Villa Annaberta Wines Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017 Wine Review

Villa Annaberta Wines Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017

Veneto DOC, Italy

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 19

Add My Review

Price: $18.35

NOW $15.70!

(EXPIRES January 5, 2025)

Drink: 2019-2023

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14.5%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Villa Annaberta Wines

Agent: Dionysus Wines & Spirits Ltd.

LCBO Limited Time Offer Sale Wines

Natalie's Score: 90/100

An excellent value for this superb, savoury and meaty Italian red wine with fleshy black fruit and a supple texture and full-bodied weight. Highly recommended. Pair with pepperoni pizza and charcuterie.

Magnificent Meat Pizza Wine

This Villa Annaberta Wines Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017 was reviewed on February 14, 2022 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2013 2011 2018 2014 2016

Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

LCBO
378091
$18.35
Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Melanie Lloyd - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Juicy cherry aromas on the nose along with the sweet smell of decomposing leaves, cedar, violet, menthol, cinnamon, truffle, leather, and subtle chocolate.

On the palate, it is medium bodied with smooth tannins. The flavours are of tart cherry with violet notes seeping through, along with dark espresso and black pepper at the finish. The flavours linger. Delicious!

Pair with veal parmesan, pasta in tomato sauce, or sharp cheeses.

Tasted Aug 2020

Greg Hughes rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Annaberta s ripasso does a good job of providing the consumer with a reliable, aromatic, and rich red. This style can be made of a a number of varoetals. This one is Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella.
Nice deep ruby/garlet colour, and extroverted aromatics. Smoke, cherry, leather, clove, chocolate, and vanilla from the barrel regimen (they use both large and small barrels as well as steel to balance out their cuvees - this is true to their Amarone too).
The tannins are not over the top - just enough to have a good amount of life and energy.
Fresh cherry, smoke, some game notes, and a long smooth finish. A short decant helps.
Annaberta, a winery immersed in the many styles of Venetian wines, are centered in Caprino Veronese. They are a subsidiary of Cottini Vini. They manage their own vineyards as well as purchase from classico and non-classico areas. A wonderful value for an impactful red! Paired with fresh garden vegetable soup and prosciutto.

Craig Haynes - WSET3 FWS SWS IWS rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

This wine opened with shy aromas reminiscent of red cherries, allspice and oregano. However, its flavours were more expressive. Cherry, plum, spice and slightly more reserved chocolate and white pepper notes all emerged on the soft tannin, structured palate before accenting this red’s lengthy finish. This is a pleasing Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore. Enjoy.

Reviewed on August 16, 2020

Kendra & Matthew Elliott rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

This Valpolicella Ripasso from Villa Annaberta Wines is so flavourful and truly a great wine pick for the price

Aromas of cherry + plum on the nose with a hint of spice

It was medium bodied + had nice tannin

We were getting lots of cherry and blackberry with a hint of smokeyness

It paired well with Oka cheese + cured sausage

Carolyn Hetke rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

The Cottini family have deliberately made the Villa Annaberta line to be approachable with heavy emphasis on consumer and eco friendliness. This Ripasso Superiore is rich and velvety with layers of dried cherry, red fruits and a hint of roses on the nose. The cherry and fruit carry to the palate where a lovely nutmeg spiciness emerges. Rather than the typical 'repassing' on the Amarone pomace, this Ripasso is benefits from the Recioto pomace designed to give it a softer, rounder quality. Lots of complexity and a long, fruity, pleasant finish make this quite good value for the price. You could sip this on its own or pair with strong, soft cheeses or stew.
**

What a lovely polished pour this is with an enticing nose of tart cherry and rich plums. A fruity, well integrated palate. Very fine tannins lend weight and texture. Some perceived sweetness on the long finish. A perfect companion to a platter of Taleggio, Piave and Sopressa. Tasted August 2020. www.thewineloverskitchen.com

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 - WSET3 Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A great price point wine where you get a lot of bang for your buck! Made with the traditional grapes of Ripasso; Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella this wine delivers all that you would expect from a well-made Ripasso and then some. This is a Superiore which means it has aged at least one year and has an alcohol content of at least 12% (14% in this case!). If you don’t want to splurge on an Amarone this would make a great replacement
Very aromatic – blackberry, dark cherry, leather and vanilla with an underlying earthiness. Tannins are evident but well balanced with the acidity. Juicy ripe cherry and cooked fruit flavours intermingle with a touch of sweetness. Full bodied with a long ripe fruit finish.
I paired this with “Eggplant Pizza” – rounds of eggplant brushed with olive oil and grilled, then topped with a dollop of tomato sauce, some minced mushrooms that had been sautéed with truffle powder, shredded mozzarella and a sprig of basil - back into the oven just long enough to warm through and melt the cheese. It was a match made in heaven! Tasted August 2020.

Andrea Shapiro rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Medium glistening ruby red with an evolving bouquet of ripe red cherry, earthy dried basil and a touch of compost-like underbrush. Flavours reveal freshly sliced strawberries and plum chutney all wrapped in a hug of red pepper jelly and chipotle heat. Bright acidity follow with silky tannins. Enjoy this with sausages from the grill or perfectly pair with the next holiday turkey meal accompanied with cranberry sauce and stuffing. - tasted August 2020

Trent Mayers rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Ripasso is produced when Valpolicella is supercharged with the lees of Amarone, which induces a re-fermentation producing a more full bodied wine. This 2017 from Villa Annaberta wines is an almost full bodied incarnation with vanilla infused, rich black and red fruits tinged with spice and developing dried cherry, raisin, and piney forest floor notes. The tannins are there, but not aggressive, and the acidity sings. Pair it up with meaty pasta or pizza. It's drinking nicely, but will hold it for a few more years. 4 stars out of 5.

Gwen Barton rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Lovely notes of ripe cherry and blackberry. Pleasant finish with nicely rounded tannins- and a bit of heat (14% alcohol!). I paired this med-full bodied wine with a rich, wild mushroom risotto topped with shaved Parmesan cheese. It was a crowd pleaser. I always appreciate a good valued wine- this one did not disappoint. Tasted August 2020.

Colin McKone - Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Ruby in colour with aromas of black cherry, plum, cedar and a hint of black pepper. It is full bodied with well balanced tannins and acidity & has flavours of tart cherry, blackberry and some black pepper spice leading into a nice long finish. This will pair naturally well with most Italian dishes such as tomato based pasta or pizza. An excellent value for the price and quality. Tasted on August 22, 2020.

Pamela Chiles rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This could be a regular cellar-stocker. Quite full-bodied and harmonious with plush ripe berry, cherry cola, leather, spice, bitter chocolate and damp earth notes. A little puckering acidity enlivens the flavours and is excellent at helping this wine hold up to fairly rich dishes. Very enjoyable! Pair with lamb, burgers, salami and the like. Tasted August 2020.

Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Excellent value and so flavourful. Aromas of blackberry, plum, cedar smoke and tobacco. Full bodied on the palate, with soft, dusty tannins, bright, mouthwatering acidity, tart and ripe black fruit flavours and a bit of a smoky finish. Enjoy with pan seared duck or any robust meat dishes.

Christian Marcoux rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

The Villa Annaberta Valpolicella Ripasso 2017 is an outstanding, aromatic wine, with charming scents of date, fig, black tea, beef broth, brown sugar and tobacco. Complex, with a full body, the wine shows polished tannins, a warm coating, and a long and fruity finish. This Italian wine will please any amateur of Valpolicella Ripasso. Palate: plum, cherry, bitter almond, leather, teriyaki sauce and tobacco. Enjoy!

Andrew Bernardo rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

I’m a big fan of this wine, especially for the price. There’s serious stuffing in this wine, with a core of blackberry, black cherry, plum pit and fresh herbs. A high-end product for under 20 bucks. Cocoa, violets, smoke and some baking spice fills out the finish. 90 Points.

Jenny Ratcliffe-Wright CWM rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Excellent value Ripasso and it overdelivers for the price. Its palate is laden with soft juicy cherries, fig and plum and the tannins are supple and light on the finish. It is an easy drinking style with good purity that is ready to be drunk with no further ageing needed. Enjoy with homemade tagliatelle pasta with Italian sausage sauce and fresh Parmesan. @wrightwineblog

David Skinner rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Dark ruby color. Aromas of black cherry, plum, and figs and some smokey notes. Medium-full bodied with soft tannins and high acidity. Well balanced. On the palate the wine is full of dried black fruit flavors and chocolate accents. A medium-long finish.

Enjoy with smoked duck breast and a dried fruit compote.

Molly Amoli Shinhat reviewed this wine as follows:

Hailing from Veneto, this wine is a great value for the style. With a pronounced, orchestral nose of currants and raisins, black plum, prune, violets, cedar, vanilla and black pepper with a eucalyptus note, on the palette, the high acidity and high enough tannins combine with 14% a.b.v. to make a dry (13 g/l) wine. The black fruit (plums, currants, black cherry) dances with the nutmeg, cloves, and cedar to a medium finish.

What some describe as a poor person’s Amarone, Valpolicella Ripasso is made from the leftover Corvina, Molinara, and Rondinella grapes skins used to make Amarone wine. Other than price (about half what you’d usually pay for a bottle of Amarone.), the difference is in the “ripasso.”

Just before the fermentation wraps up, Amarone wine is drained off its skins (which were dried for some months before they were fermented). The unpressed grape skins are then poured into the already fermented Valpolicella wine vat, where any still active yeast from this combination, ferments any remaining sugar.

This Villa Annaberta works beautifully with robust dishes that involve big pieces of mature cheese, chewy stews, and even marinated BBQed tofu-vegetable kebabs.

1 Member would buy this wine again

Brad Banks

If you liked the Villa Annaberta Wines Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017, you might also like these wines:

Add bottle and/or label shots for this wine
Wineries and agents: Add notes for this wine
Find this wine in other stores

Recipes for Villa Annaberta Wines Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

SAVE MY SEAT!

Wine of the Week

As featured on

TÖST Other Wines/Drinks
Original Single

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 334,940 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources. learn more

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 334,940 strong:

Villa Annaberta Wines Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 90/100

Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings