Allegrini Palazzo della Torre 2023

Palazzo della Torre is made by Allegrini in Fumane, at the heart of the Valpolicella Classica zone in Veneto, north-east Italy, and bottled as IGT Veronese. It blends Corvina and Rondinella with a portion of Sangiovese, picked from vineyards near the Villa della Torre. The wine follows a ripasso-style method: most of the fruit is fermented after the September harvest, while a share is set aside and dried for some weeks before a second fermentation on those raisined grapes. This second pass adds sugar back to the wine, raising body, colour and warmth and feeding a richer, riper expression than a standard Valpolicella. It then ages 15 months in French oak barrels and a further period in bottle, the wood lending cedar, cocoa and a fine grain to the tannins through slow oxygen exchange. The colour is bright ruby tending to garnet. The nose shows dark cherry, plum and dried fig, black pepper and sweet oak spice. The palate is full and structured, with ripe tannin, a savoury depth from the dried fruit and a long, warm finish. Serve at 17 degrees. It suits roast and braised red meats.