A rich, structured red from the heart of Valpolicella, the Corte Sant'Alda Campi Magri Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2020 uses the traditional "ripasso" technique — refermenting the wine over Amarone's dried grape skins — to layer added depth onto the region's classic freshness.
Corte Sant'Alda is a benchmark estate in Valpolicella, farmed under organic certification with biodynamic principles guiding the vineyards in recent years. Marinella Camerani has led the property's rise from Valpolicella's backwaters to a place among the region's most celebrated producers over more than two decades. The Campi Magri fruit comes specifically from the estate's namesake vineyard in the Val di Mezzane, alongside Prà Alto, Retratto and Monte Tombole, planted on limestone-rich terraces between 200 and 350 meters above sea level — sites the estate credits for the purity and concentration in the grapes. Fermentation happens with wild yeasts, and the wine undergoes extended ageing in large oak casks, including cherry barrels, for around 24 months.
The 2020 shows a bright, shiny ruby red colour, with an inviting nose of fresh cherry, plum, violet and light green spice. On the palate it's finely textured and elegant, with the blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella coming together in a wine that other tasting notes for this bottling describe as showing black cherry, dried plum, cocoa and clove over velvety tannins and a lingering, mineral finish — the ripasso technique giving it noticeably more richness and structure than a standard Valpolicella. It earned a 93-point score from Falstaff in 2024, praised for its balanced, refined drinkability.
It's a Ripasso that bridges styles beautifully — carrying the warmth and structure typical of Amarone-adjacent winemaking while retaining real freshness and elegance, making it equally suited to roast meats and aged cheeses or simply an evening of thoughtful drinking.