92pts James Suckling

An excellent Ripasso. A full-weighted wine that is polished by a slick veneer of winemaking. Licorice root, violet, clove, sassafras and dark cherry accents to the oak. The sweetness strays into kirsch territory, yet the tannic clamp ensures that it’s not excessive. This is a wine for those who like power and polish. Drink or hold.

Winemaker's Notes

As soon as the dried grapes for the winery’s Amarone have completed fermentation, a top selection of Valpolicella grapes “passes over” (ripassa) the Amarone pomace, thus resulting in a second brief fermentation.

This helps to obtain higher alcohol content, deeper color, and rich flavor and aroma. Af-ter aging in French tonneaux for 18-20 months, the wine is cellared for another 6 months in bottle before release.

The process makes for a refined and concentrated wine, extremely smooth and vel-vety, with vibrant red fruit aromas.

On the palate, it delivers fruity notes and elegant tannin with hints of chocolate and spice. Ripassa has played a highly important role in the Zenato winery’s evolution over the years.