Guerrieri Rizzardi

The grapes for this wonderful Soave Classico come from the cru sites in front of the Castello di Soave and on the Costeggiola hill, a very hilly terrain with a silty-sandy texture, rich in active limestone and volcanic rock. Floral and delicate notes of fresh yellow fruit. Dry on the palate, beautifully expressive and very precise with a lively freshness. A very appealing everyday wine with a lovely drinkability. SUPERIORE.DE

Keya is the impressive result of several years of experimental work, resulting in a rosato from 50-year-old vines that perfectly expresses the style and personality of the Rizzardi vineyards in the hills above Bardolino. The label is a tribute to the Venetian heritage of Contessa M.C. Loredan, who ran the winery for many years and played a key role in making Chiaretto Bardolino a popular wine classic in the region. The name is derived from the first two syllables of Chi-a-ret-to (KEY-A). Sparkling salmon orange colour. A fine aroma of lemon, strawberry, blood orange and elderberries on the nose. Fresh on the palate, with well-integrated acidity, dry and full of character on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intense copper pink colour. Nose of wild strawberries and ice candy, also reminiscent of gooseberry in the aftertaste. Fruity on the palate, also shows fine tannins and firm pressure, youthful expression, delicate bitter note on the final." Falstaff

The grapes for this Bardolino Classico come from the Tacchetto vineyard, located at the foot of the Adige Valley near the village of Cavaion. The success pattern of this extremely popular red is easy to describe: a unique terroir of sand, scree and limestone and an always well-ventilated site. Intensely fragrant and engaging. On the palate, the clear and unambiguous structure and, as the drink continues, a silkiness that catapults it from a standing start into the hearts of Bardolino lovers. SUPERIORE.DE

Fresh, very drinky Valpolicella from stainless steel without wood. Dark, rich ruby violet. Characterful bouquet of dark cherries with a hint of black pepper and beetroot. Medium pressure on the palate, good structure and depth, clear fruit, well-balanced acidity, smooth on the finish and very coherent with its fine spicy vein. SUPERIORE.DE

Delara is Guerrieri Rizzardi's new Bardolino cru from the single vineyard Montebaldo. It exudes a wonderfully fresh bouquet of wild strawberries, roses, blood oranges and wet stones. It is pure and airy with beautiful mineral red fruits and a hint of spice. The wine finishes with peppery, floral notes and a hint of tart raspberry that gives it a zesty energy. SUPERIORE.DE

This white dessert wine with DOCG status is made from 100% Garganega grapes from selected volcanic plots in the Costeggiola vineyard in Soave, where the grapes are predestined for drying due to the advanced age of the vines (22 to 50 years) and the resulting very manageable yield. This takes place for three to five months in the "fruttaio", after which the wine is matured for 30 months in stainless steel tanks and 5 hl wooden barrels.

Very concentrated nose of stone fruit, lemon zest and honey. Opulent on the palate with a good balance of sweetness and acidity - overall, this dessert wine is very fresh and well-rounded, making it an excellent accompaniment to not-too-sweet desserts and perfectly matured soft cheeses. Just 2,666 numbered bottles go on sale with each vintage. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich, sparkling red gold colour. Inviting nose with notes of apricot jam, ripe pears and slightly resinous components that add playfulness. Lots of sweet, ripe fruit on the palate at first, again apricot, but also honeydew melon, then quite pronounced bitter components on the final, alternating between sweet and bitter." Falstaff

The first year of production of the single-varietal Merlot Clos Roareti dates back to 2004. The grapes are harvested from the 2 hectare historic Rovereti vineyard in Negrar. In this 100-year-old vineyard, which is surrounded by equally old walls, Merlot has been cultivated since the 1990s and is perfectly adapted to the climate and the red clay soil. The palate is rich and full-bodied with complex and very aromatic notes. Maturation in oak barrels gives this wine its special flavour and certain opulence. SUPERIORE.DE

"Some dried berries, plums, baking spices, dark earth and peppercorn funk. Fluid and dense with some graininess on the palate, followed by a slightly gamey finish." James Suckling

"Sage and rosemary combine with wild blueberries and a hint of undergrowth when the 2020 Rosso Clos Roareti blossoms in the glass. On the palate, it is silky and supple, with mineral-tinged red and blue fruits accentuated by a hint of mocha towards the end. The finish is structured, long and lingers on balsamic herbs and tobacco." Vinous

The latest addition to the Guerrieri Rizzardi Amarone family comes from three cru vineyards in the municipality of Negrar, including their best vineyard, Calcarole. The grapes are dried in the Pojega drying rooms for 3-5 months without any technical aids. 3 Cru is available a little earlier than Villa Rizzardi or Calcarole and offers complex dark fruit flavours with a very pleasant sweet spiciness on the palate. Fresh and lively, it glides into a respectable finish with plenty of character. SUPERIORE.DE

The grapes for the house's classic Amarone come from the vineyards at the headquarters in Negrar, the vast majority of them from the top Pojega vineyard, from vines over 35 years old. They are 100% dried in small crates in the historic rooms of Pojega. Captivating blend of dusty black cherry and blueberry, complemented by a spice box full of cloves and dried flowers. Very elegant on the palate with a core of minerality and bright dark red fruits that cascade over the palate. Finishes well-structured with balsamic herbs and mocha, while the residual acids retain a lovely freshness. Wonderfully balanced and convincing! SUPERIORE.DE

Amarone Calcarole is only produced in small quantities in the best vintages and has officially been allowed to bear the label Riserva since the 2015 vintage. The single vineyard of the same name is located above Villa di Rovereti in the heart of Negrar in the Valpolicella Classico region. The vineyard offers ideal conditions for great red wines due to its particularly warm climate and stony soil as well as its south-western exposure. The grapes are 100% dried in small crates in the historic rooms of Pojega. A wonderfully intense balsamic wine with memories of rosemary oil, damp forest floor and dried ginger. On the palate, complex berry flavours and a wonderful depth, Calcarole is thoroughly masculine, energetic and powerful, with tightly woven tannins and clearly structured. SUPERIORE.DE

"Showing a savory and earthy character, the Guerrieri Rizzardi 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Calcarole offers a mix of dried spice, bitter chocolate, dark fruit and herb. This is a full-bodied Amarone from a classic vintage that sits at an encouraging place in its drinking window. The alcohol measures an imposing 17%, but the wine actually goes down easier than you might expect. There is sweetness on the close with candid cherry or blood orange." Wine Advocate

"The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Calcarole 2016 is a sleeping giant with an abundance of crushed blueberries and black cherries accompanied by blood orange, allspice and mocha. This wine is deep and velvety in texture, with cooling mineral tones and vibrant acids contrasting with the rich red fruits on the palate. Balsamic spices and inner rose tones linger as the 2016 finishes with sweet tannins that frame this red wine perfectly. It is stunningly beautiful, but beware of the 17% alcohol content." Vinous

For the first time, the winery presents a small amount of its matured Amarone flagship "Calcarole" from the very good 2011 vintage as a so-called "late release". Rich, dark, almost decadent bouquet that evokes memories of Christmas cake with brown sugar icing served with a cup of hot cocoa. It is velvety-smooth and full-bodied, yet perfectly balanced, with ripe black fruits mingling with exotic spices, mocha and violet flowers. After almost a minute, you can still taste notes of dark chocolate and a hint of bitter coffee. While the Calcarole shamelessly flaunts its extroverted character, it does so with class. The further five years of bottle ageing have done it more than good! SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, brilliant ruby red. Elegant nose of ripe cherries with a fine scent of roses. Creamy attack on the palate with flattering play, expands nicely, pithy red fruit, presents itself very harmoniously until the final, firm pressure." Falstaff

"Deep ruby red with hints of amber. Red cherry, dark plums, botanical herbs and minerals on the seductive nose. Dense and very supple, with ripe red cherry, tobacco and sweet spice flavours that are precise, concentrated and layered. The finish is long and lively, offering lingering spicy nuances and a hint of faded rose petals. Just a hint of excessive alcohol lowers my score, but at 16% alcohol this olfactory sensation is virtually unavoidable. A stunning Amarone; if I'm not mistaken, this may be the best Calcarole I've ever tasted." Vinous