The Rivera 'Il Falcone' Castel del Monte Riserva 2015 is a highly-collectable red. Its vibrant garnet-red hue and complex bouquet of ripe, wild red berries, leather, tobacco, and spice provide a full-bodied, smooth, and well-integrated taste. Ideal for accompanying hearty dishes, allow it to reach cool-room temperature and decant the wine half an hour in advance for optimal enjoyment.

Critic Review

Decanter Magazine: 93Pts (2013 Vintage)
Drinking Window: 2019 - 2030

"A savoury and firm red with an exotic mix of incense, tobacco and leather. The palate blends blueberry and redcurrant, while mineral and salted black liquorice takes over on the finish."
Michaela Morris

About the Producer

In the hands of the third generation of the family, represented by Sebastiano and Marco, the most up-to-date viticultural and oenological practices are married to the deepest respect for natural processes. Their programme of uncompromising quality begins with the expert management of 75 hectares of estate vineyards, farmed according to the protocols of sustainable viticulture. The vineyards are located at 200-230 metres with deep tufa-limestone soils, yielding fine native-variety grapes, the whites with firm acidities and the reds of impressive elegance and structure.

Rivera chose the name 'Il Falcone' for one of their most prestigious Apulian red wines, as homage to Emperor Frederick II of Swabia who constructed a castle called Castel del Monte in the Andria area and a nearby DOC and DOCG. This wine is crafted with grapes from the estate's oldest vineyards, blending indigenous varietals such as Nero di Troia (the primary grape) and Montepulciano to yield a full-bodied and balanced product. 14 months of maturation in oak and an additional year of bottle-aging further enhance the wine's complexity and elegance.

Vineyard and Winery

The vineyards are located in the Murgia hills in the Castel del Monte D.O.C. area of Puglia. Located at an altitude of 200 metres on deep tufaceous and calca-reous soils, the vines are trained to the spurred cordon system at 4,800 vines per hectare.

Harvest time is in 3rd week of October. Maceration and colour extraction are carried out in 120 Hl stainless steel vats for 15 days with frequent pump-overs and delestage, to obtain at the same time better colour/aromas and softer tannins.
The wine ages for 14 months, 50% in 30 hl French oak casks and 50% in 225 litre French oak barriques. A further year in the bottle before release allows the development of Il Falcone’s elegance and complexity.