Azienda Agricola Montezovo, Valpolicella Ripasso, DOC Superiore, Verona, Italy, 2020

Producer Profile

Montezovo wines are produced entirely with grapes from family-owned vines spread over the main Verona appellations: Valpolicella, Garda, Lugana and Lessini.

Each wine is the result of conscious choices made in the vineyard, where the interaction between grape varietal, soil, climate and location are all carefully considered. Most of the vineyards are 550m above sea level, with some beyond 900m – much higher than is usual for the region, but with clear benefits for both the vines and their fruit. The fruits of this incredible terroir are most eloquently expressed in Montezovo’s flagship wines, Calinverno Rosso Veronese and Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG.

Viticulture

The grapes come from different plots within the Tregnago Estate, Eastern Valpolicella, that rise at an average altitude of 550 meters above sea level. All of them are trained with the guyot system. The soil is predominantly composed by calcareous marls and sedimentary. Yield per hectare range between 60 and 70 tons . Sustainable viticulture, the company is accredited to the Biodiversity Friend Standard which certificate the preservation of biodiversity in the vineyards.

Winemaking

This wine is produced with the typical "Ripasso method". The grapes harvested in September are destemmed and crushed and left to macerate in inert vessels. The alcoholic fermentation lasts for approximately 15 days at a temperature of 20°-24°C. This wine is then pressed and stored in inert vessels until the moment that a new vintage of Amarone della Valpolicella is to be produced, with the use of dried grapes. Shortly before fermentation finishes the Amarone is drained off the skins and without pressing this is added to the wine produced in September. Yeast which is also transferred in this process, ferment the remaining sugar on the Amarone grape skins adding complexity and atypical flavours to the previous wine. This second "Ripasso" fermentation lasts for 15 days. The wine is then matured in tonneaux and oak vats for 24 months."

Tasting Note

Intense red with garnet highlights. Aromas of ripe fruits, cherries, plums, blackcurrant. Flavours of flowers: geranium and violet. Spices such as vanilla and cinnamon. On the palate it is smooth, balanced and full bodied.

Food Matching

It pairs perfectly with grilled meats, pasta or risotto with pumpkin, sausages or mushrooms. It can be paired with cold cuts and cheeses.