a convincing bouquet when the Rosso Battito 2021 blossoms in the glass. Round yet cool to the touch, it glides across the palate with ease, revealing ripe red and blue fruits and violet pastilles. The 2021 leaves a stain of primary concentration and a web of fine tannins while remaining juicy and fresh. It is both classically dry and lively. This wine offers fantastic value for money from vintage to vintage." Vinous

The name Mare Antico (ancient sea) is a tribute to the marine fossils and shells found in the soils of Orvieto. It is a beautiful blend of 55% Grechetto, 20% Vermentino, 20% Chardonnay and 5% Procanico and is the house's flagship wine every year.

Mare Antico blows like a cool breeze from a mountain top, mixing crushed rock with raw almonds, a hint of sage, ginger and flint in its interesting bouquet. It flows across the palate with skilful ease, long and citrusy. It also has a lovely inner sweetness contrasted by candied lime and salty minerals. Finishes structured and crisp, with a crisp green apple and residual acidity that begs for the next sip. The complexity of this wine is unrivalled, coupled with an overwhelming balance. Mare Antico is beautiful today, but also has a great future. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, light golden yellow with slightly greenish nuances. Shy on the nose, with hints of lime, followed by subtle meadow herbs. Creamy texture on the palate with a fine fruit melt, pleasantly juicy with medium length." Falstaff

"The Orvieto Classico Superiore Mare Antico 2022 is unobtrusive and delicate in the glass, it smells of flint, white smoke and sliced pears. It is pleasantly round and supple, with a hint of salty minerals that create remarkable contrasts. Ripe fruit flavours swirl throughout the wine and are supported by a zesty acidity. The finish is long and slightly tannic, leaving a youthful tension and a hint of bitter lemon that tantalises the cheeks. The 2022 may be a little behind today, but it is designed for long and fruity ageing." Vinous

Enzo Barbi produces just 3,500 bottles of this flavoursome Sauvignon Bianco every year. It rises from the glass with a lovely freshness, while a delicate wave of lemongrass, chalk dust and sweet custard fills the senses. On the palate, it flows with silky texture and ripe, citrus-kissed orchard fruits accompanied by lively acidity. A hint of mint leaves and green peas lingers on the classically dry finish, while L'Inquisitore ends remarkably tangy and with a slight mineral bite. This extremely pretty Sauvignon Bianco from Umbria appears rather light-footed at first impression, but leaves a great impression. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright straw yellow with green reflections. Redcurrant, some kiwi and fresh herbs on the nose, reminiscent of basil and nettle. Stony on the palate, animating and mouthwatering, vibrant acidity, lots of herbal flavour on the final." Falstaff

"This is an aromatic white with herbal and earthy elements, exuding notes of pear skins, pomelos, guavas and chopped herbs. It’s full-bodied and fleshy with plenty of bite and fresh acidity to balance." James Suckling

The date on the label (1212 AD) indicates when the winery was given its current name. Deep, powerful dark violet colour. The seamless bouquet is infused with purple and black fruit nuances with a good amount of spice and toast. The palate is pure elegance, silky and streamlined, with an increasing minerality that provides traction, while a delicate web of tannins, floral black fruits and exotic spices resonate. Our verdict: A juicy, deep and captivating red that already has a wide range and will continue to grow with further years of bottle ageing. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich ruby red with slightly brightening edges. Intense and multi-layered nose, with notes of ripe sour cherries and rich blackberries, slightly peppery and floral in the background. Lots of ripe fruit and spice on the palate, juicy and with fine-grained tannins, long final." Falstaff

"Reserved and darkly alluring, the 2020 Umbria Rosso A.D.1212 blends 65% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Montepulciano from Orvieto. It entices with a nuanced blend of blackberries, sage, green olive and crushed rocks. This washes across the palate with elegance, polished and silky-smooth, contrasting mineral-tinged red and black fruits with vibrant acidity as gently grippy tannins mount toward the close. It tapers off long and lightly structured, leaving savory herbs and a slightly bitter twang of balsamic spice pinching at the cheeks. While already enjoyable today, the best is yet to come." Vinous

"Deep nose with hints of sandalwood and incense to the fresh array of black fruit. Some dark chocolates and roasted spices as well. Quite juicy and firm on the palate with medium to full body and a long, textured finish. Lovely spicy bitterness here." James Suckling

In the mysterious Etruscan caves under the hill of Decugnano, a sparkling wine matures at a constant 13° Celsius, which is only produced in extremely limited quantities. Claudio Barbi produced this Metodo Classico in 1978 as the first bottle fermenter in Umbria. At that time, it was still made from Procanico and Verdello grapes. Over the years, it has developed into something even more special by using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and extending the ageing period on the lees to 4 years. The entire production process is artisanal: riddling and disgorging are still done manually and are carried out with noticeable care and passion. The result? An elegant, fresh spumante with a fine and persistent perlage that continues to set standards, and not just in Umbria. Delicate golden colour, lively and long-lasting perlage. Complex, rich and convincing on the palate, with notes of tropical fruit, honey, candied citrus fruit and a delicate vegetal flavour. Closes precisely and razor-sharp. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2019 Metodo Classico Dosaggio Zero pushes minerality to the max with a bouquet that mixes crushed rocks and sea shells with white smoke, spring flowers and nectarines. This blends purity with outstanding richness and verve. A soothing wave of saline-tinged bubbles gives way to ripe orchard fruits, mint and a chalky concentration toward the close. The 2019 cleans up beautifully long, with ground ginger elevating a sour citrus tinge. Bravo." Vinous

The name Mare Antico (ancient sea) is a tribute to the marine fossils and shells found in the soils of Orvieto. It is a beautiful blend of 55% Grechetto, 20% Vermentino, 20% Chardonnay and 5% Procanico and is the house's flagship wine every year.

Mare Antico blows like a cool breeze from a mountain top, mixing crushed rock with raw almonds, a hint of sage, ginger and flint in its interesting bouquet. It flows across the palate with skilful ease, long and citrusy. It also has a lovely inner sweetness contrasted by candied lime and salty minerals. Finishes structured and crisp, with a crisp green apple and residual acidity that begs for the next sip. The complexity of this wine is unrivalled, coupled with an overwhelming balance. Mare Antico is beautiful today, but also has a great future. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2022 Orvieto Classico Superiore Mare Antico is understated and delicate in the glass, wafting up with flint stone, white smoke and sliced pears. It’s soothingly round and supple, with a spike of salty minerals that creates remarkable contrasts. Ripe orchard fruits swirl throughout, motivated by zesty acidity. It finishes long and gently tannic, leaving a youthful tension and hints of bitter lemon that pucker the cheeks. While a bit backward today, the 2022 is built for a long and fruitful maturation." Vinous