This family owned winery, founded in the 1950s, produces a range of wines from its own vineyards in the Abruzzo and Marche regions of Italy. They own 100 hectares of vineyards in the Verdicchic Classico area, 50 hectares in Rosso Conero, and rent a further 40. and I was pretty impressed by the quality overall, and because these aren't expensive wines they offer very good value for money.

Casal di Serra, Verdicchio Classico 1999
A single vineyard Verdicchio, the grapes are picked slightly later and the wine is given extended lees contact. Clean, fresh bright nose. Richly flavoured spicy, nutty wine. Lovely and rich. Very good+

Plenio, Verdicchio Classico Riserva 1997
Specially selected grapes from the Villa Bianchi vineyard partially fermented in French oak. Delicious, full flavoured white wine. Lovely rich nose shows nutty and spicy notes. Rich and full on the palate with great balance and complexity. Very good/excellent

Vigneto San Lorenzo, Rosso Conero 1997
100% Montepulciano grapes aged in oak. Deep red/purple colour with a nice spicy, herby nose. Concentrated dry palate with chunky, spicy tannins and high acidity. Very good+

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Jorio 1998
100% Montepulciano from a single vineyard. Showing good concentration, this is a deep red/purple colour with a full ripe nose. The ripe, rich palate has sweet fruit and a touch of savoury bitterness and some tannin. Very good+

Cùmaro, Rosso Conero 1997
A flagship wine: varietal Montepulciano matured in new French oak barrels. Deep red/black colour with a ripe, exotic nose showing sweet herby dark fruits and a menthol edge from the new oak. The concentrated, savoury palate has firm dry tannins. Very good excellent

Pelago 1996
A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Montepulciano and 10% Merlot that spends 14 months in new French oak. A concentrated wine this has a sweet, exotic nose of black fruits and herbs. On the palate this is ripe fruit and firm tannins, with herby complexity. Lovely stuff. Very good/excellent

(Tasted November 2000)