Musella Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2016

Wine Type:
Style of Wine:	Smooth & Silky
Country of Origin:	Italy
Wine Region:	Veneto
Appellation:	Valpolicella
Grape Varietal:	Corvina , Rondinella, and Barbera
Bottle Format:	375mL
Case Size:	12 bottles
$251.40 Per Case ($20.95/btl)

Tasting Notes

- Grape varieties:

Corvina e Corvinone 70%, Rondinella 20% e Barbera 10%.

- Geographical area:

north-east of Verona, on the hill that separates Montorio from Valle d’Illasi.

- Total extension of the vineyards:

27 hectares of the modern vertical trellis.

- Age of planting

since 1970 to 2001.

- Soil composition

calcareous with red clay in the vineyards Il Perlar and Palazzina, white clay and tufo in Monte del Drago.

- Planting density

5/7000 vines per hA

- Leaf thinning

from July 15th to August 1st.

- Harvest

from September 13th to October 3rd .

- Yield per plant

2 kg

-Vintage climate:

The summer started quite early and the grapes started to mature (verasion) in the middle of June. The season continued hot and without rain until September which proved timely. The low PH levels of the grapes provide conditions for long-term ageing.

- Winemaking technique

20% of the Corvina grapes are dried for 4 weeks followed by pressing and 12-15 days of fermentation-maceration on the skins, at 20 to 26 C° (72 to 84 F) in steel tanks 100 hl of capacity.

20% of total fruit is fresh grapes crushed and vinified traditionally.

60% of the must undergoes “ripassato”, the addition of unpressed skins of Amarone grapes to enhance color and structure.

Regular punch down of skins occurs twice per day. After pressing malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels (2 or 3 years old) 225, 350 and 500 litres of various origins and composition, mostly from Allier forest. Blending occurs in steel tanks of 100 hl or 200 hl capacity.

- Maturation: 12 months

- Bottling: March 2010.

Alcohol: 13.95% vol

Critical Praise