Valpolicella - Ripasso - Lavagnoli

Lavagnoli's Valpolicella Ripasso DOC is the middle-ground wine of a winery that interprets Valpolicella with a precise and consistent style — the same style that produced a highly characterful 2019 Amarone with French tonneaux and a traditional blend including Molinara. The Ripasso brings this winemaking philosophy to an accessible price, offering at €20 the concentration and structure that would normally require a much larger investment.

For its Ripasso, Lavagnoli chooses a blend that is slightly different from the Amarone — Corvina 60%, Corvinone 25% and Rondinella 15%, with a higher percentage of Rondinella than in the Amarone, adding aromatic freshness and floral notes to the wine — but maintains the same commitment to French oak tonneaux as the aging vessel. The 500-liter tonneaux, as already seen with the Amarone, ensure a more elegant and integrated transfer of wood tannins and aromas than small barriques, with greater roundness and tannic finesse.

The Ripasso is produced using the traditional Veronese method — refermenting the base Valpolicella on the fresh pomace of Amarone — absorbing structure, aromatic complexity and additional tannins that bring the wine to 15% natural alcohol, a figure that speaks for itself regarding the concentration and maturity of the grapes. Aging for 12 months in French tonneaux integrates the acquired structure with the finesse of the oak, while 6 months in bottle complete the evolution before release.

On the nose, it is rich and structured for its category: black cherry and sour cherry preserve, blackberry, plum, cocoa, sweet spices, light vanilla from the French tonneaux, tobacco, dried violet and a balsamic hint of herbs from the Verona area. On the palate, it is powerful and enveloping — 15% natural alcohol supported by firm tannins already well smoothed by aging in tonneaux, deep glyceric sweetness balancing the alcoholic power, fresh acidity ensuring verticality and longevity, and a long, persistent finish with notes of concentrated dark fruit, spices and integrated oak. Serve at 16-17°C after at least one hour of decanting. A Ripasso you won't forget.

At €20, a Ripasso with 15% natural alcohol and 12 months in French tonneaux from the same winery as an excellent Amarone is one of the smartest buys in the mid-range of the catalog.