Belisario Verdicchio di Matelica Cambrugiano Riserva 2016 Review

One of the biggest joys that we experience as Italian wine lovers is when a wine seems to come out of nowhere to shock us with its quality. There’s always a danger in this industry of leaning towards the old classics at the expense of producers who are trying something new. But it’s when we escape the traditional that we discover Italian wines that offer something innovative and enchanting.

That’s exactly what’s happened with the wine that we’re going to profile in this article.

This wine has caused quite the stir in the press because of its sheer brilliance. No matter where you look, it receives exemplary ratings from everybody, including our own team.

And it’s a wine that will only set you back a little over €15 if you want to sample it for yourself.

That wine is the stunning Belisario Verdicchio di Matelica Cambrugiano Riserva 2016.

We’ll take a closer look at the wine itself in just a moment. But before we do, it’s always worth learning a little more about the company that created it – The Belisario Company

The History

The Belisario Company’s story starts almost five decades ago with the founding of the company in 1971. Even in those early days, the brilliant winemakers behind the company had great ambition. They purchased 300 hectares of vineyards to turn that ambition into a reality. And so we see here an operation that was run like a business from the start.

But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a focus on quality back in those early days.

The company quickly made the decisions to split its wines into different labels. And what’s more important is that it dedicated a specific vineyard to each of these labels. As a result, the wines that the company produces are very specific to the land that the grapes grow in. And because there’s no intermingling between the vines, consumers receive the purest examples of the grapes possible.

Where are these vineyards located?

They’re based in the gorgeous area of Alta Valle Esina, which is a part of the Marche region.

The Belisario Company looks at each of its vineyards as a separate project. They understand that different grapes require varied methods of care and cultivation to allow them to achieve their full potential. As such, there is no such thing as a method that carries over to all vineyards in this company. Every vineyard is almost run as a separate business to ensure the wines produced reach the standards that the company hopes to achieve. 

This desire to produce the best possible wines extends to the production process.

Again, we don’t see a standardised formula applied for all of The Belisario Company’s wines. In some cases, they mature their wines in wood barrels. In others, they use steel vats. It all depends on the specific wine and the techniques that the company believes will bring the most out of the grape.

What’s more, the company understands and aims to adapt to the evolutions in the Italian wine industry. In 2002, the company received the ISO 9001: 2015, which tells us that The Belisario Company also grows organic grapes. While this commitment to organic growing doesn’t extend through every vineyard, the company has dedicated 24 hectares to organic grapes. Again, this shows both a dedication to variety and a desire to work in the best possible conditions for the grapes that the company cultivates.

And finally, we must focus on the stunning location that the company chose for its vineyards. The Alta Valle Esina features a microclimate that’s Mediterranean during the summer and continental during the winter months. The company credits this climate with its ability to grow grapes that exhibit many different aromas, this making the wines it produces ever more interesting and, in some cases, complex.

What we have here is not a company that tries to adapt to every trend that comes along.

Instead, The Belisario Company is one that carries with it a style that is all its own. It’s both innovative while having respect for the traditions of the industry. And most importantly of all, we have a company that’s dedicated to nothing other than producing the best possible wines for its consumers.

And that leads us nicely to the…

Belisario Verdicchio di Matelica Cambrugiano Riserva 2016

Before we tell you about the stunning wine, allow us to share what others in the Italian wine industry have to say about it.

Gambero Rosso gave the wine its rare “Three Bicchieri” rating, which only wines of exceptional quality manage to achieve. Of the 18,000 wines that the publication currently tracks, the Belisario Verdicchio di Matelica Cambrugiano Riserva 2016 ranks at #305.

Veronelli mirrors that praise by awarding the wine with three gold stars. It’s ranked the wine as one of the best in Italy for the last three years.

And on and on we see this industry praise for a truly remarkable wine.

So…what can you expect if you buy a bottle for yourself?

Belisario Verdicchio di Matelica Cambrugiano Riserva 2016 is a still white wine that carries the DOCG Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva certification. 

Upon pouring, you will see a wine that is almost perfectly golden, barring the smallest hints of emerald inlays. These indicate the wine’s ageing potential, which can extend up to 10 years if properly stored.

Assuming you want to give it a try right now, the first thing you’ll notice is the wonderful bouquet. There’s clearly something in The Belisario Company’s opinions about its vineyards’ microclimate as the wine offers a feast of aromas for the senses. Among the dominant notes of fresh almons, medlar, and ripe peach, you will also detect more subtle notes of chamomile, cereals, and aromatic herbs.

When tasted, these aromas combine into a truly joyful experience. The dominant savoury aspects of the wine are perfectly complemented by subtle spicy notes that linger in the aftertaste.

The simple fact is that we agree with what everybody else says about this wonderful wine.

That’s why our team awards it with a 95/100 rating!