VALPOLICELLA

We have reached the mid-point of Spring, so in anticipation of warmer weather and Summer looming, I have found you one of the most deliciously gluggable reds I have tasted in years. Valpolicella is a well-known style of Italian red wines beloved by trattorias and pizzerias up and down the country. Few realise just how vast a category of red wines Valpol is. From inexpensive supermarket plonk costing a couple of cents a litre to mind-blowing Amarones at the top of the pile, which would require a quick call to your bank manager to secure funds for a purchase, the range is staggering. La Bionda’s version is the definitive Spring/Summer red wine, given it is an ethereal creature; gossamer-smooth, seamless, thrillingly delicious and blessed with a raspberry and red cherry theme. The whoosh of welcoming fruit is inlaid with faint liquorice and wild herb details, ensuring sophisticated palates will find as much to admire here as thirsty beginners. Matthew Jukes, Moneyweek (May 2023)

70% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 10% Molinara and Rondinella. Certified organic. Spontaneous fermentation in tank. Six months on lees. Light cherry red. Deliciously scented with sour-cherry freshness. Tart and zesty, light-bodied, full of energy and life. Tight, bright and refreshing. (JH) 12.5% Drinking range: 2023 - 2025 Rating: 16 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2023)

The 2019 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso Malavoglia is dark and even a bit murky in the glass, mixing crushed rock with steeped plums and savory herbs. It greets the palate with a pleasant inner sweetness contrasted by salty mineral tones as ripe red fruits cascade throughout. The 2019 finishes lightly structured and long, lingering on notes of raspberry and clove. The balance within is fantastic, but the bouquet gives me pause. This was tasted from two separate bottles with identical results. Drinking range: 2022 - 2025 Rating: 90 Eric Guido, www.vinous.com (Dec 2022)