Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Santa Sofia 2018 (500ml)

Grape varieties: Corvina and Corvinone (70%), Rondinella (30%). The grapes are left to dry for 90 to 120 days before pressing.

Ageing: 14 months in barrique (225-litre French oak barrels)

Refining: At least 12 months in the bottle

14% ABV - 500ml bottle

Wine: An almost inky ruby red colour with strong, purplish hues at the edge. A bouquet that is more oriented towards harmony and elegance than pure power. The palate is intense, structured, freshly acidic, with very little space for sweetness; it is coherent with the impressions on the nose; the tannins offer a velvety texture with a vivacious grip and the finish, hinting sour cherries and tobacco, is extremely fresh, clean and persistent.

Recommended food pairings: An end-of-meal wine, it is at its best when paired with coffee desserts, castagnaccio, a rustic chestnut pudding from Tuscany, and chocolate cakes. At a riper age, it becomes a more brooding, “meditation” wine, best savoured alone or with a piece of Roquefort cheese.