Cantina Valpantena, `Torre del Falasco` Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 75cl

Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

PRODUCER

The Torre del Falasco wines are the standard bearers of this co- operative, situated in the Valpantena, northeast of Verona. Known as the ’valley of god’ to the ancient Greeks, this area is well-known for its high quality red wines, due partly to the soils but also because of the cool breeze that blows down the valley from the foothills of the Dolomites. Run by Luca Degani since 1995, the Cantina di Valpantena is now one of Italy’s best co-operatives, with 700 hectares of vineyard producing excellent quality fruit. Matt Thomson makes some of the Alpha Zeta wines here and has worked closely with them since 1999.

VINEYARDS
The grapes for the Valpolicella Ripasso are grown on the steeply- terraced hillside vineyards belonging to the co-operative, where soils are chalky and poor. The wine is a blend of two traditional Valpolicella varieties.

VINTAGE
The 2017 vintage was characterised by a cold winter with abundant rainfall, followed by a period of frost at the end of April which delayed blossoming. Despite the return to sunnier conditions during the summer, this proved to be a relatively challenging vintage, with reduced yields. However, the grapes that were harvested proved to be of good quality.

VINIFICATION
On arrival at the winery, the grapes were destemmed and crushed, then fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks at 22-28°C. Maceration lasted 10 days. Once fermentation was complete, a second fermentation took place on the skins of the Torre del Falasco Amarone in the traditional 'ripasso' method. The wine was then filtered and clarified before being aged for two years in stainless-steel barrels.

TASTING NOTES
Aromas of dried cherry and dark plums are followed by hints of Matt Thomson and Michele Peroni mocha and dark chocolate on the nose. A powerful, full-bodied Agglomerated Cork palate opens with a spiced fruit character and supportive tannins. Raisin and candied peel notes come from the 'ripasso' method 14% and are layered with rounded, ripe cherry flavours. The finish is long with added spicy nutmeg notes.

Grapes
80% Corvina 20% Corvinone
75cl 14% Abv
Vegan, Vegetarian