2023 Bennati Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore "Soraighe" Veneto

The Bennati legacy began in 1870 with Antonio Bennati, a winemaking figure so celebrated for his Recioto that the village nicknamed him 'Toni Recioto.' His grandson Annibale formalized the family's craft in 1920, founding the winery that now flourishes under fourth-generation brothers Paolo and Giorgio. For over a century, the family has translated Veneto's terroir into wines that punch well above their price.

Ripasso is Valpolicella's smart middle ground — fuller than straight Valpolicella, more approachable than Amarone, and built by passing the wine over the still-warm skins of just-pressed Recioto. The technique adds weight, complexity, and a whisper of the dried-grape richness that makes Amarone famous, without the price tag or the cellar commitment.

The Soraighe cuvee sees soft-crush at low temperature, cool fermentation at 23°C, and a week on skins to extract color and structure without bitterness. Four months in stainless preserves the fruit; a month in bottle knits it together. The result is a wine that drinks like it costs twice what it does.

Deep red in the glass, with elegant ripened red fruit — cherries lead, backed by vanilla, tobacco, and cacao. Supple and mouth-filling on the palate, balanced tannins anchor the wine, and the finish lingers clean and long. Pull the cork tonight with braised short ribs or aged Parmigiano, or let it coast another three to five years.