Love Valpolicella Ripasso? You'll love this smooth and suave Rosso!
Bandol - Vineyards on the Med
Valpolicella Ripasso is one of those wines you pull out for a dinner party or gathering and folks are inevitably wowed by its smooth, silky palate of sexy red fruits. This week’s first insider feature is a junior version of that silky Ripasso, giving you Ripasso-like enjoyment for a fraction of the price.
As I often opine, one of the best ways to find value in the wine world is to first find a great producer and then drill down to their entry level releases — 9 times out of 10, they’re a tremendous bargain with outstanding quality that filters down from the top tier.
San Michele “Arepo” is a Rosso Veronese IGT — while that alone may not be particularly captivating, it begins to get interesting when we learn that San Michele is noted for producing top quality Valpolicello Ripasso and also Amarone!
San Michele’s vineyards are located in the Veneto region of North-East Italy. The gently rolling hills of their main vineyards are in Valpolicella, close to the city of Verona and also Lake Garda. The area is rich in both history and wine culture, claiming second place behind the Chianti in total wine production.
The cold winters and warm, temperate summers in the Veneto are perfect for vineyard cultivation, and the morainic gravel soil around Lake Garda provides ample backbone and structure. Here, Corvina is king — it’s the most important grape varietal of the region and the main component in Valpolicella Ripasso and Amarone.
Smooth and Suave Red!
San Michele “Arepo” is made from a blend of Corvina and Rondinella, with just a touch of Merlot to provide some extra richness and gloss to the fruit. In the glass, you’ll find an explosion of vivid red fruits on the nose, along with hints of rose, violet and tobacco leaf. The palate is nicely lifted and and has plenty of richness to counterpoint the subtle smoky, earthy notes — there’s a ton of great fruit, yet this is no lollipop. Cherry, red berry and especially red raspberry circle around ample acidity and notes of savory herbs, all in a super smooth framework with present, yet super silky tannins.
This is a wine that can fit a ton of culinary applications! Pair this silky gem with all of your favorite poultry and pork dishes. It’s soft enough for grilled salmon and has enough oomph for even a steak. It would also make a terrific greeter for your next dinner party.
2017 San Michele "Arepo"
Rosso del Veronese
Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy
- Can't make it in? Call 828-253-0060 with your credit card number.
We'll hold your purchase in our temperature controlled cellar for pickup at your convenience
or we'll arrange for delivery.