Weekly Wine Review - Italian Red - 2010 Albino Armani Ripasso della Valpolicella

Looking for a little variety in an everyday wine, I wandered down the Italian aisle at my local Total Wine & More, and browed the wines from the Veneto region.  This region is the one that brings us Amarone, the wine made from Corvina grapes that are partially sun dried to intensify the flavors in the wine. Grapes leftover from making Amarone are added to regular Valpolicella red wine during fermentation in a method called Ripasso.   This process gives us a wine, usually in the "Everyday" price range, with a nice level of flavor complexity.

Wine: 2010 Albino Armani Ripasso della Valpolicella

Region: Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy
Grape Varieties: Corvina

Obtained from: Purchased at Total Wine & More

Price: $17.00

Wino4Life Category: Everyday Wine

Aeration before tasting: Just a swirl or two, no special aeration.

Cork Condition: Natural Cork - no defects or issues.

Appearance: Wine is clear, red in color with a water white rim.

Aroma: Complex array of fruit aromas - cherry, blackberry, and plum.  Also notes of spices, and a hint of something green - maybe green pepper.

Taste: Lots of fruit in the taste, a nice level of acidity that gives a crisp, clean finish. A hint of tannins as well - very well balanced.

The Grade: I give this one an A.  A really nice, lighter bodied red wine with a nicely complex flavor. Nice as a wine just to sip, or to serve with a meal where you would usually select a Pinot Noir. do like Ripasso wine - and based on this one I will be trying some more of these very soon!