Cesari Bosan 2019 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 750ml

Bosan is Cesari's genuine single-vineyard statement within the Ripasso category — sourced from just 5 hectares in the prestigious Illasi Valley, at 500 meters elevation, on terraced vineyards trained in the traditional "pergola Veronese" system, over limestone soil of volcanic origin. Opici Wines & Spirits, the estate's US importer, calls Bosan simply "among the top three Ripasso wines available in the US market" — a genuine, sustained reputation built across many vintages.

What makes Bosan genuinely distinctive within the Ripasso category is exactly what it's refermented on: rather than generic Amarone pomace, the fresh Valpolicella base wine undergoes the classic two-week "Ripasso" process directly on the leftover skins and seeds from Cesari's own Bosan Amarone — a genuine full-circle connection between the estate's two most celebrated single-vineyard wines. That process raises both alcohol and extraction, adding real color, structure, and tannin beyond what a standard Valpolicella could achieve on its own. The 2019 growing season brought real extremes — a warm February and April gave way to a cold, snowy, rain-soaked May and June, before summer turned very hot, with peaks reaching 42°C. Following the Ripasso process and malolactic fermentation, the wine ages roughly 12 months in French oak, followed by 6 further months blending in Slavonian oak, and further bottle aging before release.

James Suckling awarded 85 Points, describing "oak and dried berries on the nose, following through to a medium-bodied palate with plenty of oaky character, fine tannins and a rather thin, savory finish" — a genuinely honest, more measured take worth sharing alongside the more enthusiastic reviews. Wine Enthusiast scored the wine considerably higher at 91 Points, finding it "delivers power with purpose," opening "with concentrated black fruits that dive deep while a generous dose of spice adds aromatic intrigue," the palate bringing "impressive volume, with juicy fruit coating every corner of the mouth," calling it "a Ripasso flexing its muscles but keeping its balance, like a heavyweight boxer who knows how to move. Rich without being ponderous, concentrated without losing its juice." Cesari's own official notes describe the wine as "round, spicy, and delicate," with "an intense purple colour," the nose expressing "complexity with notes of red fruits and tangy cherries," the body "full and harmonious," the aftertaste showing "slight acidity smoothed by hints of cocoa and roasted coffee." Woods Wholesale Wine's tasting adds "dried berries and cherries" alongside "some chocolate and spice undertones," calling it "full-bodied and flavorful," recommending it alongside "game, grilled meats and casseroles as well as very mature cheeses." This is genuinely serious, single-vineyard Ripasso — produced only in the finest vintages, from one of the category's most consistently respected names.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Cesari Bosan Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2019 is a single-vineyard wine sourced from 5 hectares located near Marano di Valpolicella, in the prestigious Illasi Valley, at 500 meters elevation, on terraced vineyards trained in the traditional "pergola Veronese" system, over calcareous soils of volcanic origin. The wine is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella grapes, produced by Gerardo Cesari S.p.A.

Following the standard Valpolicella fermentation, the fresh wine undergoes the classic "Ripasso" process — a two-week re-fermentation directly on the pomace (skins and seeds) of Cesari's own Bosan Amarone, imparting additional color, structure, aromatics, and tannin while raising the alcohol level. After a final March racking and malolactic fermentation, the wine ages approximately 12 months in French oak barrels, followed by 6 further months blending in large oak barrels, with maturation completed in bottle. Bosan is produced only in the estate's finest vintages, in genuinely limited quantities.

Critics Reviews

James Suckling — 85 Points:
"Oak and dried berries on the nose, following through to a medium-bodied palate with plenty of oaky character, fine tannins and a rather thin, savory finish."

Wine Enthusiast — 91 Points:
"Delivers power with purpose, the wine opens with concentrated black fruits that dive deep while a generous dose of spice adds aromatic intrigue. The palate brings impressive volume, with juicy fruit coating every corner of the mouth. This is a Ripasso flexing its muscles but keeping its balance, like a heavyweight boxer who knows how to move. Rich without being ponderous, concentrated without losing its juice."

Cesari (official tasting note, 2019 vintage):
"Round, spicy, and delicate. It presents an intense purple colour, while the nose expresses all its complexity with notes of red fruits and tangy cherries. The body is full and harmonious. The aftertaste has a slight acidity smoothed by hints of cocoa and roasted coffee."

Woods Wholesale Wine (extended tasting note):
"A rich, fruity valpo with dried berries and cherries and some chocolate and spice undertones. It's full-bodied and flavorful."

Opici Wines & Spirits (house-level context):
"Cesari's Bosan is among the top three Ripasso wines available in the US market."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Intense purple color. Concentrated red fruit and tangy cherry lead, joined by oak and dried berries, alongside blackberry, toasted almond, and generous spice.

Palate
Full and harmonious, with impressive volume and juicy fruit, delivering concentrated black fruit and fine, oaky tannins, balanced against a generous dose of spice.

Finish
Round and spicy, closing with slight acidity smoothed by cocoa and roasted coffee — genuinely structured, with critics divided between finding it savory and thin versus rich and powerfully balanced.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Game, grilled meats, and stews
• Very mature, aged cheeses
• Braised or roasted red meat
• Rich, savory dishes