The Musella 2017 Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso is a certified organic and biodynamic wine that shows the extra smoke and tarry spice that you might expect of a very hot vintage such as this. Those robust aromas are followed by dried prune and spice. Ripasso is a hybrid wine that is made with fresh grape must that is fermented on the pressed skins and seeds of air-dried grape clusters left over from the making of Amarone. The blend used in this case is 85% Corvina and Corvinone, 10% Rondinella and 5% Barbera. This wine is savory in character with lots of dried fruit intensity. Some 50,000 bottles were made.

The Musella 2015 Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso (made with 50% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 10% Rondinella and 5% Barbera) is a great wine for grilled meat or meatloaf. It offers a thick, velvety texture with accents of plum, prune and dried cherry. From a sunny and warm vintage, the wine spreads over the palate with rich and balanced intensity. Winemaking is simple with just cement and tonneaux. Some 60,000 bottles were made.

Pretty herb and spice notes accent the juicy black cherry, sweet smoke and citrus flavors in this fresh, medium-bodied red, framed by light, crisp tannins. Drink now through 2020. 6,000 cases made, 250 cases imported.??–AN??Region: Italy / Valpolicella Select to Add

The 2011 Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso opens to easy tones of cooked cherry, cured meat, tar, resin and grilled herb. This wine offers its own unique bouquet compared to both the base Valpolicella and the upper-tier Amarone. That herbal or menthol accent is very attractive.

The 2010 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore opens to dark intensity and attractive aromas of pressed red rose petal, dried cherry, lavender, spice, leather and cola. In line with other wines from the 2010 vintage, the mouthfeel is less weighty and intense compared to 2009 or 2007. Drink 2014-2018. Importers: Moonlight Wine Co., www.moonlightwineco.com; Vino et Spiritus, www.vinoetspiritus.com; Vinum Importing, www.vinumimporting.com