Tasting Notes The Tommasi family began making this double-fermented beauty well over 20 years ago. The reason that the word Ripasso is in inverted commas on the label, is because they were doing it before this method became officially recognised by the appellation. So, this is not only a fantastic gift, but also a slice of history. The grapes for Tommasis Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore are refermented on the skins from their legendary Amarone. The wine is then aged in large oak barrels from Slavonia in Croatia for 15 months, adding layer upon layer of subtle spice and an unbelievable smoothness for a wine so rich. Its densely packed with raisin, cherry, plum, dried flowers, cracked black pepper and souk spices. Coming from a warm vintage with small production, its a fabulous wine to serve with Christmas dinner and all the trimmings, duck, spicy sausage pasta and truffle-based dishes. The glamorous Tommasi estate sits within a sprawling patchwork of vineyards, but the grapes