2015 Luigi Righetti Campolieti Valpolicella  
$20.80 btl / $249.60 cs (case of  12 x 750ml)

Located in Valgatara, in the heart of Valpolicella Classico, the Luigi Righetti estate is a small to mid-sized family run winey once led by Angelo Righetti who first earned a reputation as an outstanding winemaker in 1909. The family has always focused on producing quality wines offering extremely good value, and is now run by Gianni, Angelo’s grandson.

It was my first time there a few weeks back when we were in the area for Vinitlay. For many decades the Thursday after the Vinitlay fair is “Canada Day” at the Luigi Righetti winery. It’s an opportunity for the SWC team to catch up with Gianni and the Luigi Righetti family over a long lunch including many of the beautiful Righetti wines.

The Luigi Righetti Campolieti Valpolicella is always at the table, as it is the perfect table wine for any Italian meal and gathering. Today we are offering the 2015 vintage, which was an excellent vintage for Veneto reds. The hot summer produced deliciously ripe grapes that translated very well to the bottle. Medium ruby, intensely aromatic nose with strawberry, dried cherry, currants and hints of leather, autumn leaves and asian spice. Dry, medium-bodied with classic ripasso flavours, a ripe, round palate and some wood tannins bringing complexity to the long and satisfying finish.

Righetti’s take on ripasso is a conventional one; the grapes are crushed and fermented at the end of the harvest and the wine is stored in steel vats where it rests until the springtime awaiting the Amarone to finish its fermentation. When the fermentation is complete the Amarone is taken off its skins and transferred to casks for ageing, it is replaced by a future Campolieti, the wine is enriched a little to get the fermentation going again and this draws some of the lovely flavours that remain in the Amarone skins and adds a little more alcohol. The finished wine is transferred to a mixture of large oak casks and some barrique for 8 to 12 month stint of maturation before being transferred to steel tanks prior to bottling.

Last year the Luigi Righetti Campolieti Valpolicella was SWC’s top selling wine amongst both private clients and restaurants because it offers ultimate bang for your buck!

Price: Case of 12 at $249.60 ($20.80 per bottle)

Drink: Now or over the next 3 years

Type/Variety/Body: Dry red, traditional blend of the Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, medium-body

Food Pairing: Roast or stewed red meat, a variety of pasta dishes, mushroom risotto, fried calamari and antipasto