Casa dei Reti Valpolicella Ripasso '22

Agricola Tedeschi is one of the great historic estates of Valpolicella — a family-owned domaine with roots in the Veneto going back to the seventeenth century, and one of the producers most responsible for establishing the international reputation of the wines of this region. Casa dei Reti is their approachable Ripasso: a wine that delivers the depth and richness of the Ripasso method at a price that makes it an outstanding everyday choice.

Ripasso is one of Italian wine's most compelling techniques: a base Valpolicella wine is re-fermented on the still-wet pomace left over from Amarone production, picking up colour, tannin, body, and complexity in the process. The result sits between a standard Valpolicella and the full power of an Amarone — richer and more structured than the former, more approachable and immediate than the latter. The 2022 vintage in the Veneto was excellent: a warm, dry year that produced concentrated, expressive wines with great natural ripeness. Casa dei Reti has real weight and presence: expect dark cherry, dried fruit, leather, chocolate, and a touch of spice, with a full, velvety palate and a long, warming finish. Drink it with braised beef, lamb, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, or any rich meat dish. Decant briefly if drinking young.