Recioto della Valpolicella Classico (1997)
SommeliAI Insights
A sweet, full-bodied red wine with rich flavors of dried fruits and spices.
About this wine
This Recioto della Valpolicella Classico from Giovanni Allegrini is a sweet red wine with a deep ruby color. It offers a complex bouquet of dried fruits like figs and raisins, complemented by notes of blackberry jam, cloves, and cinnamon. The palate is full-bodied and velvety, with a perfect balance between sweetness and acidity, ensuring it remains refreshing rather than cloying. This wine is crafted using the traditional appassimento method, where grapes are naturally dried to concentrate their flavors, a technique dating back to Roman times. Notably, Recioto is considered the noble forefather of Amarone, sharing its rich heritage and production methods.
About the grape
In the Valpolicella region of Italy, the production of Recioto della Valpolicella Classico relies on a blend of indigenous grape varieties, each contributing unique characteristics to the wine. Corvina Veronese, the primary grape, is valued for its high acidity and sour cherry flavors, and its thick skins make it ideal for the appassimento process, where grapes are dried to concentrate sugars. Corvinone, once thought to be a clone of Corvina but now recognized as a distinct variety, offers larger berries and a deeper color, adding structure and tannins to the blend. Rondinella, known for its resilience and consistent yields, brings vibrant color and herbal notes, and its suitability for drying enhances the wine's complexity. Oseleta, a rare variety that was nearly extinct until its revival in the 1980s, contributes deep color and robust tannins, adding depth and aging potential to the wine.
Quick facts
- 🏛️ Recioto della Valpolicella is one of the oldest wines in the world, dating back to Roman times.
- 🍇 The wine is made using the appassimento method, where grapes are dried for about 5 months, resulting in a weight loss of 40-45%.
- 👨👧👦 Giovanni Allegrini, a significant figure in Valpolicella, was a great lover of Recioto, and his children have dedicated this wine to him since 1990.
- 🌟 The 1997 vintage of this wine is particularly notable, as it was a year that produced exceptional wines in the Valpolicella region.
- 🍷 Recioto is considered the noble 'forefather' of Amarone, another renowned wine from the Valpolicella region.
Palate profile
Producer
The Allegrini family has been producing wine in Italy's Valpolicella region since the 16th century, becoming a symbol of Valpolicella Classica. In the 1960s, Giovanni Allegrini revolutionized the winery by focusing on quality over quantity, introducing innovations in viticulture and winemaking that significantly enhanced the reputation of Valpolicella wines. The family acquired the historic 16th-century Villa della Torre in Fumane in 2008, which now serves as the winery's headquarters and a luxury hospitality venue. Today, the seventh generation of the Allegrini family continues to manage the estate, upholding a legacy of excellence and innovation in winemaking.
