Secondo Marco 2017 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore DOC

As we've said before, the best wines from the Valpolicella region are dominated by Corvina and Corvinone, and this wine is no exception! Here we find these two making up 90% of the blend (50% Corvina, 40% Corvinone) with the remainder being 5% Molinara and 5% Oseleta.

All the fruit is from Secondo Marco's estate vineyards in Valpolicella Classica, fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks and aged 6 months in 50HL cement vats, 24 months in large neutral Slavonian botti, and 12 months in bottle - a full 3 1/2 years between harvest and release.

Tasting Notes: Velvety tannins, sneaky concentration, a core of juicy, succulent fruit aromas and a clean, dry finish are the signature traits of this superb wine. This is a benchmark example of restraint and balance in a region formerly known for over-the-top oppulence and exaggeration. By contrast, this is a wine to pair with a much larger range of the dishes preferred by our healthier, contemporary diets.

Best enjoyed at cellar temperature (55 - 60 F)

'Secondo Marco' translates as "According to Marco", and he's the independent-minded son of a family with a long lineage of producing wines crafted in a very different style than his - big fruit, high alcohol, and heavy-bottomed. Until recently, his family's style was more typical of the region's wines for the past 30 years or so. 

But Marco decided to depart from his family's style to craft a food-friendly wine that would appeal to today's demand for a lighter, fresher style that responds well to a slight chill. This is such a wine.