The best Valpolicella Classico wine of the Decanter March 2021 issue. Deliciously fresh and light, with notes of red fruits and honey.

Zingy flavours of cranberries and red cherries add a light and refreshing quality to this premium Valpolicella wine. With a lower level of alcohol, it's an ideal drink to enjoy with a summer barbecue. The wine comes from a small historic vineyard named Vajol in the Valpolicella Classico area, just 12km east of Lake Garda. It's been operating since 1635, and the Rubinelli family acquired it in the early 20th century. The fields of Vajol form a south-facing amphitheatre, which is very favourable for grape-growing. During the day, lots of sunshine helps the grapes to ripen fully, and by the night cold breezes from Lake Garda help them to retain their natural acidity. Ultimately, this results in refreshing wines that are bursting with ripe fruit flavours. This area is famous for its mineral springs, the water of which naturally flows just a few meters under the fields. This means that the vineyard is well-watered even in the driest seasons.

Winemaking

This Valpolicella Classico wine is made in a traditional way, from a blend of grapes specific to the Veneto region: 45% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 15% Rondinella, and 5% Molinara. In September, the grapes are harvested by hand and brought to the winery where they are softly crushed. The juice ferments for two weeks at a controlled temperature. The Rubinelli chose stainless steel for this wine rather than oak barrels, in order to preserve its lively character and aromas of fresh fruits.

Tasting notes

Medium ruby colour. Pronounced aromas of red cherry, cranberry, raspberry and bread, underpinned by notes of dried figs and honey. In the mouth, the wine is dry, with high acidity, medium alcohol and a light touch of tannins. Every sip brings notes of red fruits and honey, followed by a zesty finish.

Awards

Decanter March 2021 (Andrea Briccarello) - 95 points, the best Valpolicella Classico of the issue | Decanter Panel Tasting - 91 points (2020 vintage) | Gambero Rosso - Two Glasses (2019 vintage) | James Suckling - 91 points (2019 vintage)

An organic, low-sulphite Ripasso wine produced by sustainable winemaker Camilla Rossi-Chauvenet. Tastes like fresh red cherries and cherry conserve.

As seen in The Independent: "It has flavours of cranberry, cherries and cinammon and aromas of eucalyptus. All that and a very non-traditional label." - Terry Kirby, "The 12 Reds for Christmas", The Independent 11.12.2020

Marchesa MariaBella - a delightful Valpolicella Ripasso wine - is made from three types of grapes: Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, all picked by hand. The wine is packed with tastes of fresh cherries, underpinned by notes of spices and cherry conserve from Amarone grape skins used in the fermentation process.

Winemaking

First, the bunches are gently crushed, and left for a long maceration. The wine is then fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the delicate flavours. After several months, Amarone skins are added to the wine, effectively starting a second fermentation. This adds structure and an intense fruity flavour to the wine, as well as increasing the level of alcohol. The wine is then aged in small French oak barrels for twelve months to soften the tannins and develop complex aromas.

Ripasso is a traditional method of winemaking in the Valpolicella region, making use of grape skins from Amarone della Valpolicella. Just before the Amarone wine finishes fermentation, the skins are drained and transferred to a vat of Valpolicella wine, that has already completed its fermentation. The Amarone grape skins continue fermenting, adding more colour, tannins and flavour to the resulting wine.

Camilla Rossi-Chauvenet was one of the first female winemakers in Valpolicella, and one of the first ones to switch to sustainable and organic methods. Her winery Massimago is now 100% organic. She believes in protecting animal and vegetal biodiversity in the vineyard. 80% of all electricity used at Massimago is produced by solar panels. Camilla limits the use of machinery to an essential minimum, with most processes done by hand.

Tasting notes

Medium ruby colour. Pronounced aromatic intensity, with notes of kirsch and cranberry, enriched by aromas of eucalyptus, nutmeg and fruit jam. On the palate, the wine is dry and full-bodied, with refined soft tannins, high natural acidity and a high level of alcohol. It fills your mouth with a taste of fresh red fruits, spices, herbs and cherry conserve, with a lingering fruity finish.

Ageing potential:

5 years

Awards

Decanter, Tasting by Andrea Briccarello - 92 points (2017 vintage) | I Vini di Veronelli - 2 stars (2018 vintage) | James Suckling - 87 points (2016 vintage) | Wine Searcher - 88 points

Award-winning, 100% organic and low-sulphite Amarone wine. Decanter Bronze Medal.

This is a serious and complex wine, with aromas of red cherry, rose, mint and cedar wood. It is produced using the passito method: grapes are picked by hand early, when they still have high levels of natural acidity. Then, they are dried indoors, in fruttaio, for ninety days to concentrate sugars and flavours. The partially dried grapes are softly crushed and left to macerate for five days, followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks. After the fermentation is finished, the wine ages for six months - again in stainless steel tanks to amplify its fruity flavours. Next, it is transferred into big oak barrels to age in a cold cellar for two years. Finally, the wine is bottled and left to rest for another year to integrate the aromas. The best Amarone wines are famous for their intensely concentrated flavours of red berries and spices, high alcohol and medium to high tannins, and this wine is no exception.

Camilla Rossi-Chauvenet is an innovative entrepreneur and winemaker. Her sustainable winery, Massimago, is 100% organic. She believes in protecting animal and vegetal biodiversity in the vineyard. 80% of all electricity used at Massimago is produced by solar panels. Camilla limits the use of machinery to an essential minimum, with most processes done by hand.

Tasting notes: Medium garnet colour. Elegant aromas of kirsch, red plum and rose, underpinned by notes of eucalyptus, cedar wood, tobacco and dried figs. On the palate, this Amarone wine is dry and full-bodied, with high acidity, firm gripping tannins and a high level of alcohol. Sip it to feel the taste of red plum, rose, spices and red cherry jam, leading to a lasting finish.

"Ripe, plush plum and baked strawberry fruit with an appealing savoury game character. Abundant spicy oak and a lingering finish." - Decanter

Ageing potential: 10 years

Awards: Decanter World Wine Awards 2019: Bronze Medal (2015 vintage) | James Suckling - 91 points (2014 vintage) | Mundus Vini, Spring 2019 - Silver Medal (2015 vintage)