Campagnola 2022 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore DOC 750ml

Ripasso is one of Valpolicella’s signature techniques, and Campagnola’s version is a classic of the style. After the Amarone and Recioto wines have finished fermenting, the winery takes the fresh, drained grape skins (the pomace) left behind and, in February, passes the young Valpolicella wine over them, so that a second fermentation, or “re-passing,” takes place. This gives the wine extra color, body, structure, and a hint of the dried-grape richness of Amarone, which is why Ripasso is often called a “baby Amarone.”

The 2022 is a blend of 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, and 30% Rondinella from the Classico zone, bottled at 13.5% ABV. After the re-passing, the wine is refined in large 20-, 30-, and 50-hectoliter oak casks for a year, then rests four months in bottle before release. Large casks give the wine roundness without adding obvious oak flavor, so the fruit stays at the center.

The winery’s tasting notes describe an “intense ruby red color” with “violet reflections,” a “spicy bouquet with intense aromas of ripe cherry and jam,” and a palate that is “dry, full, soft,” with “a very pleasant bitter finish.” A more detailed description finds “layers of black cherry, dried plum, and warm baking spice, underpinned by subtle notes of cocoa, tobacco, and forest floor,” with a palate that is “silky and generous, offering ripe fruit, fine-grained tannins, and a long, savoury finish.” It’s rich, juicy, and spicy, with enough acidity to work well at the table. It’s an easy match for pasta, sausages, roasts, game, and aged cheeses.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Campagnola 2022 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore DOC is produced by Campagnola in the Valpolicella Classico zone of Veneto, Italy. It is a blend of 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, and 30% Rondinella, re-passed in February on the fresh pomace left after the Amarone and Recioto fermentations. It is refined for one year in large oak barrels of 20-30-50 hl, then four months in bottle. Bottled at 13.5% ABV, 750ml.

Critics Reviews

No critic scores are published for this bottling.

Campagnola (official tasting notes):
“Intense ruby red colour. Spicy bouquet with intense aromas of ripe cherry and jam. Dry, full, soft flavour in the mouth, with a very pleasant bitter finish.”

Campagnola (additional winery description):
“Intense ruby color with violet reflections; its aroma is complex, with ripe red fruit aromas, spices that caress the palate, and a subtle floral note that adds depth and refinement.”

Retailer tasting description:
“Rich and expressive, this Ripasso unfolds with layers of black cherry, dried plum, and warm baking spice, underpinned by subtle notes of cocoa, tobacco, and forest floor. The palate is silky and generous, offering ripe fruit, fine-grained tannins, and a long, savoury finish.”

Tasting Profile

Nose
Intense ruby with violet reflections. Ripe cherry and jam lead, with black cherry, dried plum, baking spice, and a subtle floral note.

Palate
Dry, full, and soft, with ripe fruit, cocoa, tobacco, and forest floor, with fine-grained tannin.

Finish
Long and savory, with a pleasant bitter note typical of Ripasso.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Pasta with meat sauce, carbonara, or ossobuco
• Sausages, grilled and roast red meats
• Game
• Aged cheeses

Serving Note

Serve at about 16-18°C, and decant briefly if you like.