Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore 'I Lasi' Large Format

Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore 'I Lasi' 2018 is a red from Villa Canestrari in the Illasi Valley, Veneto, in a 3 litre large-format bottle. Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Spigamonte ferment first on their own, then again on the dried-grape skins left from Amarone, which adds depth. Ruby red, with sour cherry and sweet almond and more body than a regular Valpolicella, at 14.15% alcohol. Delivered across Ontario.

The producer

Villa Canestrari is a family winery in the Illasi Valley, east of Verona. Its story starts in 1888, when Carlo Bonuzzi, who owned many vineyards in the valley, finished winemaking school at Conegliano and began bottling the family's wines. Francesco Bonuzzi and Adriana Franchi run the estate today.

The vineyards

South-west-facing hills in the Illasi Valley, up to 200 metres, on volcanic tuff and alluvial soils over layered marine limestone. Vines are trained on pergolas (3,000 per hectare) and Guyot (4,500 per hectare), with summer pruning when needed, and are hand-picked from about the end of September.

How it's made

The grapes are crushed, destemmed and fermented at 24 to 28°C with a long maceration, then go through malolactic fermentation. A second fermentation, the ripasso, starts when the wine is passed over Amarone grape skins. It spends some months in steel, at least one year in 2,000-litre oak casks (10 to 15% new) and some months in bottle before release.

How it tastes

Ruby red in the glass, with sour cherry and sweet almond. It has more body than a standard Valpolicella.

How to serve it

Pour it with hearty meat and game, or with Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano and aged Monte Veronese. Serve at room temperature in large glasses.