Montresor Capitel della Crosara Valpolicella Ripasso 2018 (Veneto) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Valpolicella from Veneto that comes to the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 8 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Vini Montresor, a family with a long history that boasts illustrious ancestors such as the Count Claude de Montresor, a trusted advisor to the Duke of Orleans in France in the 17th century. A branch of the Montresor family moved to the Veneto region in Italy at the beginning of the 19th and settled near Lake Garda in an area renowned for its moraine soils. It was here that the family continued to grow one of its main passions - wine making - and in 1892 Giacomo Montresor started up Cantine Giacomo Montresor. With French blood and an Italian spirit, the Montresor family has been part of the wine industry for more than 200 years and would like to this privilege with wine drinkers across the globe.

This particular red wine is from their Capitel della Crosara collection that was created in 1991. The "Capitello" is a very old stone at the intersection in a small village of Valpolicella and on it is painted a figure of the Madonna which in past times was used by the peasantry as a votive icon. Impressed by the charm of this area, the Montresor family established relationships with almost all of the peasant families of the Borgo in the 1950s and bought their grapes. The relationship between the growers and Cantine Giacomo Montresor was so deep that it was said that Montresor had a monopoly on the grapes from this area.

A traditional blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes from the Valpolicella area were used to craft this red wine in the Ripasso method. The grapes were harvested in September and October and followed traditional vinification methods with destemming and maceration of the skins, and a very slow fermentation. After re-fermentation on Amarone pomace, the wine is aged in wood for about 1 year. I've been tasting quite a few Valpolicella wines lately, let's see how this one is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MONTRESOR CAPITEL DELLA CROSARA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO 2018 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#379172) (XD) - $19.95
Crafted with Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, the medium-high intensity nose is quite elegant with a pleasing mix of candied black cherry, dried spices, and wood spice with savoury, earthy undertones, and a slight herbal touch. On the medium-full bodied palate it comes off as dry on the flavour profile with delicious aroma replays. It's very well balanced with fresh, juicy acidity and refined, slightly grippy tannins. Savoury, earthy, cocoa, and woody with herbal notes linger on the long, succulent finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Montresor are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.