Via Giuseppe Verdi 4/A,
37020 Piedmonte di Valpolicella, Verona
Tel: 0457701487
The Veronese region of Valpolicella makes large volumes of
forgettable plonk, but once you get into the hills, there are some
lovely, unique wines being made on the better sites. Grapes like
Corvina, Rondinella, Negrara, Molinaea and Rossignola, coupled with
some innovative viticultural techniques (such as drying grapes before
fermentation), help make personality-filled, versatile red wines in a
range of styles. Tedeschi, a family owned firm, are making a solid
line-up of well priced wines, with a few genuine stars, too. They're
wines I've bought in the past, and that I'll probably buy again.
Valpolicella Classico Superiore Dei Nicaḷ 1997
Once the grapes are harvested they are allowed to dry for about
one month in wooden cases before pressing. This wine has a nice
cherryish nose with a herby edge. It is full flavoured on the palate
with a dry finish and a herby, slightly bitter character that is quite
appealing. Nice stuff. Very good.
Capitel San Rocco 1997 Vino di Ripasso
To make this wine the Valpolicella must of one year is refermented
with Recioto and Amarone lees of another year, a traditional method
called 'ripasso'. It then spends two years in oak barrels. This has a
complex, full nose with a dusty/spicy character. On the palate it is
complex and balanced, with a savoury, dry finish and some spice. Good
stuff. Very good.
Rosso La Fabriseria 1998
The second vintage of this wine, this is an excellent effort. The
gorgeously rich nose is spicy, herby and exotic, with a menthol edge.
Complex, full palate with dense, sweet, spicy cherry and damson fruit.
Excellent, and a bargain at the UK retail price of about £12.
Amarone Capitel Monte Olmi DOC 1997, Amarone della Valpolicella
Classico
From a single vineyard, the grapes are harvested in late
September/early October and then dried on racks until January. During
this time they lose 30-40% of their weight. This has an unusual but
attractive nose of sweet fruit and herbs. The palate is dense, rich
and appealing, with sweet cherry fruit, a bit of spicy herbiness and
drying tannins. Very good/excellent
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC 1997
Made by the same process as the Capitel Monte Olmi, but from
grapes sourced from several vineyards, this wine has a bright nose
with cherry fruit and medicinal notes. The full, dense palate shows
sweet fruit, more medicinal notes and a dry finish. Very good+
Recioto Capitel Monte Fontana DOC 1997
This is wild stuff. An opaque purple/red colour, it has a very
unusual, striking nose of sweet, licouricey fruit. The palate shows
beautiful sweet cherry fruit, liquorice and dense tannins. Exotic, but
with lovely balance. Excellent
Monte Tenda Soave Classico (vintage not noted: could be 1998 or
1999?)
The only white wine in the line up, but a good one. A single
vineyard Soave, this has a lovely, full, rich nutty nose with a touch
of grapeyness. Rich, spicy and concentrated on the palate. Lovely.
Very good/excellent.