Valpolicella - Ripasso - Corte Cavedini

The Valpolicella Ripasso DOC by Cavedini is the middle wine in a range that tells the complete story of the Valpolicella — from the sweetness of the Recioto to the power of the Amarone, passing through the Ripasso that for centuries has been the most loved and consumed wine on Veronese tables every day.

Cavedini produces the Ripasso with the same respect for tradition that defines everything from its historic winery. The method is the ancient one: the base Valpolicella wine is transferred to vessels containing the still-fresh, yeast-rich pomace of the freshly pressed Amarone, initiating a second fermentation that lasts several days. During this process the wine absorbs residual sugars, polyphenols, additional tannins and an aromatic concentration that transforms it profoundly. The blend carries the same distinctive identity found throughout the Cavedini range: Corvina and Corvinone at 70%, Rondinella 20% for freshness and floral notes, and a characteristic 10% of Oseleta and Croatina — the same unusual pairing used in the Recioto and the Amarone — that adds a wild, ferrous edge and structural depth that distinguishes this Ripasso from any other in the catalogue.

Ageing takes place for 24 months in a combination of tonneaux and barriques — the tonneaux for roundness and integration, the barriques for finesse and aromatic complexity — followed by 8 months of bottle ageing before release. In total almost three years from harvest to customer for the 2022 vintage, a commitment that is exceptional for a Ripasso at this price.

On the nose it is warm and inviting: ripe cherry, blackberry, plum, light cacao, warm spice, tobacco and a balsamic note of Veronese aromatic herbs recalling the hillside surroundings of the historic farmstead. On the palate it is smooth and full — round and already well-integrated tannins, a glyceric sweetness that envelops the palate, a balanced fresh acidity and a persistent finish with notes of red fruit and warm spice. A Ripasso of genuine character and immediate drinkability. The ideal choice for those who want to bring artisan quality to the Sunday table every week without paying the price of the Amarone.

5,000 bottles. Vintage 2022.