Barberani makes some of the best dessert wines in central Italy and Calcaia shows this proud winemaking tradition very clearly. A result of noble rot, this sweet blend of Grechetto, Trebbiano and Sauvignon Blanc opens with delicate floral notes backed by citrus blossom, white almond and honey.
— M.L.
(12/15/2011)
One of the best dessert wines from central Italy, this is marked by muffa nobile, or “noble rot.” It’s opulent and dense, with golden apricot, honey and a delicate veil of muskiness.
— M.L.
(12/1/2012)
Calcaia is an elegant dessert wine from Umbria that has seen botrytis. Delicate aromas of candied fruit, honey and apricot make for an impressive bouquet.
— M.L.
(12/31/2010)
Gorgeous and syrupy, this Passito dessert wine made with aromatic Moscato grapes is beautifully fragrant with ripe apricot, honey, peach and white almond. It’s smooth, soft, rich and leaves a long candied fruit aftertaste.
— M.L.
(12/15/2011)
This is a truly delicious and exciting dessert wine made from botrytisized grapes that are blanketed with fog on the banks of the Tiber River in Umbria. The wine's intensity, peach, honey and almond aromas are simply outstanding. Instead of pairing this with dessert, try it with goat cheese or foie gras.
— M.L.
(2/1/2007)
This extremely elegant sweet wine from Umbria has a distinctive element to its nose that recalls honey tea and dried spring flowers that is achieved thanks to naturally occurring noble rot. The wine tastes creamy and luscious and has long-lasting sweetness with honey and lemon meringue flavors.
— M.L.
(12/15/2008)
Villa Monticelli Passito represents one of the best dessert wines to come from Umbria, central Italy. Made from air-dried grapes, the wine sports a amber-copper color and opens with syrupy aromas of white raisins, candied fruit, honey and loads of apricot.
— M.L.
(12/31/2010)
A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Barberani’s modern Villa Monticelli is a pleasing wine with noticeable oak shadings behind its natural cherry fruit. These elements are well-integrated, giving rise to more delicate aromas of cola, balsam notes, berry and almond. It offers pretty brilliance and clarity of flavors with thick spice and red fruit…
— M.L.
(5/1/2008)