In the glass
Aroma: cherry, dried plum, tobacco, vanilla, light cedar
Palate: morello cherry, dried herbs, light cedar, tobacco, sweet spice
Tommasi's Ripasso offers the hallmark refermentation complexity over dried Amarone skins in a well-structured, cherry-tobacco dominated medium red that is one of the zone's best-value offerings in the Ripasso DOC.
What it pairs with
-
Pasta with Bolognese sauce
Cherry-tobacco notes and medium tannins are classic Italian pasta-pairing territory. -
Grilled Luganega sausages
Northern Italian pork sausage with fennel is a natural regional pairing with Valpolicella styles. -
Mushroom risotto
The wine's earthy tobacco component finds resonance with porcini or chanterelle mushrooms.
How to serve Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening , the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Pasta with Bolognese sauce, Grilled Luganega sausages, Mushroom risotto. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Tommasi introduced their Ripasso as the mid-tier between their fresh Valpolicella and the Amarone, building on the zone's tradition of passing wine over the warm dried pomace from Amarone fermentation to add complexity.
- 1988 — Tommasi Valpolicella Ripasso first released
Facts
- Producer
- Tommasi Viticoltori
- Grapes
- Corvina (45%), Corvinone (35%), Rondinella (15%), Molinara (5%)
- Classification
- Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
- Oak
- Aged 18 months in Slavonian oak; refermented on dried Amarone skins
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- €20-30 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-10 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1988
Frequently asked about Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso
What does Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso taste like?
On the nose, cherry, dried plum, tobacco, vanilla, light cedar. On the palate, morello cherry, dried herbs, light cedar, tobacco, sweet spice. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a medium finish. Tommasi's Ripasso offers the hallmark refermentation complexity over dried Amarone skins in a well-structured, cherry-tobacco dominated medium red that is one of the zone's best-value offerings in the Ripasso DOC.
When should I drink Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso?
Drink 3-10 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso?
Pasta with Bolognese sauce is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Grilled Luganega sausages and Mushroom risotto. Cherry-tobacco notes and medium tannins are classic Italian pasta-pairing territory.
What grapes are in Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso?
The blend is Corvina (45%), Corvinone (35%), Rondinella (15%), Molinara (5%). The wine is classified as Valpolicella Ripasso DOC.