Tom Casagrande

9.0

Another big boi from this producer. Obviously uses at least a significant proportion of partially dried grapes. Fairly saturated color. Nose is rather subdued, reluctantly giving up scents of leather, underbrush, crushed rock, and dark cherry underneath all of that non-fruit stuff. In the mouth, it’s big, with initial slightly bitter, extracted notes. Tannic. Dissimilar from straight Valpos in its size and austerity. Dissimilar from Ripasso-style Valpos in that the fruit is not especially ripe or sweetish. It will go well with our stuffed shells in red sauce, but is a little challenging on its own. It occurs to me that this might fit in well in a tasting of 2017s from the left bank in Bordeaux. In other words, very atypical for a Valpo. Still, it’s pretty good, as long as you don’t harbor any expectations of typicity.

UPDATE: two nights later (using a vacuum closure), this has actually improved. Kind of amazing for a Valpo of this age. The fruit has moved closer to front-and-center, and it seem a bit more Calpo-like, though it’s still pretty large-framed. Upping score from 8.8 to 9.0. — 4 days ago

Alan Johnston

9.3

3.3. A very nice Valpolicella, with a very smooth taste and finish. The 2021 was on sale for $17.99, regularly $21.99. The 2019?now seems to be out of stock. It was excellent. — 25 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Cena com david diego benito y victor c en la cocineroa boda de andrea — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep Ruby with aromas of sweet dried berry fruits and pepper spice. On the palate ripe blackberry, currants and sweet black cherry with complex spice. Well balanced with acidity and alcohol, full-body with soft tannins on long finish. — 2 days ago

AEL

8.9

Shows the benefits of blending. Well balanced, ripe berry and wet bark notes, spicy and full on palate. A bit alcoholic. — a month ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Rating for night 3. Hold or give it a ton of air. — 2 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.4

First bottle had oxidation and was a touch towards vinegar.

2nd bottle was fresh and gorgeous. Great fruit flavors. Somewhat apricot and floral. Lovely. — a month ago

Ryan Colthorp

8.9

Peppery nose. Medium bodied. Stewed fruits. — 24 days ago

Mark Mannebach

9.0

Full body, bold yet silky feel, plum, with spice notes — a month ago

Raun Kupiec

9.0

Super smooth, good fruit, nice balance. Only criticism would be it needs a bit more structure this young. But that could be the restaurant’s fault - the steak was too salty. — 2 months ago