Zýmè

There are no fixed rules at Zýmē, only the pursuit of experimentation to offer a unique and honest experience that also conveys the character of each individual vintage. Il Bianco From Black to White (sealed with a glass cork) opens with a golden colour and a whitish sheen typical of grapes that have no skin contact. The predominant grape variety is Rondinella Bianca, a mutation that was only discovered by chance in the vineyards of Zýmē and is unique in Italy.

The fresh bouquet has aromas of citrus fruits, honeydew melon, star jasmine and sour grapefruit. The palate is uniquely different, but silky and very flavoursome with a medium body, while ripe apples and nectarines are stimulated by juicy acidity and a hint of green citrus fruit. The tension builds with each successive glass, a slightly tropical note is added in the final, together with salty minerals and lingering spice, From Black to White also clearly expresses its deserved place in Celestino Gaspari's exceptional portfolio, because it is a white gem full of character and purity! SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich straw yellow with green reflections. Seductive, intense aroma of mandarins and jasmine on the nose, with some rose and elderflower in the background. Clear and precise on the palate, harmonious, animating, well-integrated acidity, some fleur de sal on the lingering final." Falstaff

"The 2020 Il Bianco From Black to White wafts up, sweetly floral with candied citrus, raw almond and vanilla bean. It soothes with a soft textural wave of ripe orchard fruits as lime zest adds a reverberation of tension. The 2020 tapers off spicy and crisp, leaving cooling mineral tones and an almost crunchy sensation. Always unique and consistently one of the best values from the Zymé portfolio." Vinous

"Lime and lemon peel on the nose, with notes of white flowers and wet stones. Medium-bodied with plenty of fresh flavour extension and good length. A very flavoursome white this year." James Suckling

Dark ruby red. The bouquet gives a furious hint of what this opulent long-distance runner is capable of: full heart of cherry fruit, blue flowers, damp forest floor, noble spice and a well-dosed use of wood impressively alternate. Just as complex and multi-layered on the nose, the wine goes on to show beguiling wild berries, precisely polished tannins and an extraordinarily elegant long final. Wow! SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby red with very light garnet reflections. Notes of ripe cherries, wild berries, sweet spices and some hints of cocoa and dried flowers. Velvety, soft, persistent, spicy flavour with excellent extract richness." Falstaff

"Crushed berries and a layer of mahogany on the nose. Full-to medium-bodied with a very refined, polished feel and intense flavor. Firm tannins push the length. Very solid, but exuding finesse." James Suckling

"The 2018 Valpolicella Classico Superiore seduces with a dusting of confectionery spice and sweet smoke complementing its bright cherry profile. This is juicy and round with vivid ripe red berries and minty herbs, along with violet and lavender florals. The finish is long and staining with round tannins that linger. For all of its sweet spice, the Valpolicella Classico Superiore is matured entirely in large Slavonian oak - what you smell is fruit." Vinous

Straw yellow with greenish reflections. An exciting bouquet of white flowers, roses and a hint of acacia honey. Spicy and taut on the palate, with a very aristocratic perlage, flavours of bread crust, yeast and a hint of liquorice. One of the few outstanding Metodo Classico from the Veneto made from 100% Pinot Nero. Very great class! SUPERIORE.DE

"The Vino Spumante Rosé Dosaggio Zero 2018 is floral, exotic, slightly tropical and yet very refined as it exudes a bouquet of fresh roses, dusty peach and dried strawberries. It has a soft body and feel, with a savoury core that drives the ripe red berries and sweet spice across the palate. It is bone dry and yet so fruity and refined. The mouth remains watery while the 2018 finishes mineral. This is a single-varietal Pinot Noir made according to the Metodo Classico method." Vinous

"Rich, bright ruby red colour. Inviting aroma of ripe cherry, plum and spice. Juicy and fruity on the palate, present, fine-meshed tannins, lingering finish." Falstaff

"The 2020 "60 20 20" (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot) pours from the glass with a dark blend of blackcurrants, lavender, chalk dust and fresh tobacco leaves. It is round and supple, with ripe wild berries and sweet spices balanced by zesty acidity. It leaves a layer of fine tannins and finishes with nuances of mocha, savoury herbs and white pepper. The "60 20 20" will need patience to show its best side." Vinous

"A little closed on the nose, but the palate shows a very pure redcurrant and berry character, along with chewy tannins that dominate the finish for now. This wine needs a year or two to open up and mature. It will gain complexity with age." James Suckling

"The 2013 Oseleta is dark and brooding, but also seductive, with balsamic spices, cocoa and mentholated herbs giving way to cinnamon-dusted blackcurrants. It envelops the palate with a silky fruit texture, but quickly gains tension as a stimulating acidity and sour citrus nuances meet under a hint of rosy inner flowers. It finishes structured and coats the cheeks with fine-grained tannins, while traces of liquorice and tobacco fade. The 2013 Oseleta is a wild wine that is still years away from its optimal drinking window. That said, I doubt the acidity will ever recede, so plan to enjoy it with a savoury stew or a fatty cut of meat." Vinous

"Tantalising aromas of baked cherries with dried red and purple flowers follow through to a tight and concentrated, medium-bodied palate with plenty of fruit and still active tannins. The finish is crisp and quite tart. For a 10-year-old red wine, it seems so young. It comes from one of the traditional red grapes in the Amarone blend and shows here what it can do as a soloist." James Suckling

Kairós is the "little Harlequin" in terms of grape variety composition and is always produced in the years when its big brother is not in production. This is really not a flaw, because with its comparatively attractive price and above all its crazy blend of four white and 12 red grape varieties, it is an incredibly fleshy and juicy wine with an impenetrable, dark appearance. The bouquet is equally charged, almost voltaic, with rich layers of dark fruit that remain surprisingly airy and fresh despite the considerable weight and concentration. This is a wine of extremes, but there is no doubting its mad drinking pleasure and the harmony it offers to the senses. However, you need to be in the right mood, because only then does the eclectic Kairós blend offer an intoxicating and incomparable experience with guaranteed memorable value. SUPERIORE.DE

"There's plenty to savour on the nose, from baked cherries and red berries to graphite and pressed flowers. Medium-bodied with the same broad spectrum of complex flavours, tamed a little at the moment by firm, clean tannins. An interesting blend of 16 indigenous and international grape varieties, 12 red and four white. It's still approachable now, but will develop into something very special after another year or two in the bottle." James Suckling

Celestino Gaspari is regarded on the scene as the successor to Giuseppe Quintarelli, having worked there for many years as cellar master. His vintage Amarone has an intense ruby colour with a garnet sheen. The full bouquet has aromas of dark chocolate, prunes, black cherries and cloves. Complex and full-bodied on the palate, very juicy fruit, cherries, plums flanked by a gentle tannin. It offers an impressive multi-dimensionality and great richness, which is evenly distributed across all the senses - regardless of whether it is drunk young after a few hours of decanting or whether it reaches further maturity in the bottle over many years with good storage. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intense ruby red colour tending towards violet. Rich, fruity nose with notes of sour cherries, plums, raspberries and a light, well-integrated vegetal note, followed by liquorice and walnut. Striking and rich on the palate, the dense tannins ensure a lingering flavour on the palate." Falstaff

"The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is savoury and unexpectedly fresh with a bouquet of crushed black cherries and dried roses accompanied by savoury, exotic spices. The wine has a silky texture with a balanced inner sweetness that complements the depth of the mineralised red and black fruits. The residual acids provide a lovely energy on the inside, while the liquorice and citrus notes slowly fade into dark chocolate, all beautifully framed by a layer of fine tannin." Vinous

"Needs air to develop the beautiful black fruits on the nose, from redcurrants to dates and fresh elderberries. On the palate, however, the fruit unfolds immediately and takes on inky, liquorice notes and a hint of polished oak as it progresses. Full-bodied and beautifully focussed with good power and balanced structure. The finish is long, but will gain in length and complexity as it matures in the bottle. A "modern" wine, but one that betrays nothing of the Amarone tradition. Excellent. Drinkable now, but it will continue to improve." James Suckling

Very deep with exotic spices and dried black cherries. More savoury than sweet on the palate, salty minerals, sour citrus and a touch of juicy acidity mingle with robust and dark red fruits. Finishes long and leaves an autumnal aromatic carpet of spices and a hint of vanillin oak, always fresh and never too broad. In its balance and beguiling nature, it has an almost dangerous drinkability that is likely to lead to emptying the bottle far too quickly ... SUPERIORE.DE

"Elegant, dark ruby with violet hints. In the nose of fresh brown bread, then of pickled cherries, plums, also floral of roses and lilac, blackberry syrup in the aftertaste. On the palate with slightly noticeable wood and a bitter undertone, spicy, dense without being ponderous, lingers for a long time." Falstaff

"The 2015 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico is intense and more savory than sweet, with a blend of crushed ashen stone and grilled herbs giving way to dried black cherries. Its silken textures coat the palate with depths of ripe red and black fruits complemented by dark chocolate and inner rose notes. This leaves a bitter balsamic twang as the lips curl, and the mouth is left watering for more. For all of its power, the 2015 comes across as remarkably balanced and enjoyable today, but also with a bright future ahead of it." Vinous

"A slightly heady nose of sweet, dried black fruits that continues on the palate. Full-bodied with well-integrated tannins that drive the fruit. Well structured and everything in order." James Suckling

La Mattonara Riserva is a massive wine with wonderful exaggerations of ripe fruit, oak spice, dark aromas and dense texture. Sparkling, intense ruby garnet. Deep and complex on the nose, very clear and intense, fresh cherry juice, some fresh plum, nuances of coriander seeds behind. La Mattonara does an impressive peacock wheel on the palate, its diverse aromas from ripe dark cherries to cranberries and spicy components are not only very well integrated, but also perfectly framed in a fine-meshed tannin. Dark, brooding and spicy in character, the Appassito fruit is impeccably balanced, everything comes through beautifully here. It will more than delight Amarone fans and other lovers of great wines, if they will not be put off by its price or its 16 %vol. alcohol. SUPERIORE.DE

"Available in a heavy glass bottle with a label design of a human fingerprint inside a grape leaf, the Zýmè 2009 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva della Mattonara does indeed prove to be a fitting joint venture between vintner and vineyard. It shows an evolved character with concentrated black fruit, savory tobacco, cured meat and sweet spice. The mouthfeel is dense and almost syrupy. It offers a powerful 16% alcohol content. This is surely one of the most distinctive and original wines to come from northeast Italy, and it will appeal to those who love vinous excess and richness." Wine Advocate

"Dense, sparkling ruby, light garnet rim. Multi-layered and concentrated in the nose, initially showing slightly spicy-resinous notes, of wild blueberries, some smoke and liquorice, then lots of prune, balsamic. Substantial and dense in attack and course, lots of grippy tannin, embedded in beautiful melting, will come together splendidly." Falstaff

"Very full and structured, but very juicy and fresh as a daisy. You would not believe that this wine is already 14 years old, which is a testament to the persistence of Amarone, but even more to the excellence of this wine. A compact bead of currants and dates runs through the wine, supported by ample tannins that are well integrated. The finish is very long." James Suckling

Are you ready for the most extraordinary red wine in Italy, made from Garganega, Trebbiano toscano, Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Teroldego, Croatina, Oseleta, Sangiovese and Marzemino?

Harlequin - vinified only in the very best vintages - is an oversized and ultra-modern wine that is a real blockbuster with its flavours, intensity and power. Sit back and let this wine take you on a long journey of black midnight fruits, exotic spices, toast and tar. You can't recognise the individual grape varieties, but that's not the point of this production. Instead, he focuses on the boldest and most memorable aspects of each grape - flavour, texture and power - and fuses them into a whole, which is then multiplied by a factor of 10. It's an all-encompassing experience from the first glass to the last. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby red with a subtly brightening rim. On the nose sultanas, rum pot, dried figs, fresh walnuts, black cherries, precious wood. On the palate with a rich use of wood, compact tannins, lots of melting and grip, comes back to latte in the final, very long." Falstaff

"Aromas of coconut, dark cherries and balsamic. The tannins are condensed and elegant, with a full body, dense palate and refreshing acidity. Fully modern style, yet precise and with the potential for aging." James Suckling

"Another super blend that allows Celestino to explore a wide range of territorial specialities. 16 grape varieties, mostly red, then 30 months in oak, great complexity on the nose, notes of blueberries, hints of herbs, nutmeg and menthol. Salty and ambery, with a spicy finish." Luca Gardini