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James Suckling awards for Gracciano

James Suckling awards for Gracciano: 93 Points to the first Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Pieve Gracciano 2021

This new Vino Nobile Pieve Gracciano has a stricter production regulation which foresees:

Grapes grown in a single vineyard of 15 years of age at least
Maximum yield of 7 tons of grapes per hectare
Blend: 85% of Sangiovese minimum. Indigenous red berry Tuscan varieties can be added (Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Mammolo)
Maturation and ageing:: 36 months of which at least 12 months in wood and 12 months in the bottle
A committee of the Consortium will evaluate the quality of the wine before it is released on the market.

Introducing the PIEVE

Last year the neighbouring Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appellation in southern Tuscany has delineated 12 specific subregions within the appellation: the Pieve*

Pieve Cervognano
Pieve Cerliana
Pieve Caggiola
Pieve Sant’Albino
Pieve Valiano
Pieve Ascianello
Pieve San Biagio
Pieve Le Grazie
Pieve Gracciano
Pieve Badia
Pieve Argiano
Pieve Valardegna

* In the past the area of this part of Tuscany was divided into “Pievi”: these were religious and civil constituencies which were represented by a rural church.

Click on the link on the right for more info

The Gracciano Estate is one of the oldest wineries in the Montepulciano region.

In the beginning of the 19th century, Gracciano was owned by the Svetoni family who built the Villa and created the Italian-style gardens that surround it. With over 400 hectares and 22 farms, the very extensive Gracciano Estate also produced a wide variety of typical Tuscan products.

The property was inherited by the current owners, Marco, Vannozza and Galdina della Seta Ferrari Corbelli Greco, through their father Giorgio.

Today, the winery covers roughly 70 hectares of which 20 are vineyards.
The vines grow on the clay and silty soil of the Gracciano hills, one of the oldest and most prestigious crus of Montepulciano.
Already in 1864 the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano produced by the then Svetoni winery (today Gracciano della Seta Estate) was awarded the first prize at the International Fair of Turin.

The cellars of the Gracciano Villa still contain several bottles of wine from exceptional vintage years.
Giorgio della Seta, after working for many years abroad as a manager in a multinational company, decided to return to Tuscany and take up the family Estate.

He proceeded to renew the vineyards and build, in 2013, a new winery alongside the traditional unit which is still used for ageing wine in wood.

The winery has always been run by renowned oenologists (such as Nicolò d’Afflitto from 1985 and Beppe Rigoli since 1995) who ensured that the Tenuta di Gracciano produced an excellent Vino Nobile, fully respecting the terroir and using autochthonous vines.

More info?
Take a look at their website

Masseria del Feudo’s awards’ update

Masseria del Feudo‘s awards’ update: we are glad to share these recent awards by Wine Enthusiast and James Suckling with you.

Grillo Sicilia Voce di Lago 2023

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Nero d’Avola Viarossa 2022

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“Straw yellow with golden highlights.
It opens with a fine and clean scent with a good complexity typical of the variety. Citrus notes, acacia honey and typical floral scents. On the palate the fruity part maintains maturity and sweetness well supported by good flavor and acidity.”

“intense ruby red with notes of fresh fruit which blend perfectly with hints of dark chocolate, leather and pepper. On the palate fresh, dynamic, with velvety and silky tannins.”

Nero d’Avola Rosso delle Rose 2021

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Nero d’Avola Masseria del Feudo 2022

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“Intense ruby red, characterized by a complex and intriguing aromatic profile (ripe black fruit, licorice, spices and tobacco). Silky and enveloping, with good compactness and persistence, supported by a typical acidity that makes it dynamic and savory.”

“Intense ruby red. The nose is full of ripe fruits and herbs. Plums and blueberries but also lavender, laurel and fresh tea. The taste is soft and lively with just enough freshness, tannins and length. “

Nero d’Avola Viarossa 2021

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Syrah Sicilia 2022

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“intense ruby red with notes of fresh fruit which blend perfectly with hints of dark chocolate, leather and pepper. On the palate fresh, dynamic, with velvety and silky tannins.”

“Intense ruby red color with purple reflections. On the nose intense aroma of ripe red fruit, menthol notes and sweet spices that give it great complexity.
On the palate the entrance is soft and enveloping, rich and balanced. “

“Masseria del Feudo is not just a company”

Its history is a family history, whose values and ideals are powered from Francesco and Carolina, fourth generation of agriculture entrepreneurs.

Tradition and innovation are the driving forces of Francesco and Carolina Cucurullo of the Sicilian estate Massaria del Feudo. The estate owns around 110 hectares of grain, fruit and olives

The vineyards:

15 hectares of organic certified vineyards planted with Nero d’Avola, Syrah, Grillo, Frappato and Nerello Mascalese.
The hilly location of the vineyards guarantees a good temperature range between day and night, which favors the optimal ripening of the berries and the concentration of the juices.

20 hectares of orchards: 13 different varieties of peaches and nectarine, 3 of plums and 2 apricots.

3 hectares of olive clovers of Nocellara and Carolea

The company is 100% organic certified

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Zenato’s Recioto: 93 Pts by James Suckling

Zenato‘s Recioto 2019 has been awarded with 93 Pts by James Suckling.
Proud of such an high rating for this interesting dessert wine of Zenato.

The wine:
Did you know that the term Recioto comes from the Veronese dialectal word recia meaning ear?

The name is used to denote the small side bunches that “crown” the larger clusters. According to local tradition, their fruit is considered to be the best.

This dessert wine lights up the glass with its vibrant nuanced colors. It’s marvelous when served with chocolate fondue but it also pairs well with any oven-fired dessert, like Verona-style pandoro, classic panettone, or even crunchy cookies.

Zenato’s world:

The story of Zenato is the story of a family that firmly planted its roots in the land. It was made possible thanks to the passion and entrepreneurial vision of the estate’s founder, Sergio, who managed to fulfill his greatest dream: to create a winery capable of harvesting the fruits of the earth and transform them into emotions with matchless flavor.

Today, more than 60 years later, the results are testament to his extraordinary vision. A wonderful story took shape thanks to his vision and today its star is his family: Wife Carla and children Alberto and Nadia.
Their eyes and their heart continue down the path that Sergio laid out with great clarity as he steadied the course toward quality and love for their land. Over time, that land wasn’t just Lugana but also Valpolicella, with its celebrated red wines and their matchless aromas.

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CasalFarneto’s awards update

James Suckling nice ratings for CasalFarneto

94 Pts to Cimaio 2019, 92 Pts to Pao 2022 and 90 Pts to Fontevecchia 2023.

Marche Bianco Cimaio 2019

It is a wine of remarkable structure and elegance, soft, wrapping, extremely pleasant, with distinctive aromatic notes.

Marche Bianco Pao 2022

Unusual and unexpected wine in flavors and color, complex, rich, well structured in nose and also in taste. A magnificent wine, Full-bodied, strongly sapid and mineral, dynamic.

Verdicchio Fontevecchia 2023

Fontevecchia is one of the most popular wines produced by CasalFarneto.
Wine of great expression, it is a variety of Verdicchio Classico Superiore, elegant and very pleasant, on the palate a wide range of fruity and floral aromas stand out.

1995

FOUNDATION OF CASALFARNETO WINE ESTATE. FOUR PARTNERS, ALREADY EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, DECIDE TO RESTORE A SMALL FARMHOUSE, SURROUNDED BY FARNETTO OAKS, AND TO INVEST IN THE TYPICAL WHITE WINE OF THE AREA: VERDICCHIO.

2005

TOGNI GROUP ACQUIRES THE WINE COMPANY OF 60 ACRES AND BEGINS THE BUILDING OF THE NEW WINERY. A GRADUAL RENEWAL OF ALL THE VINEYARDS COMMENCES. THE PRODUCTION EXPANDS WITH THE ADDITION OF RED WINES, BASED ON MONTEPULCIANO, SANGIOVESE, MERLOT, AND CABERNET GRAPES.

2012

FROM THE COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN OENOLOGIST FRANCO BERNABEI CRISIO, CASALFARNETO PRODUCTION IS BORN AND, WITH IT, THE FIRST AWARDS: IT GETS AWARDED BY THE PRETIGIOUS ITALIAN WINE GUIDE “GAMBERO ROSSO”, WITH THREE GLASS ICONS.

2017

CASALFARNETO WINE ESTATE DECIDES TO CONTINUE TO GROW AUTONOMOUSLY CUTTING THE CORD FROM THE FAMILY BUSINESS, STRONG IN PAOLO TOGNI’S KNOW-HOW AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE OF FORTY YEARS

The Winery: CASALFARNETO, GETTING TO KNOW VERDICCHIO WINE

In Le Marche region, in between the sea and the Apennines, one of the most beautiful hilly landscapes of Ancona’s province unfolds – it’s the land of prestigious wines such as Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. Here, with its 35 acres of vineyard, CasalFarneto Wine Estate is located, where technology, tradition and sustainability combine to produce wines of excellence. Under the shade of Farnetto oaks, from which the Estate gets its name, the farmhouse boasts the cultivation of white and red grapes, with particular attention to organic wine.

Technology and Nature: DESIGN IMMERSED IN THE GREEN

Aesthetics and functionality is the perfect blend in eco-architecture. CasaFarneto Wine Estate is the clear example of an eco-sustainable approach towards nature and the surrounding area. In the headland of Le Marche harmonious hills, the winery, mainly built of stone and wood, has been partly erected underground, blending itself with the landscape’s architecture and its colours. In this sense, Architect Nazzareno Petrini worked according to an aesthetic criterion that could enhance both the landscape and the winery with its winemaking technologies. As an example, the winery has been entirely covered by a roof garden planted to vines allowing for a double experience: the pleasant visual continuity with the landscape and a constant underground temperature at 18-20°C where the barrels and tanks are located. Inside, in line with the low environmental impact of the vineyards, technology couples up with natural processing methods to ensure purity in the wines and in the eco-system. CasalFarneto’s effort to reduce impact on the air, vineyard, land and environment makes it gain the definition of a “technological farm” – a place where to envisage the future of winemaking starting from the tradition.

The People: ROOTS IN THE FUTURE

For a decade, CasalFarneto has been managed alongside the Togni Group allowing its wine production to make good use of technical and entrepreneurial know-how, which has been vital to grow a business nurtured by strong effort and great passion for wine. Local geography, quality and innovation are a triple value aiming to propose a unique product to the consumer. The strong personality of CasalFarneto wines is the result of on-going experimentation retelling Le Marche winegrowing tradition in an increasingly more modern and biological key.

“To us, wine must represent the “terroir” and its culture. Each bottle expresses land, tradition, culture and work. It often becomes the souvenir of a pleasant holiday to remember, like a good old postcard to oneself or friends.”

Paolo Togni

Head of the family business

Discover CasalFarneto….

…take a look at their website:

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James Suckling: awards for Zenato

Nice James Suckling reviews for Zenato‘s wines.

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico and the Riserva Sergio Zenato received both 95 Points.
Good results for the Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato too, with a rating of 91 Points.

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019

“The jewel of Zenato’s production, this wine is made from a selection of top grapes from Valpolicella Classica grown in Sant’Ambrogio township (Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta, and Croatina).
The grapes are dried for 4 months and crushing is not carried out until January.
Slow fermentation with skin contact follows and then the wine is aged for 36 months in large-format Slavonian casks. It is then aged in bottle before being released.
This is a majestic wine, intense, and ethereal, with notes of bay leaf and distillate-cured cherries. The impressive balance between all its components makes it ideal for long-term aging.”

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Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva Sergio Zenato 2018

“Produced only in top vintages, this graceful wine is made from a selection of Corvina and Rondinella grapes grown in the oldest vineyards in the township of Sant’Ambrogio in Valpolicella’s “classic” zone.
Following vinification, it undergoes long-term aging for at least 4 years in Slavonian oak casks.
It represents the very identity of the winery and its legacy throughout the world – a wine that can age and be enjoyed for more than 20 years.
With luminous and dense color, elegant complexity, and a wonderful touch of spice, it’s a wholehearted expression of the land where it is made.”

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Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato 2021

“This Lugana Riserva is the fruit of the Zenato family’s genuine passion and a reflection of their history in the appellation.
The grapes for this wine come from the oldest vines on their Podere Massoni farm. They are harvested slightly late, around mid-October.
Fermentation takes place in oak cask (70%) and stainless steel (30%).

Light brilliant gold in color, this wine delivers intense multi-faceted aromas on the nose, with floral and citrus notes, spices, white plum, and vanilla.
On the palate, it’s rich in flavor, with great depth and balance. An ideal white for aging.”

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The Soul of Lugana and the Heart of Valpolicella.

95 hectares of top vineyards in Lugana and Valpolicella’s “classic zone”.

Today Zenato’s vineyards cover 95 hectares on the S. Cristina estate in San Benedetto di Lugana, devoted to Trebbiano di Lugana, and on the Costalunga estate in Valpolicella, home of Zenato’s famous Amarone, which is home to the renowned Corvina, Rondinella and Oseleta grape varieties.

Sergio Zenato manicured the morainic hills for years, from the most strategic observation point on Lake Garda in Peschiera. His reflection was cast over the largest body of blue in Italy. And since the 1960s, he saw in Trebbiano di Lugana something that few others had intuited: that the color, aromas, and favors of the white wine it produced could travel the world.”

In the flash of an eye and the wonder of Lake Garda is all there: in the beauty of the landscape; in the naturalist, historic, and artistic value of the land; in the mild climate. The secret of Trebbiano di Lugana, a native grape variety planted on the southern banks of Lake Garda, is hidden in its origins.

With the backdrop of this pristine setting, the gates of the Santa Cristina estate open up on to a broad road with elegant red rose bushes on either side. They are the silent sentinels to whom the Zenato family has entrusted their rows of vines.

All of the incredible things that have happened in this little corner of the world are thanks to the extraordinary intuition and entrepreneurial power of a grape grower who was in love with his land and absolutely convinced of the quality of the wines that only this land could produce. It all began with a white wine, Lugana: Sergio Zenato’s Challenge and Dream since the 1960s.

Taking over the Costalunga estate, in the heart of Valpolicella Classica, Sergio Zenato wanted to measure himself in a new venture, after making the most out of his Lugana vineyards: to make it a model vineyard, beautiful to look at, cared for in every detail, in which to apply modern agronomic techniques and at the same time resume the traditional methods that had defined the Valpolicella landscape

In a thorough manner, Sergio Zenato drew the distribution on the land of the vines selected for the production of the different wines, going so far as to indicate the direction of the rows so that the vines could receive maximum benefits from the sun. He took special care to make the soil work well to achieve a dry and permeable soil without water retention.

A passionate dedication that we read in the construction of the characteristic dry-stone walls, at first sight elegant support structures, in actual fact an efficient containment system that guarantees the vine the three fundamental elements it needs: the warmth of the sun and the ventilation of air and water thanks to the gaps existing between the stones of the walls and the flaky crumbles of the subsurface.

Discover the world of Zenato ….

…take a look at their website:

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James Suckling: awards for Icardi

Nice James Suckling reviews for Icardi‘s wines.

Barolo Riserva Serra 2018

“Presents a complex and ethereal bouquet with aromas of violets, red fruit jam and licorice but also spices such as pepper and vanilla.”

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Barbaresco Montubert 2021

“Complex and elegant, with a floral aroma of violets and blueberries.”

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Barolo Fossati 2019

At the beginning then ethereal and balsamic notes of mint, eucaliptus and liquorice.”

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Barolo Parej 2020

“PAREJ: “In this way” – this is how Barolo wine should be, an assemblage of nebbiolo grapes coming from 3 different areas”

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Barbaresco Starderi 2021

“Soft pressing after that a spontaneous natural fermentation with indigenous yeast”

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Pafoj Rosso 2021

“Pafoj: we aren’t crazy. A new style for a classic wine.”

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2 SOULS, 1 COMPANY

Early in the Sixties Mr. Pierino began producing his own wine starting off a quality trend that remains a key feature of our company nowadays. Pierino’s son and daughter, Claudio and Mariagrazia, are now managing the company in their father’s footsteps.

The Winery is located in Castiglione Tinella, within the Province of Cuneo, between the Lower Langa and the Monferrato Regions. Rolling hills almost completely covered in vineyards are visible as far as the eye can see and make Castiglione Tinella one of the liveliest towns in Italy. The cliffs running down towards the valleys Tinella and Belbo frame the vineyards and the wood patches, creating a unique landscape.

The extension of the vineyards allows our company’s production to cover all types of wines available in the South of Piedmont. Icardi’s style is renowned around the world for its significantly fruity, refined, clean and elegant wines. The balanced flavour of both regular and “more important” wines can be appreciated immediately after production.

Discover the world of Icardi Vini ….

take a look at their website:

or

or watch this video

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Villa di Vetrice: Chianti Rufina

Villa di Vetrice is a magical place where wonderful wines are made. For example the Chianti Rufina, the 2020 vintage is just awarded by James Suckling with 90 points.

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