2021 Begali - Recioto della Valpolicella (500ml)

Begali is a family-run estate in Cengia, a hamlet in the Valpolicella Classico zone near San Pietro in Cariano. Giordano Begali began making wine from local grapes after the Second World War, and his son Lorenzo, with wife Adriana, began marketing the wines in 1986. Their children Giordano and Tiliana now work alongside them. Gambero Rosso has repeatedly honored the estate with its top Tre Bicchieri award.

The Recioto is built on Corvina and Rondinella with small amounts of other local varieties, grown in Cengia on south-east facing, chalky, pebbly limestone soils. Harvested in mid-October, the grapes rest in a dehumidified room for roughly five months to concentrate their sugars. Fermentation begins in stainless steel around the end of February and runs about 40 days, then is stopped by chilling near 13 percent alcohol so natural sweetness remains. The wine then spends a year in small French barrels and six months in bottle.

Dark ruby in color, it shows aromas of dried fig and chestnut, with hints of black cherry and licorice. The palate is full-bodied and sweet, finishing in an almost velvety texture.