What wine is Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 'Ca’ del Laito' 2019 - Tommaso Bussola

The Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 'Ca’ del Laito' 2019 - Tommaso Bussola is a red wine from Veneto with great personality, produced in the heart of Valpolicella Classica. It is made from a skillful blend of indigenous grape varieties – Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella – which represent the most authentic soul of this territory. Full-bodied yet balanced, this Ripasso Superiore combines intensity and finesse, offering a rich and satisfying tasting experience. It's the classic wine to keep at home to impress guests or accompany an important dinner.

Vintage Details

The 2019 vintage was characterized by ideal climatic conditions: warm summers without extremes and a dry and regular harvest. The grapes reached perfect ripeness, rich in aromas and with an excellent balance between sugars and acidity. All this allowed for an expressive, deep wine with an elegant structure, particularly suitable for long aging.

Winemaking and Aging

The secret of "Ripasso" lies in the second fermentation of the base wine with the Amarone pomace, i.e., the skins of grapes already used for the famous passito wine. In the case of 'Ca’ del Laito', the wine is re-fermented for about a week on the pomace, enriching itself with aromatic complexity, body, and softness. This is followed by 36 months of maturation in wooden barrels, which rounds off the tannins, and a further 3 months of aging in the bottle to harmonize the aromas and flavors.

Tasting Notes

A fascinating and intense wine, capable of captivating with its elegance and substance. Here's how it presents itself in the glass:

Color

The Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 'Ca’ del Laito' 2019 - Tommaso Bussola shows a deep and luminous ruby red color, with garnet reflections that reveal its maturity and structure.

Nose

The nose stands out with aromas of ripe red fruit – cherry, sour cherry, and plum – followed by spicy notes of black pepper, tobacco, and a slight hint of vanilla due to aging in wood. The bouquet is ample, elegant, and constantly evolving.

Taste

On the palate, it is soft, warm, and enveloping. The tannins are dense but silky, well integrated into a balanced taste profile. The finish is long and persistent, with hints of maraschino cherry and sweet spices. The full and harmonious structure makes it a wine of character yet very drinkable.

What dishes to pair with Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 'Ca’ del Laito' 2019 - Tommaso Bussola

This Ripasso Superiore is extremely versatile in gastronomic pairings. It goes perfectly with:

• roasted or braised red meat dishes;
• aged cheeses such as Monte Veronese or Parmigiano Reggiano;
• first courses with game sauces or beef ragout;
• traditional Venetian dishes, such as pastissada de caval or risotto all’Amarone.

Also excellent on its own, as a meditation wine, to fully enjoy its aromatic nuances.

Storage and Aging: how to store Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 'Ca’ del Laito' 2019 - Tommaso Bussola

To maintain its quality, store the Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 'Ca’ del Laito' 2019 - Tommaso Bussola in a cool, dark environment, with a constant temperature between 14 and 16°C and humidity around 70%. It should be kept horizontally, so that the cork always remains in contact with the wine. Thanks to its structure and complexity, it can further improve in the bottle for several years: up to 8-10 years from the vintage, it expresses its best, offering increasingly evolved and refined aromas.