Valpolicella Superiore DOC — 2019
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Introduction
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WINERY The Dal Forno family has been making wine since 1983. Located in Val D’Illasi, the estate consists of 65 acres of vines planted to traditional indigenous varieties of Corvina, Corvinone, Rodinella, Oseleta, and Croatina.
WINE Valpolicella Superiore DOC ‘Monte Lodolette’ is a wine that presents considerable differences with wines in its category. These differences that are mainly due to specific production methods. In fact, the same quality and procedural criteria that are adopted for Amarone are faithfully followed. Starting with the 2002 vintage, all the grapes that go into the Valpolicella Superiore undergo a light but benficial drying process lasting about a month and a half. This phase allows the grapes to achieve an optimal balance between organoleptic concentration and olfactory freshness. The result is a wine of extraordinary aromatic intensity and longevity.
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Vineyard Profile
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The estate vineyards and farm are located where the slopes begin to rise toward the mountains and sit 1,000 feet above sea level.
- Appellation: Valpolicella Superiore DOC
- Location: Veneto
- Cultivation: Sustainable
- Vine Age: 11 year old vines
- Soil: Originate from alluvial plains; composed of 70% gravel, 15% silt, and 15% clay
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Vintage Report
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The 2019 vintage experienced dramatic weather swings throughout the year. Following a mild winter, spring arrived with excessive rain and below-average temperatures. June brought a sudden shift as temperatures soared to 42°C, before cooling in July. This erratic weather pattern persisted through summer, causing significant delays in the harvest cycle. Rain in late September disrupted the harvest and led to grape losses. Despite these challenges, the vintage yielded wines of remarkable finesse and elegance, albeit with a lighter structure compared to previous years.
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Vinification
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In temperature-controlled steel tanks (around 28 degrees), equipped with a sophisticated computerized system that allows automatic punching-down over a period of around 15 days, including the final two days of maceration.
- Aging: After racking, the Valpolicella rests for a few days in stainless steel tanks which, thanks to their shape, allow an easy decanting, and it is then left maturing in new barriques. For the 2019 vintage, the Valpolicella was aged for 36 months, 70% in French oak and 30% in American oak.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 60% corvina, 15% croatina, 10% oseleta, 10% corvinone, 5% rondinella
- Alcohol: 14.5%
- TA: 5.7 g/L
- p H: 3.6
- RS: 0.6 g/L
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Tasting Notes
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Valpolicella offers hints of blueberry, blackberry, cherry and chocolate which emerge gradually as the wine breathes. The potent tannins, which give structure to this product, are in perfect symbiosis with the velvety aromas of sweet spices and jam which envelop the palate and excite the senses.
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