Synopsis, Our Opinion: A spirited Italian Valpolicella blend.
January 2019
September 2021
Producer/Winery: Carlo Venturini and his wife Alessandra Zantedeschi; Monte Dall’Ora; Cariano, Italy
Grape Variety: Valpolicella Blend – 50% Corvina, 30% Corvinone and 20% Rondinella.
Geographic Appellation,, Region, Country: Valpolicella Classico; Veneto, Italy.
Vintage: 2014
Price: $24.00 January 2019; $32.40 September 2021 (both with a 10% mixed case discount)
Purchased From: The Caviste Wine Shop; Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Paired With: Venison meatballs, pasta with roasted tomato sauce and green beans from the garden January 2019.
Spaghetti Beef Bolognese and a garden salad September 2021.
Tasting:
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Opened one hour before drinking. Clear, vibrant ruby red with the same color rim. Strong cherry, ripe plum and Cardamon aromas with a substantial background of leather and damp earth. Smooth entry, fresh mouthfeel, medium body and a 150-grit texture. Full of fruit jam…rich tart cherry, pomegranate, juicy plum and just a touch of sweet and peppery spice. Edgy acidity, smooth tannins and a long tart pie cherry and coffee tasting finish that ends with just a smidgen of powdery mineral. Excellent paired with the roasted tomato sauce and venison, but absolutely yummy sipping without food. An evocative, delicious and flavorful wine.
Second tasting Note: We had a bottle of this 2014 Monte Dall Ora Camporenzo Valpolicella Classico Superiore two years ago, but the second bottle cost $32.40 with the same 10% mixed case discount. The wine was very similar to the January 2019 tasting; however, we both thought it had more texture in the mouthfeel and we used the term slightly rustic to describe it. The most important difference was it was not nearly as good a value with the increased price… thus, the two-thumbs up rating.
Photo from Monte Dall'Ora.
See also: All our reviews of Monte Dall Ora wines.
Alcohol Content: 13%
Closure: Natural cork.
UPC Code: Not available.
Imported by: Louis/Dressner Selections; New York, New York.