Delibori Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore is the first of a few wines I bought on a recent trip to the Lombardy region of Italy. Lombardy seems flooded with Valpolicella in restaurants, bars and supermarkets, even though it is not actually from Lombardy, but from neighbouring Veneto.
Let’s unpick the name of the wine. “Valpolicella” is the wine region, near Verona. “Ripasso” means the wine has been passed again over the leftover grape skins and solids from Amarone or Recioto production. This gives a standard Valpolicella more body, alcohol, colour, tannin and dried-fruit complexity. “Classico” means the grapes come from the historic, traditional Valpolicella zone, rather than the wider Valpolicella area. “Superiore” means it meets stricter requirements than basic Valpolicella Ripasso, typically including higher minimum alcohol and ageing requirements.
This one comes in at 14% and is the 2023 vintage. The blend is 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 10% Corvinone.
You really need to give this wine some air, either in the glass or in a decanter, for at least 40 minutes to get the most out of it. In fact, it is even better the next day.
The colour is medium-deep ruby, just starting to brown at the edges. The aromas move through morello cherry, plum and spice, becoming more floral the longer it sits in the glass. When drinking, it brings sour cherry and richness without sweetness sometimes found in ripasso. The tannins are low to medium, while there’s lots of round mouthfeel, helped along by that 14% alcohol. There is a Shiraz-like spice right at the end, and, when left to air until the next day, an extra little touch of caramel comes through too.
I have not been able to find it for sale in the UK. I bought it for €9.19 in the Italian supermarket Migross, although it typically sells for around €10.90 to €16.00.
