Valpolicella - Ripasso - Lavagnoli

The Valpolicella Ripasso DOC by Lavagnoli is the middle wine from a winery that interprets the Valpolicella with a precise and consistent style — the same style that in the 2019 Amarone produced a wine of great character with French tonneaux and traditional blend including Molinara. The Ripasso brings this production philosophy to an accessible price, offering at €20 the concentration and structure that normally require a considerably greater investment.

Lavagnoli chooses for the Ripasso a slightly different blend from the Amarone — Corvina 60%, Corvinone 25% and Rondinella 15%, with a higher percentage of Rondinella compared to the Amarone that adds aromatic freshness and floral notes — but maintains the same fidelity to French oak tonneaux as the ageing vessel. The 500-litre tonneaux, as already seen in the Amarone, guarantee a more elegant and integrated contribution of wood tannins and aromas compared to the small barrique, with superior roundness and tannic finesse.

The Ripasso is produced using the traditional Veronese method — refermentation of the base Valpolicella on the fresh Amarone pomace — absorbing additional structure, aromatic complexity and tannins that bring the wine to 15% natural alcohol, a figure that speaks volumes about the concentration and ripeness of the grapes. Twelve months of ageing in French tonneaux integrates the acquired structure with the finesse of the oak, and 6 months in bottle complete the evolution before release.

On the nose it is rich and structured for the category: black cherry and morello jam, blackberry, plum, cacao, warm spice, light vanilla from the French tonneaux, tobacco, dried violet and a balsamic note of Veronese herbs. On the palate it is powerful and enveloping — 15% of natural structure supported by present and already well-polished tannins from the tonneaux ageing, a deep glyceric sweetness that balances the alcoholic power, a fresh acidity providing vertical drive and longevity and a long persistent finish with notes of concentrated dark fruit, spice and integrated oak. Serve at 16-17°C with at least one hour of decanting. A Ripasso you won't forget.

At €20 for a Ripasso with 15% natural alcohol and 12 months in French tonneaux from the same estate as a fine Amarone, this is one of the most intelligent purchases in the mid-range of the catalogue.