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Structure
Drinking window
Best 10 to 40 years from vintage.
vintage10 yrs40 yrs42 yrs
Critic scores
No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.
In the glass
Aroma: dried apricot, walnut, rancio, caramelised orange peel
Palate: dried fig, hazelnut, coffee, aged wood
Florio's Marsala Vergine Riserva is a benchmark for the driest and most complex Marsala style: fortified without added must, aged minimum 10 years in large oak in the tuff-stone cellars, developing deep rancio oxidative complexity.
What it pairs with
-
Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey
The wine's intense oxidative complexity and dried-fruit notes pair classically with aged cheese. -
Dark chocolate with sea salt
The rancio richness and dried-fruit depth create a compelling match with bitter dark chocolate. -
Served as digestif
Marsala Vergine's complexity and length make it a perfect contemplative after-dinner pour.
How to serve Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 12-14°C. Cellar temperature (12-14°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a small fortified-wine glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey, Dark chocolate with sea salt, Served as digestif. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Cantine Florio was founded in 1833 by Vincenzo Florio, a Calabrian entrepreneur who built a major Marsala house. The historic tuff-stone cellars with 104 arches, built in 1840, house over 1,400 barrels in solera. The Vergine Riserva is the driest DOC category of Marsala, produced without the mosto cotto or mistella additions that define lower styles.
- 1833: Cantine Florio founded by Vincenzo Florio in Marsala
- 1840: The signature tuff-stone barrel cellars with 104 arches completed
- 1833: Florio expands into a major Sicilian commercial trading dynasty
Facts
- Producer
- Cantine Florio · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Grillo
- Classification
- Marsala Vergine DOC
- Oak
- Minimum 10 years in large Slavonian oak barrels (botti); solera-style perpetuo system
- ABV
- 18.0%
- Price
- €25-45 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10-40+ from vintage
- First vintage
- 1940
Frequently asked about Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva
What does Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva taste like?
On the nose, dried apricot, walnut, rancio, caramelised orange peel. On the palate, dried fig, hazelnut, coffee, aged wood. Structurally full-bodied, low tannins, medium acidity with a very long, rancio-oxidative, complex finish. Florio's Marsala Vergine Riserva is a benchmark for the driest and most complex Marsala style: fortified without added must, aged minimum 10 years in large oak in the tuff-stone cellars, developing deep rancio oxidative complexity.
When should I drink Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva?
Drink 10-40+ from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva?
Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Dark chocolate with sea salt and Served as digestif. The wine's intense oxidative complexity and dried-fruit notes pair classically with aged cheese.
What grapes are in Florio Marsala Vergine Riserva?
The blend is Grillo. The wine is classified as Marsala Vergine DOC.
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