Monte Zovo Winery Sa' Solin Valpolicella Ripasso 2017

Rebecca Meir-Liebman rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

A nice, everyday wine to enjoy amongst friends. Pair it with a variety of dishes or even just a cheese and charcuterie board. It has a good acidity with a medium body - very easy drinking and not overpowering. Notes of red fruits like cranberries and raspberries with some spice on the finish that adds a nice element to its structure. There is something pleasant about its simplicity and authenticity, and the great price point doesn’t hurt either!

Trent Mayers rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

This MonteZovo Sa'Solin is a little leaner style of Ripasso emphasizing the aromatic herbal character. Red and black cherries, red currant, and black plum fruit are all there, but the oregano and sage make it interesting in your glass. Grippy tannins and high acidity will make it a good pairing with grilled meats, especially if herb rubs are involved. Drink now. 3.5+ stars our of 5.

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

Dark cherry, violets and sweet spice meet you in the glass, but the bouquet continues to open up with time leading to notes of cedar, eucalyptus and hint of tobacco. Some
sweetness noted in the finish along with mild tannins. Medium- full bodied and decent price point at under $20. Paired with vegetarian pizza bites topped with fresh from the garden basil and rosemary. Tasted Aug 2020.

Colin McKone rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Ruby in colour with aromas of cherry, plum, leather and baking spice. It is medium bodied with well balanced acidity, tannin and alcohol. On the palate you get favours of cherry, plum, black fruit with a hint of spice that leads into a nice long finish. This will pair well with grilled meats, strong cheeses or a meat lovers pizza. Tasted on August 22, 2020.

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This is an easy drinking wine that would go great with your Friday night Pizza.

Subtle aromas of cherry and leather with smooth tannins and low acidity. Soft mouthfeel with flavours of dried cherry and a hint of sweetness mid palate. Residual sugar is 10 g/l and alcohol 13.5% Medium to full body with a price that is comparable to other Ripasso at $19.95. Tasted August 2020

Pamela Chiles rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Well-structured and balanced, ripe cherry, plummy notes with a hint of Italian leather and spice, medium length finish. Perfect with fresh tomato sauce made with a delicate touch!

Molly Amoli Shinhat reviewed this wine as follows:

A wine from the first winery certified a Biodiversity Friend by the World Biodiversity Association (WBA) in 2013. But first, to the wine!

A rich, dreamy, perfume of aromas with violets, roses, black cherry, figs, baking spices, black pepper, and cedar. The high acidity and medium tannins create a concert hall for a veritable symphony of fruit, with blackberry, black plum, black cherry, red cherry, raspberry, fig and raisin. The encore is a long finish. At 14% a.b.v and 10 g/l residual sugar, this could be a stronger sipper, over a drawn out supper perhaps.

Because it’s a descendant of Amarone, this wine is referred to as “Baby Amarone.” Lighter in character, Ripasso pairs more easily with food. Think classical Italian food like pasta, pizza, medium aged cheeses, and of course fruit.

The Monte Zovo Winery is located In Veneto, Northern Italy, in the foothills of the Alps, near Lake Garda. Diego Cottini, the owner, has been concerned about environmental protections and continuity for years. So it’s only natural he led the bid to summarize the winery’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity after obtaining WBA certification in a document called, the Cottini Decalogue.

Last year there were about twelve wineries involved in the program. It’s not a one-time certification, but involves ongoing verification based on a point system to meet specific standards. Areas involved include: soil fertility, water management; environmentally-friendly pest management; rotations over multiple years, and greater use of wooded areas, hedgerows, and nectar species to provide more habitat for all species, including vines.

One only hopes that this level of care, no, devotion, ensures wine lovers can continue to enjoy this ripasso for many vintages yet to come.

Carolyn Hetke rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

The Cottini family takes pride in the Montezovo brand as a true expression of the terroir of Valpolicella. The grapes are 100% family owned from a single parcel. In fact Sa' Solin is named for the 'little stones' that are characteristic of the soil of the region. Taking advantage of 350 + meters elevation and the fragmented marlstone that forces the vines to push down deep roots to survive results in a beautifully concentrated and fresh wine. In old world style it is elegant and restrained in that it takes a moment or two to reveal the solid sour cherry seam that floats above a note of dustiness. At the same time the wine is fresh and silky on the palate. A spicy layer reveals itself on the long finish. At 14% declared ABV it is slightly hot so this solid pour may be best enjoyed with charcuterie, pizza or a grilled steak. Tasted November 2020.thewineloverskitchen.com
**

Delightful morello cherry wafts up immediately from the glass with some underlying dusty, earthy notes adding complexity. The cherry carries to the palate and is joined by lush notes of dark plum. Slightly hot on the nose and palate at 14% declared ABV. Overall a substantial pour with a lingering finish. This was a wonderful complement to an Asiago and roasted pepper pizza. Tasted August 2020. www.thewineloverskitchen.com

Andrea Shapiro rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A pretty bright glistening ruby coloured Valpolicella Ripasso from Monte Zovo wines. Aromas open with cherry, tobacco, soft leather and fresh tarragon herbs. Flavours vibrantly reveal, red plum, fresh figs and a hint of nutmeg spice at the back. Medium bodied with silky tannins and well balanced acidity. This will pair nicely with an assortment of foods, such as hearty beef ragu and meat pizza, but is also perfectly suited to sip and enjoy on its own. Enjoy! Tasted August 2020

Craig Haynes rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Crafted from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. A pretty ruby colour introduced appealing aromas of red cherry and dried herbs framed with sweet cedar and smokey notes. Full bodied, the palate was accented with red cherry, sweet spice and subtle cedar flavours. It revealed soft noticeable tannins. too. The red fruit flavoured finish for this valpolicella ripasso was long. Enjoy.

Reviewed on August 19, 2020

Jenny Ratcliffe-Wright CWM rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

The freshness of this Ripasso makes it stand out as something special. Full bodied and full of flavour but with a crunchy fresh acidity that renders the wine delectably elegant on the palate. The judicious use of oak really rounds the quality of the wine finishing in fresh baking spice and black fruit. Try with pork kebabs with black bean and garlic sauce and steamed greens @wrightwineblog

Andrew Bernardo rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

I’ve been a big fan of this wine since it was released in the market over a decade ago. There’s so much food versatility contained in the bottle. Bing cherry, plum skin, dried mint, red currant leaf, rolled tobacco, and a bit of hung game means that you can hit the mark early and often when you spin your “wheel of food” come dinner time. 91 Points.

Kendra & Matthew Elliott rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

While it would pair nicely with pasta.. we loved it on it’s own

Aromas of strawberry, cherry + spice on the nose

It is full-bodied with medium tannins – notes of plum with a hint spice on the palette

For $19.95, you really can’t go wrong!

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

Medium Ruby color. Aromas of black plum, dark cherry, prunes and some herbal/chocolate notes. Medium-full bodied with gracious tannins high acidity but well balanced and food friendly. On the palate the dried fruit and cocoa flavors present well and linger n to a lengthy finish.

Perfect for a wild boar ragout and pappardelle pasta dish.

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

What a treat! Juicy cherry and strawberry aromas followed by baking spice, violet, subtle truffle, hints of leather, and milk chocolate.

Medium bodied on the palate with gentle tannins. Tart Montmorency cherry and strawberry flavours with a smooth cocoa finish.

Tasty on its own, but would pair fantastically with fresh pasta in a tomato sauce, pizza, or with ripe cheeses.

Tasted Aug 2020

Lynn van der Linde rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This beautifully balancing Ripasso is an excellent representation of the Vendemmia region of North Eastern Italy. Ripasso wine is a combination of Valpolicella wine blended and fermented a second time (re-pass) with the dried grapes used to create Amarone. This creates a sophisticated, yet full bodied wine paired perfect with a variety of dishes.

This Ripasso presents aromas of ripe black cherries, leather, vanilla, and cedar, with a carry through of the cherry flavours and a persistent spicy finish.

Pairs beautifully with rose sauce pasta dishes.
Tasted August 2020.

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Robust and flavourful! Aromas of cherry, dried fruit, violets, tobacco and cedar smoke. Full bodied, with soft tannins, and bright, mouthwatering acidity on the palate, along with ripe, round fruit notes, and hints of tobacco and leather. Enjoy with grilled pork or beef.

Christian Marcoux rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Sa Solin 2017 is from Monte Zovo Azienda Agricola, located in the Caprino Veronese region of Italie. This excellent Valpolicella Ripasso DOC offers a lovely bouquet of morello cherry, strawberry, rose, ash, clove and sweet tobacco. Crafted from the usal grapes of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, this classic wine delivers a full body with polished tannins, concluded by a long dried fruit finish. In the mouth, the wine opens up with flavors of plum, black raisin, bitter almond, leather, brown sugar and tobacco. Great quality wine. Enjoy!