Mini-me Amarone in a maxi-sized bottle

The Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore is also known as a “Baby Amarone,” and not without reason. And the Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella 5-liter bottle is certainly very attractive in such a super-sized bottle! There is enough for everyone! This is no small one either! What a wonderful gift to give, too! Let alone receive!

This Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella 5-liter is made using the currently very popular Ripasso process. In this process, the standard Valpolicella is fermented a second time on the skins and seeds remaining from the production of Amarone, the special version of Valpolicella made from dried grapes. This gives the wine more power and intensity. The art lies in preserving the fruit as well. In the case of this Ripassa, this has certainly been achieved excellently. It is a wine in a beautiful, sultry, and powerful style, aged, with notes of vanilla, cream, and spices; juicy and broad, with cherries and berries; a firm flavor with good tannins and length—almost a mini Amarone. Wonderful.

Light-footed yet powerful.

As a result, this Ripassa has inherited the refinement and taste of Amarone, yet has a lower alcohol percentage than its big brother (Amarone is often 15-16%). The Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella is a blend of three different grapes: 85% Corvina Veronese, 10% Rondinella, and 5% Oseleta. A delicious glass that you really must taste at least once. A deep ruby ​​red color with an intense, elegant, and persistent aroma of black cherries, plums, vanilla, currants, and chocolate. A harmonious, velvety taste with good structure. The finish is long and particularly convincing. Powerful and convincing, yet not so that you fall asleep on the couch on a Friday night after two glasses. The wines ferment in wooden barrels for between 18 and 24 months, and you can certainly taste that. The serving temperature for this Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore is 16-18ºC. An excellent pairing with game dishes, grilled meats and roasts, salami, and aged cheeses.

Zenato: ruler of the Valpolicella

Wine producer Zenato is the story of a family with roots in the earth. This is thanks to the passion and entrepreneurial vision of founder Sergio in realizing his greatest dream: to create a winery capable of reaping the fruits of the earth and transforming them into emotions with a unique taste. Today, more than 60 years later, it is the family of Sergio Zenato—his wife Carla and their children Alberto and Nadia—who hold the responsibilities for this company. It is their eyes and their hearts that uphold the quality and love for this terroir, which for some time has been not only Lugana but also Valpolicella, with its important red wines and unmistakable aromas.

The Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella has already received many awards.

• ROBERT PARKER: 91 points
• JAMES SUCKLING 2018: 94 points
• DECANTER ASIA WINE AWARDS: 90 points / Silver medal
• WINE SPECTATOR: 90 points
• MUNDUS VINI SPRING EDITION 2019: Silver medal
• DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS: 89 points – Bronze
• SWA: Commended
• 5 STARWINES: 91 points
• Top 100 Guida ai vini di Verona
• This wine scored one in a blind tasting by the three Dutch Masters of Wine 8,5!