About this WINE
Monte dei Ragni
Azienda Agricola Monte dei Ragni is a tiny jewel of a Valpolicella wine estate perched at between 250 - 350 metres above sea level on the vertiginous slopes above Fumane at the heart of the Valpolicella Classico zone.
Only 2 hectares of the total 8 available are planted with a view to making wine; part pergola, part guyot. Production is circa 3000 bts of the Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso and 1200 bts of the Amarone. The remaining 6ha of fruit is currently sold off.
Zeno Zignoli married into the Ragno family and then spent eight years preparing the ground, with the aide of a horse, before releasing his first wine with vintage 2003. Vinification is entirely in oak, predominantly used tonneau.
Garganega
The 5th most widely planted white grape in Italy and the main grape used in the production of Soave. It is an abundantly vigorous grape and yields must be kept low for its discreet aromatic qualities to show in the wine.
Garganega reaches its peak in the Soave Classico zone where it constitutes 70-100% of the blend. The best wines are fresh, delicate, well balanced and can be redolent of almonds and citrus fruits. Garganega is also a key component in Bianco di Custoza and Colli Euganei.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
Zeno’s full of (very pleasant) surprises. ‘Recioto di Soave’ in all but name, this is one extra-ordinary sweet wine, made from own-estate, 95% Garganega (80-years-old) and 5% Malvasia Istriana dried for five months, macerated for three days, pressed with the free run juice racked into barrique for the malolactic to happen da solo (on its own), before a further seven years’ ageing in topped-up acacia barrels! Wow, what an exquisite nose of tangerine skin, walnuts and quasi Marsala notes: a veritable fruit marmalade. The palate pings with Petit Manseng intensity and energy. With residual sugar of 120 grams per litre, this calls for crostata (marmalade pastry).
David Berry Green
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee