Rubinelli Vajol sweeps the board with three high-scoring placements in Decanter’s recent Valpolicella panel tasting. Of the 92 wines tasted, only 33 took home a coveted “highly recommended” title – and three of those are made by Rubinelli Vajol. Fresh, bright and bursting with red fruit flavour, these delightful wines make an excellent accompaniment to summer barbecues and Saturday night takeaways.
The Valpolicalla blind tasting
The Decanter panel – Michael Garner, Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW and Michaela Morris – sampled a range of Valpolicella Classico and Valpolicella Classico Superiore wines across price ranges. The accompanying Decanter article and tasting report stresses the simple joy of these wines, which are less rich than Amarone and Recioto but have their own advantages. According to Decanter, “youthful Valpolicella is such a persuasive and versatile food wine, the perfect match for pasta, pizza and lighter fare, and is hard to better when paired, for example, with pork-based dishes.”
Light, fresh and elegant: is Valpolicella the perfect modern wine?
The understated charm of Valpolicella makes it an excellent option for drinkers looking for something lighter. Decanter’s Italian wine expert Michaela Morris points out that Valpolicella at this level has a lot to offer. She says “when so many regions around the world are struggling to keep ripeness and alcohol levels in check, Valpolicella’s strength is its ability to offer wines with elegance, lightness and modest alcohol.” But simple doesn’t mean boring. Fellow panel member, Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW, states that “this tasting proves that Corvina is capable of expressing terroir and can sit alongside some of the top wines in the country.”
Rubinelli Valpolicella – which wines impressed the critics?
The three Rubinelli Vajol wines which impressed the judges were Rubinelli Vajol Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC 2016 and 2018. These two excellent vintages, scored 91 and 90 points respectively. The more straightforward Rubinelli Vajol Valpolicella Classico DOC also did well, earning 91 points. This puts all three wines in the sought-after “highly recommended” category – no mean feat.
So why did the panel choose these wines? Here’s a quick overview of the experts’ verdict.
Rubinelli Vajol Valpolicella Superiore 2016
The panel offers much praise for this Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2016. It was highlighted for its “festive nose of dried fruits, red plums, cherries, dried herbs and spices.” Its texture also drew compliments for being “rich and rounded yet showing a somewhat light body.” They recommend drinking it between now and 2024, so it’s a good one to squirrel away for Christmas.
Rubinelli Vajol Valpolicella Superiore 2018
The 2018 vintage received similar praise, with a slightly longer drinking window – until 2027. With this wine, the panel highlight more savoury flavours. They call out its “spicy-toned red fruit aromas with mushroom notes.” As for the body, it’s “fleshy and ripe on the palate, supple, with a peppery finish.”
Rubinelli Vajol Valpolicella Classico
The final wine of the trio is Rubinelli Vajol Valpolicella Classico. In this highly recommended wine, the Decanter panel was particularly struck by the “lifted nose of dried herbs with tart red fruits, floral notes and hints of bubblegum.” Calling it “bright and focused, elegant and fresh”, they recommend drinking it between now and 2025.
Discover Decanter’s highly acclaimed Rubinelli Vajol Valpolicella wines
With all three Valpolicella wines scoring so highly, it’s hard to choose just one to try. We hope our 10% discount on cases of six bottles or more makes it easier. Pick up a few of each and enjoy one now, and pop the others in your wine rack. Our free next day delivery across the mainland UK means you could be enjoying a comparative tasting of your own by tomorrow.