The 2007 Falerno del Massico Bianco Caracci blossoms on the palate with white flowers, honey, peaches and apricots. The juiciness of the fruit is nicely balanced by the wine's persistent minerality. A subtle, understated finish rounds things out in style. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015. This is a very strong set of wines from Villa Matilde, with numerous choices that deliver stunning quality and value.Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

Only produced in the best vintages, Caracci is a beautifully golden colored wine that opens with very immediate aromas of dried fruit or apricot, lemon zest, honeysuckle and almond paste. It feels crisp, direct and fresh on the close.——M.L.(6/1/2011)—— 88

Villa Matilde's 2006 Falerno del Massico Caracci is once again beautiful, particularly in its expressive, open-knit texture. Sweet perfumed apricots, mint and flowers are all framed by a persistent vein of underlying minerality that gives the wine its balance and harmony. The Caracci is made from an ancient clone of Falanghina. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. Falerno had already established itself as a special place for wines 3,000 years ago during Roman times. Campania was not immune to phylloxera, however, and at the turn of the century most of the vineyards in these parts were ravaged. In the 1970s Francesco Avallone set out to reclaim the ancient clones of the region's native varieties, and over time reproduced the best of those and planted them in his vineyards. Today Villa Matilde is run by Avallone's children Maria Ida and Tani Avallone. The wines are among Campania's finest.Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

The 2005 Caracci Falerno is made from 100+ year-old Falanghina vines and aged in French oak. This white offers rich, ripe fruit with earth and smoke overtones that develop in the glass, with outstanding persistence and a long, clean finish. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2010. Proprietors Tani and Maria Ida Avallone run this estate located outside Naples, in the province of Caserta, where the history of viticulture spans several centuries. The mineral-rich soils yield wines of uncommon complexity and elegance. The estate works with a selection of ancient clones of the area’s indigenous varieties that were re-discovered several decades ago and subsequently re-planted throughout the vineyards. Riccardo Cotarella is the consulting oenologist. Unlike many estates in the region, Villa Matilde excels with both reds and whites. Notes on some of Villa Matilde’s value-priced wines can be found in my Best Buys from Italy article available at www.erobertparker.com.Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

The 2001 Falerno del Massico Vigna Caracci, the single-vineyard selection aged in oak, is ripe and tropical in its fruit, broad and honeyed on the palate, and displays some refreshing mineral notes on the finish. Already drinking well, it will last another two to three years. Importer: Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620