ILatium Morini, 'Ciliegi’ Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC, Veneto, Italy

Who - Morini Familia, ILatium Morini
Where - Mezzane di Sotto, Valpantena & Valle d'Illasi - Veneto, Italy
What - Red Wine - Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Croatina and others
When - 2020
How - Organic Principles, de-stemmed and pressed, maceration and fermentation for 12-15 days with regular pumpovers then passed over the Amarone skins for a short second fermentation, aged in French and American oak for 24 months, 6 months of bottle fining, Vegan

Latium Morini is an extended family producer - seven brother, sisters, uncles, aunts etc who own vineyards in the Veneto regions of Soave and Valpolicella, north of Verona in North East Italy. They used to take their grapes to the local cooperative wineries but around ten years ago decided to build their own winery, partly spurred on by seeing what their famous neighbours were doing. They have never looked back and get great reviews for their wines. Jancis Robinson rates their Amarone as being in the top five produced.

Ripasso uses the “solids” from fermenting Amarone to give extra body, weight and texture to regular Valpolicella. As a result it takes on some of the character of Amarone - big fruit, dark, intense and pretty substantial. Fantastic with mature cheeses, long slow cooked meats or intensely flavoured vegetable dishes. The wine is good to drink now but will mature happily for several years or more.