Zeni Valpolicella Ripaso

Zeni Valpolicella Ripaso is sold in a 750ml bottle and is a red wine. The name points to the Ripasso style of Valpolicella, which is traditionally made by refermenting Valpolicella wine on the pressed skins left from Amarone. Bottles in this style usually sit between a light everyday red and a full Amarone. Expect ripe cherry and dried plum, a little baked fruit and spice, medium to medium-plus body, and a soft, rounded mouthfeel. Tannins are typically moderate and fairly supple, and acidity stays bright enough to keep the fruit from turning heavy. Oak, if present, usually shows as light spice rather than overt vanilla, and the finish tends to be dry with a slightly bitter cherry-stone edge. The listing also files this bottle under Cabernet Sauvignon, so if the grape matters to your choice, check the label for the exact blend. Cabernet-based wines would add darker fruit such as blackcurrant and firmer tannin to the picture above. Serve it around 16 to 18°C, which is slightly cooler than a warm room. A short chill of 15 to 20 minutes in the fridge helps if the bottle has been sitting somewhere warm. Pouring it into a decanter or simply opening it 30 to 45 minutes ahead usually softens a wine of this weight and lets the fruit open up. Use a medium-to-large red wine glass with a generous bowl, such as a Bordeaux or all-purpose red glass, so the aromas have room to gather. At the table, this style suits tomato-based pasta, lasagne, braised beef or pork, mushroom risotto, grilled sausages and roasted red meats. Aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano or Pecorino work well, because their salt and fat balance the wine's acidity. It is generally a drink-now bottle. Wines like this are made for relatively near-term enjoyment, so there's no need to cellar it for years, though a year or two in a cool, dark place shouldn't hurt it.