Bolla Le Poiane Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2008
Top Read Blog Posts - May 2011
Tignanello 2006
Italian Wines 2011
Verdicchio di Matelica
FACTFILE
Name: Bolla Le Poiane Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2008 - £13/€10/$15
Grapes: 70% Corvina and Corvinone, 30% Rondinella & other local varities
Alcohol: 13.5%
Region: Jago Village, Valpolicella Classico DOC
Valpolicella Classico is made with the grapes grown from the classical area of Valpolicella.
Style: Superiore (aged 1 year with at least 12% alcohol), Ripasso (After malolactic fermentation, the wine goes through the “ripasso” process, which entails fermenting the wine on Amarone must for approximately 20 days)
Vintage: 2008 - Rain and Hail affected the early growing season but reports for Valpolicella and Amarone are positive.
Food Pairing: A thick juicy, dark cherry/raisened wine, this Valpolicella Ripasso should pair well with big meaty pasta dishes, game stew and steak.
Bish Bash Bosh! Doesn't that look neat?
It is easy to forget, when you are studying wine or have been involved for many years that these terms, Ripasso, Classico, Superiore etc etc are actually highly confusing. Not only are there so many terms to learn, but what these words mean change from country to country, region to region and even DOC by DOC. Superiore will usually mean additional ageing and higher alcohol, but how much will depend on the DOC/G you're tasting.
Why is Italian wine so confusing?
So from now on, when profiling just one or two wines, I will do so in the above "factfile" style; explaining any unusual terms.
Yes, Yes, but is the Bolla Le Poiane Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2008 any good?
Jolly Delicious. I took this wine to a dinner party on Wednesday night in Pimlico, London.
The meal was an all Greek affair, rather simple in fact, a good old fashioned case of making a shoe from your pitta and exploring the range of houmous that UK supermarkets now produce. Olive, sun dried tomatoes, tzatziki and falafel completed the Greek Pick N Mix and I am happy to report that the Le Poiane complimented the Greek fare surprisingly well, far better than the Rioja our host brought along. That sounds rude... but it did!
Do not expect Le Poiane or any Classico Ripasso Valpolicella to be anything like regular £4 bottles of Valpolicella, these are altogether different wines not light-bodied or unbalanced by high acidity. The effects of the Ripasso process produce more serious, luscious wines styled closer to Amarone itself than wines typically associated with the label Valpolicella. These wines, when pairing with food, should be treated as entirely different wines, as different as you may treat a Merlot from a Cab.
Bolla Le Poiane Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2008 - BUY - £13
Le Poiane sits a thick, deep purple in the glass. On the nose the wine offers an initially compact profile of raisins and dark cherry with little else but over time expands to include spicy notes with a hint of vanilla. This wine is harmonious on the palate with a luscious mouth-feel complimented by a steady acidity but the fruit is the most prevalent force with dark cherries and raisins showing on the mid-palate and finish. This wine is punchy, smooth and well balanced and thus really easy to drink, but not complex nor with any real finish. Flexible enough to compliment a range of food pairings; a good dinner party wine. Le Poiane even goes well with William and Kate home-made wedding cake! Bargain. 86 Points.
Where can I buy this wine?
Bolla is massive both internally and overseas. In the UK this wine is sold by Waitrose. In Italy you can find it next to the Coca Cola and San Pellegrino Chinotto. Bolla has a large distribution in the USA too. There will be no problems locating this wine, many of the online stores sell this product.
Leave a Comment:
Experiences of Bolla or Ripasso Valpolicella? Maybe you love regular Valpolicella, Classico or not? Tell it how it is!
Other Recent Blog Posts - May 2011
Tignanello 2006
Italian Wines 2011
Verdicchio di Matelica
Top Read Blog Posts - May 2011
Tignanello 2006
Italian Wines 2011
Verdicchio di Matelica
Name: Bolla Le Poiane Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2008 - £13/€10/$15
Grapes: 70% Corvina and Corvinone, 30% Rondinella & other local varities
Alcohol: 13.5%
Region: Jago Village, Valpolicella Classico DOC
Valpolicella Classico is made with the grapes grown from the classical area of Valpolicella.
Style: Superiore (aged 1 year with at least 12% alcohol), Ripasso (After malolactic fermentation, the wine goes through the “ripasso” process, which entails fermenting the wine on Amarone must for approximately 20 days)
Vintage: 2008 - Rain and Hail affected the early growing season but reports for Valpolicella and Amarone are positive.
Food Pairing: A thick juicy, dark cherry/raisened wine, this Valpolicella Ripasso should pair well with big meaty pasta dishes, game stew and steak.
Bish Bash Bosh! Doesn't that look neat?
It is easy to forget, when you are studying wine or have been involved for many years that these terms, Ripasso, Classico, Superiore etc etc are actually highly confusing. Not only are there so many terms to learn, but what these words mean change from country to country, region to region and even DOC by DOC. Superiore will usually mean additional ageing and higher alcohol, but how much will depend on the DOC/G you're tasting.
Why is Italian wine so confusing?
So from now on, when profiling just one or two wines, I will do so in the above "factfile" style; explaining any unusual terms.
Yes, Yes, but is the Bolla Le Poiane Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2008 any good?
Jolly Delicious. I took this wine to a dinner party on Wednesday night in Pimlico, London.
The meal was an all Greek affair, rather simple in fact, a good old fashioned case of making a shoe from your pitta and exploring the range of houmous that UK supermarkets now produce. Olive, sun dried tomatoes, tzatziki and falafel completed the Greek Pick N Mix and I am happy to report that the Le Poiane complimented the Greek fare surprisingly well, far better than the Rioja our host brought along. That sounds rude... but it did!
Do not expect Le Poiane or any Classico Ripasso Valpolicella to be anything like regular £4 bottles of Valpolicella, these are altogether different wines not light-bodied or unbalanced by high acidity. The effects of the Ripasso process produce more serious, luscious wines styled closer to Amarone itself than wines typically associated with the label Valpolicella. These wines, when pairing with food, should be treated as entirely different wines, as different as you may treat a Merlot from a Cab.
Bolla Le Poiane Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2008 - BUY - £13
Le Poiane sits a thick, deep purple in the glass. On the nose the wine offers an initially compact profile of raisins and dark cherry with little else but over time expands to include spicy notes with a hint of vanilla. This wine is harmonious on the palate with a luscious mouth-feel complimented by a steady acidity but the fruit is the most prevalent force with dark cherries and raisins showing on the mid-palate and finish. This wine is punchy, smooth and well balanced and thus really easy to drink, but not complex nor with any real finish. Flexible enough to compliment a range of food pairings; a good dinner party wine. Le Poiane even goes well with William and Kate home-made wedding cake! Bargain. 86 Points.
Where can I buy this wine?
Bolla is massive both internally and overseas. In the UK this wine is sold by Waitrose. In Italy you can find it next to the Coca Cola and San Pellegrino Chinotto. Bolla has a large distribution in the USA too. There will be no problems locating this wine, many of the online stores sell this product.
Leave a Comment:
Experiences of Bolla or Ripasso Valpolicella? Maybe you love regular Valpolicella, Classico or not? Tell it how it is!
Other Recent Blog Posts - May 2011
Tignanello 2006
Italian Wines 2011
Verdicchio di Matelica
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