2017 Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore 750 ml

Amarone della Valpolicella is a star category for Wine Access members, one of the most highly rated types of wine we offer. That’s why we’re so thrilled to share the Tommasi Valpolicella Ripasso. It offers the luxurious depth we crave in a dense and concentrated red for half the price of a comparable Amarone.

Vinous called the 2017 Ripasso “deeply alluring” with a “beautiful symmetry and persistence.” James Suckling noted its “serious backbone” and gave it a 93-point score. We think it’s a wine to stock at home and grab whenever you need a surefire winner.

A blend of 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, and 5% Corvinone, the grapes are sourced from three of the most prestigious Tommasi vineyards: Conca d’Oro, La Groletta, and De Buris. These are the same sites Tommasi cultivates for their top Amarones.

Ripasso is made by refermenting juice from a regular Valpolicella on the dried skins from newly pressed Amarone. This process imparts a rich character and dried-fruit notes. 

The wine is vinified in stainless steel for about nine days, then aged and softened for 18 months in large, old Slavonian oak barrels. This traditional approach yields a very modern and drinkable wine.

It pours an intense ruby-red and has a nose of black pepper and raisin. The palate lifts and soars with lots of sweet red cherry, wild herbs and, as Decanter put it, the “charm of Indian spice.” 

Anyone who loves big, bold reds will be thrilled to have this Ripasso on hand as a go-to pairing for rich grilled meats and saucy sides. It’s a sure bet.