Allegrini Corte Giara Ripasso la Groletta 2019 2024

Allegrini is a family name central to Valpolicella in the Veneto, with centuries of winemaking behind it. Corte Giara is its accessible label, and this is a Ripasso, the technique that gives the style its character. A base Valpolicella of Corvina and Rondinella is passed back over the lees and skins left from Amarone production, where the partly dried grapes have concentrated sugar and extract. The wine restarts a gentle fermentation on this pomace, gaining alcohol, colour, glycerol and a riper, raisined dimension while keeping the fresh red-cherry lift of the base wine. The fruit grows on the limestone and volcanic hillsides of the Valpolicella zone, where cooler sites preserve the bright acidity that balances the added richness. Ageing is brief in stainless steel, around three months, which keeps the fruit clean and primary. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows ripe cherry and black plum, dried fig and a touch of cocoa and spice. The palate is medium to full, rounder and warmer than a straight Valpolicella, with soft tannin, savoury depth and a gently bitter cherry finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees. It suits braised meats and aged cheese.