Scriani, Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Ripasso, 2012

Stefano Cottini runs the wonderful winemaking business at Scriani. Growing vines that sit in nine micro-parcels based on the Monte Sant' Urbano and between 250m and 400m above sea level, they have an exceptionally fine basis for their wines. Since the mid-2000s they have had considerable critical success across their range and the wines represent a movement amongst winemakers that is focussed on vineyard characteristics and traditional styles, slightly against some of the sky-high alcohol levels of others. This is a superb Ripasso that is elegant and smooth, concentrated and mouth filling with real finesse.