Wine Review - 2009 Folonari Valpolicella Classico Ripasso: Really Liking the Ripasso Style

For those who are familiar with Italian Wines the Ripasso style of winemaking will be very familiar. For those of you who might not be as familiar, this style of winemaking basically leverages the use of Amarone wine skins (which are dried) as part of the fermentation of this Valpolicella which is normally made with Corvina, Veronese, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes (according to Wikipedia - though we knew the Corvina part).

In any event, this style of wine tends to elevate some of the flavours and this wine was no different, though we started drinking it too soon after opening. Glass number two was substantially better.

The flavours (once the opened up) were much more elegant than a typical Valpolicella. There was a softness to the wine that was very pleasant. It is a drinking wine though. Where big-brother Amarone would be a special occasion wine, this is an everyday wine.

Lighter in colour in the glass than we would expect it still has a great visual that is Italian red all the way. The nose is also soft but holds that dried fruit undertone of dried cranberries. Really very nice.

Overall, a solid wine at $20 and due to extra effort in making the wine, totally worth it. There are others we have had and we will certainly be trying more of these.

	Tasting Notes:	Score:
Sight (0-5)	Lighter red wine for something with this level of body.  Really nice looking wine.	4.25
Smell (0-5)	Dried Cranberries and Oak with a little bit of tar if you can believe that.	4.0
Taste (0-10)	Cranberries continue with Vanilla and Spice.  Fuller bodied than the typical Valpolicella.	8.5
	Total:	16.75 / 20  (83.75%)

Look for Ripasso the next time you are in the mood for Italian red wine. You will not be disappointed.

Keep on drinking!

Chris & Shannon