Cortesole Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2016 (Veneto, Italy) CBW Traders

Grape varieties: Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara.

CorteSole comes from the union of the Italian words for court, home of kings and nobles, and the Sun, the star around which our planetary system is gravitated. There is therefore no more appropriate name for this line, which represents and expresses all the passion, pride, experience, tradition and the pursuit of excellence and quality. The Cortesole line is their star, their flagship, their top of the range, boasting traditional high quality wines that they sign for the best restaurants and wine shops.

All Cortesole products are the result of a careful selection that begins in the vineyard and goes on in the cellar, with the scrupulous respect of the regional wine tradition, in order to enhance the personality of each wine. The high quality is confirmed in the numerous awards obtained in international wine competitions.

The harvest begins by the end of September. Skin contact, maceration and fermentation last about 12 days at a controlled temperature of 25°C. Skins are kept just below the surface of fermenting must, according to the “punch-down” technique. By the end of March the wine is poured on the un-pressed, still wet (and rather sweet) skins of the just fermented Amarone. This technique is called “Ripasso” (lit. “passed again”) and induces in the Valpolicella a malolactic fermentation that increases its alcohol content and texture.

“A fine wine with red fruits and plenty of wood characteristics. Full-bodied, dry, velvety and persistent.”

“Aromas of blackcurrant, mulberry and rose petals along with a hint of milk chocolate. On the palate a savoury mouthfeel frames red and black fruit: young plum and blackberry, spicy wood notes and violets. This wine is smartly structured with medium tannins, plenty of length and a mouth-pleasing dry finish keeping everything vibrant and fresh.” – Erez Gordon, Carboot Wines