Fasoli Gino Corte del Pozzo Valpolicella Ripasso 2022

Fasoli Gino is an organic family estate in the Valpolicella hills of the Veneto, and this Corte del Pozzo is a Ripasso, made from the classic local trio of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella. Ripasso means re-passed: after fermentation the young Valpolicella is run over the skins and lees left from Amarone, the region's dried grape wine, and re-fermented. This second pass adds alcohol, body, tannin and a raisined, concentrated character, turning a light wine into something fuller and richer. The wine then spends eighteen months in oak, where slow oxygen exchange softens the tannin and adds spice and a fine toast. The colour is a deep ruby. The nose shows ripe cherry and plum, with raisin, dried fig, cinnamon and a savoury, slightly chocolatey depth from the Amarone skins. The palate is full bodied and warm, with ripe tannin, good acidity underneath and a long, spiced finish. At 14.5% it is generous but balanced. Serve at 17 to 18C. It is a wine for hearty meat dishes and mature cheese.