The Zenato 2018 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Ripassa shows plummy fruit, dark cherry and sweet spice over a rich, full-bodied mouthfeel. The wine is sweet and spreads broadly over the palate with soft tannins and some evident sweetness. This is an informal wine to pair with grilled meats or spicy sausage. Some 180,000 bottles were produced.

One of the historic winemaking families of the Veneto, Zenato was among the first to experiment with the Ripasso process. Their 2017 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Ripassa borrows from this time-honored tradition. The wine is made with 85% Corvina, 10% Rondinella and 5% Corvinone, and the results offer an accessible, easy-drinking style (with 180,000 bottles released). The wine shows a dark ruby color with dried blackberry and smoky spice.

The 2015 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Ripassa shows black fruit and plum with chalky limestone notes that add a touch of dryness to the otherwise soft and sweet fruit profile delivered here. In terms of Ripasso (named Ripassa here), this expression does show nice darkness and richness that tastes even more pronounced in this very warm and sunny vintage. Pair this wine with your favorite barbecued meats.

The 2013 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Ripassa offers bold aromatic intensity with relatively subdued aromas of spice, tobacco and dried fruit. The fruit tones come forward as dried raspberry, cassis, plum and blackberry. Despite the full and generous nature of the bouquet, the mouthfeel is snappy and straight-shooting. It shows moderate intensity on the otherwise exaggerated scale of bold Ripasso wines. Bitter almond and sour cherry flavors appear on the close.

With the trademarked name "Ripassa," the 2011 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Ripassa is a double-fermented wine that marries Valpolicella and Amarone grape pomace. This edition shows some of the heat of the vintage with dark fruit tones, blackberry jam and soft tannins. It should drink well for up to five or six more years.