The 2012 Valpolicella Classico is a respectable value wine that puts up no resistance as it washes clear over the palate. This is the kind of easygoing Valpolicella I remember my parents drinking happily in the 1970s at the neighborhood Italian restaurant we once loved. Made in stainless steel, the wine presents simple cherry flavors and crisp acidity. Drink 2013-2015. Up the zigzagging strada provinciale 33 beyond the well-visited production zones of San Pietro in Cariano and Fumane is Stefano Accordini, near the sleepy town of Cavalo. In the 1970s, Stefano Accordini planted grapevines in the Bessole and Fornetto crus that make some of the estate’s best wines today. Years later, the Accordini family purchased more vineyards near Cavalo and Mazzurega at 550 meters above sea level. These are some of the highest growing spots in the Valpolicella. The bright acidity of the grapes often peeks through, helping to balance out the natural sweetness inherent to Amarone. Four generations of the Accordini family have been at the helm of this brand. Importers: Vinity Wine Company; www.vinitywinecompany.com; Omniwines Distributing Co.; www.omniwines.com

A creamy red, framed by bright acidity, this light- to medium-bodied version offers a pure beam of crushed black cherry and accents of melted licorice, mineral, violet and star anise. Elegant. Drink now through 2020. 2,600 cases made, 400 cases imported.??–AN??Region: Italy / Valpolicella Classico Select to Add