Have you try Tiberio? Can recommend giving that a go and while I didn’t try Emidio Pepe‘s I am sure it will challenge the pedestrian level perception 
I’m not sure it’s “world class”, but one of the best Pecorinos I’ve had is the 2019 Dianetti from Offida. It’s crisp, clean and delicious and avoids the soft, banana quality of many Pecorinos (Pecorini?).
Telegraphically, my list would have De Fermo currently ahead of the pack with Tiberio right behind, followed by a handful of others (Torre dei Beati is not bad), and then a number of producers from Offida in a somewhat different style. Pepe is good, but to me not overly exciting, seen it before. Way overpriced, too.
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Agreed 100% on La Castellada. Understand what you say about Enzo, but, for what it’s worth, and conservatively, I think Ivan is every bit the winemaker that Enzo is, if you ask me…
You won’t hear me argue that, I hold RdC as one of the top Italian estates. Can’t think of many (if any), at least in Italy, wineries producing so many terrific and diverse wines. What I wanted to highlight was praise from another winemaker, a college, and especially coming from someone like Enzo says quite a bit.
Seconded!
Agreed . Similar to Valentinis or Pepe . Wish I had a time machine and see what it could be like in 20y .
Selvadolce - Aris is a genius
Walter Mattoni - crazy, super fun, super talented grower/winemaker
Paolo/Gianpiero Bea - no introduction necessary
- whites, for sure, but also the reds from these producer/growers
Also, fwiw, agree with Otto re: Pecorino’s heights/potential. Not too much more than Passerina’s, in my experience. Sure, some can be quite nice, but highly memorable? Not so much.
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This stuff was pretty fantastic last night.
https://www.suavia.it/wines/monte-carbonare/
What’s a good retail source for these red and whites?
Suavia is among my favorite Soave producers, but while Monte Carbonare is a great wine in its own right, I think it has always played the second fiddle in Suavia’s range. I’ve had Suavia wines many times and consistently Massifitti, their 100% Trebbiano di Soave (a wine I already mentioned in post #3) has been the most impressive effort in the whole range.
On my palate, Monte Carbonare has always come across as somewhat softer, fruitier and more voluptuous in style, while Massifitti has exhibited much better its volcanic minerality, impressive structure and more focused fruit. Both these wines are simply outstanding, but in my books only Massifitti is really among some of the greatest, world-class whites of Italy. Even if it doesn’t carry the Soave Classico appellation, it is easily among the best Soave Classicos there are.
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Thanks, Otto. I’ve read the Massifitti is where it’s really at. I was looking for more of the “volcanic minerality” in the MC. Maybe it’s 18 but I wouldn’t say too voluptuous. It is rather edgy and lean right now. Felt very young, like it needs some time to really show more.
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Well, I had the 2018 just two months ago and it was exactly like I remembered Monte Carbonare should be. I’m not saying it is a very voluptuous wine, just quite fruity - in its youth even quite tropical - and voluptuous compared to the more mineral Massifitti. I definitely wouldn’t describe it edgy or lean, but it is certainly a fresh and crunchy wine. And I agree fully that it feels very young and just like virtually all Suavia wines, it really needs time. These wines never show their best in their youth, but instead only after 5-10 years.
FWIW, here’s my TN on 2018:
- 2018 Suavia Soave Classico Monte Carbonare - Italy, Veneto, Soave Classico (6.2.2021)
100% Garganega from a vineyard planted on the volcanic soils of Monte Carbonare, located in the heart of the Soave Classico appellation. Aged for 15 months sur lie in stainless steel. 12,5% alcohol.
Youthful, rather pale yellow color with bright greenish highlights. Quite big, fragrant and rather tropical nose with aromas of apricots, mango, some apple jam, light candied notes of gummi bear, a little bit of grassy greenness and a hint of stony minerality. The wine is youthful - almost primary - and very juicy on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body. Crisp flavors of ripe white peach and crunchy gooseberries, some green banana tones, a little bit of grassy herbal character, light fruity notes of golden apple and cantaloupe, a candied hint of gummi candies and a touch of something slightly gaseous or smoky that might be either SO2 or some volcanic character. The fresh, moderately high acidity keeps the wine nicely in balance. There seemed to be a touch of CO2 as well, but it blew off very quickly. The finish is fresh, lively and rather tropical with lengthy flavors of sweet-toned peachy fruit and apricots, some mango, light grassy tones, a little bit of unripe banana and a hint of stony minerality.
A lovely, fresh and nuanced single-vineyard Soave. Although a high-quality wine in itself, this still doesn’t manage to reach the heights of Suavia’s other varietal single-vineyard wine, the Massifitti made from Trebbiano di Soave. This Monte Carbonare gets close, but I still prefer the brighter, leaner and more mineral expression of Massifitti to Monte Carbonare’s bigger, more tropical and slightly voluptuous style. It feels as though Monte Carbonare is made to impress, while Massifitti is the one with class and finesse. Nevertheless, this is a very enjoyable and well-made wine. Most likely it is just all too youthful at the moment and will tone a bit as it ages and drops its baby fat. I’d let the wine wait for at least another 3-4 years. (89 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
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Regarding pecorino - why, related to the grape or lack of ambition of most winemakers? I mean the regions growing pecorino has for a long time been focused on quantity and low prices rather than quality.
Did you try Tiberio or Pepe’s bottling? Curious to hear your thoughts if you did or after trying.
If not for a few dedicated producers we still think a lot less about trebbiano (abbruzzese).
Yes, thanks as well–for these and others; to be honest, they fall on and off my screen, depending on when I encounter or am offered them. Pieropan and a couple of others are regular buys.
Thoughts on Ornellaia Bianco?
Our two next tastings (thank you for your various clues).
Wines I mostly don’t know (sorry for possible mistakes in the names and origins, comments are welcome).
Greco Di Tufo : Benito Ferrara “Vigna Cicogna " 2018 Greco 18
Vignetti Delle Dolomiti : Foradori “Fuoripista” Pinot Grigio 2018 Pinot Gris Trentino (dolomiti) 29
Sicile Menfi Fianco : Planeta “Cometa” 2018 Fiano Etna 22,5
Etna Bianco : Tenuta Delle Terre Nere " Cuvée Delle Vigne Niche Calderara Sottana” 2017 Carricante Etna 39
Venezia Giulia : Dario Princic “Jakot” 2016 100 % friulano 34
Fiano di Avellino : Ciro Picariello “Fiano di Avellino” 2018 Fiano Campania 16
IGT Terre Aquilane : Cataldi Madonna “SuperGiulia” 2017 Pecorino Abruzzo 27
Venezia Giulia : Gravner “Ribolla” 2011 (Anfora) Ribolla Gialla Friuli 55
Colli Tortonesi : Vigneti Massa “Montecitorio” 2014 Uva autoctona a bacca bianca Piemonte 40
Colli Tortonesi : Vigne Marina Coppi “Fausto” 2016 Timorasso Piemonte 35
Rosazzo : Livio Felluga Terre Alte 2017 Sauvignon 40%, Pinot Bianco 30% , Friulano 30% Veneto 35
Castelli Di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva Classico : Azienda Andrea Felici “Vigna Il Cantico della Figura” 2016 Verdicchio Marche 53
Soave Classico : Pieropan “Calvarino” 2017 Garganega 70%, Trebbiano di Soave 30% Soave 18
Campania Falanghina : Pietracupa 2018 100% Falanghina Campania 14
Trebbiano di Abruzzo : Valentini 2015 Trebbiano Abruzzo 98
Colli Di Luni : Lvnae Bosoni Vermentino “Eticchetta Nera” 2018 Vermentino Liguria 14
Umbria : Castello della Sala “Cervaro Della Sala” 2018 Chardonnay 85%, Grechetto 15% Umbria 47
Curtefranca : Ca’Del Bosco 2015 Chardonnay Lombardia 65
Castelli di Jesi : Azienda Fratelli Bucci “Villa Bucci” Riserva 2016 Verdicchio Marche 39
Soave Classico : Azienda Gini “Vecchie Vigne Contrada Salvarenza” 2016 Garganega Veneto 23
Venezia Giulia : Radikon “Oslavje Fuori dal Tempo” 2006 (50 cl) chardonnay 40%, pinot grigio 30%, sauvignon 30%. 73
Sicile Menfi : Planeta “Chardonnay” 2018 Chardonnay Etna 23
Trebbiano D’Abruzzo : Emidio Pepe 2015 Trebbiano Abruzzo 73
Venezia Giulia : Radikon “Slatnik” 2017 Magnum 80% chardonnay, 20% friulano 65
Soave Classico : Pra “Monte Grande” 2017 70% Garganega 30% Trebbiano Soave 19
Bianco Venezia Giulia : Jermann “Così Sia” 2015 Friulano, Malvasia Istriana, Ribolla Gialla Friuli 33
Soave Classico : Azienda Agricola Suavia “Monte Carbonare” 2017 Garganega Soave 14
Costa Amalfi : Marisa Cuomo 2018 Falanghina 60%, Biancolella 40%. 17
Fiano Di Avellino : Mastroberardino “Stilema” 2015 Fiano Campania 12
Greco Di Tufo : Mastroberardino “Nova Serra” 2018 100% Greco Amaro 12
Soave : Filippi “Castelcerino Colli Scaligeri” 2018 Garganega Soave 15
Venezia Giulia : Zidarich “Vitovska” 2017 Vitovska 100% Friuli 26
Fiano Di Avellino : Benito Ferrara “Sequenzha” 2018 Fiano 100% Campnia 15
Collio : Edi Keber 2017 Friulano 70%, Malvasia Istriana 15% e Ribolla Gialla 15% Friuli 17
Etna Bianco : Graci “Arcuria” 2017 Carricante 100% Etna 40
Veneto : Quintarelli Giuseppe “Bianco Secco” 2018 Garganega 70%, Chardonnay, Sauvignon e Trebbiano per il 30% Veneto 27
Fiano di Avellino : Quintodecimo “Exultet” 2018 Fiano Campania 35
Etna Bianco : Tenuta Di Fessina “A Puddara” 2017 Carricante (100%). Etna 33
Alto Adige Valle Isarco : Abbazia di Novacella 2018 Müller-Thurgau Alto Adige 15
Nothing but excellent wines in this list. Based on the lineups, those are going to be two stunning tastings.
Agree with Otto. Solid list!