  RISTRETTO is the evolution of the original idea of coupling the VLT
instruments SPHERE and ESPRESSO, aiming at High Dispersion Coronagraphy.
RISTRETTO is a visitor instrument that should enable the characterization of
the atmospheres of nearby exoplanets in reflected light, by using the technique
of high-contrast, high-resolution spectroscopy. Its goal is to observe Prox Cen
b and other planets placed at about 35mas from their star, i.e. 2lambda/D at
lambda=750nm. The instrument is composed of an extreme adaptive optics, a
coronagraphic Integral Field Unit, and a diffraction-limited spectrograph
(R=140.000, lambda=620-840 nm).
  We present the status of our studies regarding the coronagraphic IFU and the
XAO system. The first in particular is based on a modified version of the PIAA
apodizer, allowing nulling on the first diffraction ring. Our proposed design
has the potential to reach > 50% coupling and <1E-4 contrast at 2lambda/D in
median seeing conditions.
