VERDICCHIO CLASSICO SUPERIORE

2018 Classico Superiore dei Castelli di Jesi Andrea Felici

Grapes Verdicchio
Colour White
Origin Italy, Marche
Other Practising Organic
Village dei Castelli di Jesi
Classification Classico Superiore
ABV 13.5%

2018 was a warm summer here and it shows in many of the whites we have tasted - which makes the bright focus of Leo's wine all the more impressive. He feels this is his best vintage since 2006. It is certainly pure and clean-lined with good mineral underpinnings that balance the lovely weight of fruit; hard pear, firm peach and citrus. And juicy sweet lemon zip. Freshly long and tantalising. L&S (Apr 2019)


Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.

Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.


There’s a richness to the 2018 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore that’s impossible to miss, even as its intense notes of lemon-infused peach, young mango and grassy herbs fill the senses. The wine is suave and seductive with round textures that soothe. Stimulating minerality adds poise, leaning a bit toward the tropical side, yet never going over the top. Not just an attention-grabber; this is also a remarkable value.Eric Guido, www.vinous.com (Sep 2020)

The Verdicchio grape is usually light, smooth, refreshing and elegant..., but Felici’s version is simply mesmerising with an extra dimension of haunting pear juice fruit and a longer finish than I could have ever expected. This is one of the most expressive and impressive versions of this grape I have tasted in years.Matthew Jukes, The Daily Mail (Jul 2020)

Toasted almonds, ripe and baked apple, with a touch of stony minerality. Rich and rounded, medium-full-bodied style, with decent freshness and length. Touch of phenolic grip. Drinking range: 2020 - 2024 Rating: 16 Tim Jackson MW, www.jancisrobinson.com (Apr 2020)

Andrea Felici

2020 was a great year for Leo Felici as he was crowned 'Italy's Best Winemaker' by the Gambero Rosso Guide. And that seems to have only encouraged him to work harder and push harder! As Antonio Galloni writes - 'Leopardo Felici has a great hand with the Verdicchio grape, producing two of the Marche’s best white wines. Clearly, the vineyard location in the cool-climate, hilly area between Apiro and Cupramontana is a big help, as the wines have high natural acidity, a strong mineral overlay and wonderful clarity. But strong viticultural and winemaking skills also play a role. Felici is one of the few producers of “vino biologico” in Italy talented enough to avoid making wines with off-putting aromas, and his decision not to use oak (only stainless steel and cement vats are used) also contributes to the precision of the wines. Andrea Felici is a name to watch in Italian wine circles.'

Found between Apiro and Cupramontana, right at the heart of the Verdicchio region, Apiro is ideally placed on the foothills of Mount San Vicino (m 1479), at 516 m above sea level. The landscape is wonderful, a green valley with rolling hills, covered with beautiful woods and vines, marked by the high peaks of Gran Sasso and Maiella that stand out towards the horizon in the south and the the peaks of Mount Catria that are found to the north. The Felici wines are produced here with the vineyards benefitting from the altitude and the cool breezes from the Adriatic Sea. The variable temperatures are important factors when producing this light and crisp wine. Leo practices organic viticulture; the grapes are picked by hand and pressed within a few hours. The wine is then matured in cement and stainless steel vats and the finished product is “marked by incredible purity of fruit and minerality.”

Winemaking - The wine is made from grapes of young and old vines (6/7 yr old and 35 yr old). Once pressed, the wine spends two days on the skins followed by ageing in cement and stainless steel vats (on the lees). A further two months of ageing takes place in the bottle before release.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
  • For full delivery details see our Delivery page.
  • We offer free nationwide* delivery for all orders over £150 with our own vans. We also offer an express delivery service for an additional charge.
  • Order & Collect from any of our 5 London shops. Order by Midnight for collection the next working day from 11am.
  • Private wine storage: we offer a full In Bond and Duty Paid private wine storage service - find out more here.

ORDER     COLLECT

ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT FROM ONE OF OUR SHOPS