The new year is a good time to look at traditions and pick which ones we want to keep. Tradition in the wine world carries a lot of weight and can determine a wine’s style, a particular blend or a certain grape being grown in a certain place. One of the wine world’s chief keepers-of-tradition is Italy, and the Valpolicella blend of Corvina, Corvione and Rondinella grapes is one of the most closely guarded. Picking a tradition we never want to see changed, this week’s wine is Bertani Catullo Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2016.
Tasting Notes: Made with 75% Corvina, 15% Corvione and 10% Rondinella, this blend epitomizes the traditional blend of Valpolicella and Amarone wines. Intense notes of red and black berries are balanced with spice notes and gentle violet, silky tannins, rounded out by a long finish.
Enjoy With: Grilled or roasted red meats, game, classic Italian dishes with red sauces, and hard cheeses.
Style: A soft and spicy, medium-bodied red wine.
Terroir/Region: Bertani Catullo uses the ‘Ripasso’ method of winemaking, a tradition of the region. As Valpolicella also produces the legendary Amarone wine, the richly flavoured grape skins left after making Amarone are refermented with a young Valpolicella wine giving the young wine added richness and flavour. You’ll have to grab a bottle of Catullo to taste the result!
Producer: Bertani was founded by brothers Giovan and Gaetano in 1857. Gaetano had just returned from France after learning the most ‘modern’ methods from Professor Guyot - a legend of the wine world whose techniques are still used today. This proved to be Bertani’s philosophy then and now: to utilize traditional materials and the most modern techniques to make incredible wines.
Availability: Bertani Catullo Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2016 is available in the Vintages section of your local LCBO or for online ordering. Grab a bottle and taste the tradition!
Check LCBO store inventory
Price: $23.95
LCBO#: 17777
Size: 750mL
Alcohol Content: 13.5% alc./vol.
