Montresor Valpolicella Ripasso ‘Capitel della Crosara’ 2016
In the Vineyard
The grapes are cultivated on traditional trellised vines planted in marl soil at Montresor’s ‘Capitel della Crosara’ vineyard on the hills of Negrar within the Classico zone. Grapes are picked by hand in October. Made by the Ripasso (literally ‘repassed’) method, which involves adding the unpressed skins from the dried grapes which were used to make an Amarone to a young Valpolicella wine. This helps to add extra flavour and alcohol to the wine (causing it to start re-fermenting) and gradually the luscious flavours of Amarone are imparted to the wine. After that, the wine is aged for 12 months in French and American oak casks along with some small barriques.
Tasting notes
Intense aromas of fresh morello cherry and ripe plum. The palate has bright crunchy cherry-ish fruit with spicy vanilla notes and the classic bitter cherry finish typical of ripasso.
Food match
Try with lamb shank, calf’s liver or a mushroom pasta dish. Hard cheeses would also suit.