2016 Rubinelli Vajol Recioto della Valpolicella Classico

The 2016 Rubinelli Vajol Recioto della Valpolicella Classico is a luxurious, sweet red wine from the historic heart of Valpolicella Classica in Veneto, Italy. Crafted from hand-selected, late-harvested grapes that are carefully dried, this Recioto offers a rich, velvety expression of the region’s most traditional style. It stands out for its balance of opulent sweetness with vibrant freshness, making it both indulgent and refined. Produced in very limited quantities, this wine represents one of Valpolicella’s oldest and most prized styles, long predating Amarone. Rubinelli Vajol adheres to the classic appassimento method—drying the grapes in airy lofts before fermentation—to concentrate flavours and texture. The result is a wine that echoes centuries of local tradition while showcasing the elegance and precision of a modern, quality-focused estate.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2016 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico shows a deep ruby core with garnet reflections, dense and almost opaque, forming slow, viscous legs that hint at its richness. The nose is intense and layered, with aromas of dried morello cherries, blackberries, and plum compote intertwined with notes of cocoa, cinnamon, sweet spices, violets, and a subtle hint of fig and dried rose petals. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and velvety, with a lusciously sweet core perfectly counterbalanced by lively acidity and fine, polished tannins. Flavours of candied cherry, black plum, and blackcurrant are joined by dark chocolate, espresso, and a touch of licorice, leading into a long, warming finish with lingering notes of spice and dried fruit. Despite its sweetness, the structure and freshness keep it remarkably graceful rather than heavy. The 2016 vintage has the concentration and balance to evolve beautifully for 15–20 years from vintage, gaining even more complexity, dried-fruit nuance, and tertiary notes over time.

Production
Rubinelli Vajol’s Recioto is born from the classic hillside vineyards of Valpolicella Classica, where well-drained limestone and marl soils, combined with good altitude and ventilation, provide ideal conditions for slow ripening and aromatic concentration. Grapes are carefully hand-harvested at peak ripeness and meticulously sorted, ensuring only perfectly healthy bunches are selected for the traditional appassimento process. The clusters are then laid out in airy drying rooms (fruttai), where they naturally dehydrate over several months, concentrating sugars, flavours, and tannins. After gentle pressing, fermentation is deliberately slow and cool and is stopped before all sugars are converted, preserving the wine’s natural sweetness. The wine then matures in oak—typically large, neutral barrels—to refine its texture and integrate flavours without overwhelming the fruit, followed by additional bottle aging before release.

Food & Serving
This Recioto della Valpolicella Classico is a superb partner for rich chocolate desserts, flourless chocolate torte, dark chocolate fondant, or desserts featuring cherries, blackberries, or figs. It also pairs beautifully with blue cheeses such as Gorgonzola, Stilton, or Roquefort, as well as aged hard cheeses served with dried fruits and nuts. Serve slightly cool, at around 14–16°C (57–61°F), to highlight its freshness and aromatic complexity. Decanting for 30–45 minutes is recommended, particularly in its youth, to allow the wine to open up fully and reveal its many layers of fruit, spice, and floral notes.

Producer
Rubinelli Vajol is a family-owned estate situated in the historic Vajol valley of Valpolicella Classica, just north of Verona. The winery is known for working exclusively with grapes grown in its own vineyards, a defining feature that allows precise control over quality and a clear expression of terroir. Rooted in local tradition, Rubinelli Vajol focuses on the classic Valpolicella varieties and the time-honoured appassimento method used for Amarone and Recioto. Over the years, the estate has earned a reputation among enthusiasts for producing authentic, terroir-driven wines that combine finesse, balance, and depth, reinforcing its status as a noteworthy reference point in the Valpolicella Classica region.

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