2021 Zenato - Ripasso della Valpolicella Ripassa (750ml)

Aged eighteen months in French tonneaux after undergoing the traditional ripasso method, the 2021 Zenato Ripasso della Valpolicella delivers structured complexity built around Corvina, Rondinella, and Oseleta grapes.

Sergio Zenato’s estate applies this classic Veneto technique by transferring finished Valpolicella wine over the pressed skins used to make Amarone. That brief second fermentation deepens the ruby color, boosts alcohol slightly, and extracts concentrated phenolics without overwhelming astringency. The nose unfolds with crushed blueberries, sweet culinary herbs, wet stone, and blackberry jam, layered with distinct notes of forest floor and warming spice.

The mid-palate reads as silken yet substantial, balancing ripe red and blue fruit against bright, refreshing acidity. A framework of grippy but well-integrated tannins carries through to a long, savory finish marked by fading plum and subtle dark chocolate. Six additional months of resting in bottle prior to release further smooths the structure and stabilizes the tannic grip.

This versatile red pairs effectively with robust dinner preparations. Smoke-grill steaks or chops to accentuate its herbal undertones, or slow-braise lamb shanks and wild game to mirror the wine’s earthy depth. It also stands up reliably to truffle-infused mushroom risotto, slow-simmered meat ragù, and sharp aged cheeses like Pecorino and aged Gouda.