Guerrieri Rizzardi Valpolicella Ripasso "Pojega"

Guerrieri Rizzardi Valpolicella Ripasso “Pojega”

WHY WE LOVE IT

  • Pojega is a historic “cru” vineyard that sits next to the world renowned garden of the same name that was purchased by the Rizzardi family in the 1600’s. These widely spaced vines are old for the region and therefore loaded with character.
  • This cuvee is produced from the Southernmost parcels of the vineyard, where a larger than normal proportion of the grapes planted are the late-ripening Corvinone a.k.a. “super Corvina”.
  • Following traditional practice for the style, the wine sees a second fermentation with still-warm raisined pomace from the winery’s Amarone.
  • This is a refreshing, balanced alternative to the “modernized/consumerist” Ripasso that most of the region’s wineries are producing these days – Reused skins only on the repass, no dried grape additions, and no artificial heating.
  • DOC guidelines allow 2 bottles of Ripasso for every bottle of Amarone a winery produces, and Rizzardi’s ratio is unusually low at 1.2, meaning more impact and character from the skins.
  • Cellared in barrels previously used for the winery’s Amarone.

Varietal Composition: 45% Corvina, 45% Corvinone, 5% Merlot, 5% Rondinella

Elaboration: Hand picked and hand sorted. In the winery in Negar, the alcoholic fermentation and maceration of de-stemmed grapes is carried out over usually 10 days at temperature of 77° F. Followed by the secondary fermentation technique of “Ripasso.” 12 months in Slavonian and French oak.

Tasting Notes: A Ripasso with depth and concentration yet maintaining its signature freshness. Plenty of dark berried fruit and subtle sweet spices, a Ripasso that is fine on its own but even better with food.

PRESS

2019 – 91 Vinous

PRODUCER BACKGROUND

Guerrieri-Rizzardi, the historic house in Veneto, dates back to the unification of two ancient estates in 1913, when Carlo Rizzardi from Valpolicella, married Guiseppina Guerrieri of Bardolino. From the 1950s Antonio Rizzardi managed and developed the estates, focusing on viticulture and in the 1970s he acquired the estate in Soave. 2011 saw the opening of the new winery on the hills of Bardolino. The result of a long-term plan to re-locate and modernize the entire production process. Rizzardi’s new winery is completely solar powered, combining the best that technology offers in a carbon neutral way with vineyards that have been in the family for centuries. With extensive holdings of “cru” acreage, the family is well known throughout Europe for their sensational, mineral rich example of Soave Classico, the tension driven Ripasso they produce from Pojega, and most importantly for making one of the most classical and age-worthy examples of single vineyard Amarone in the region.

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