Packaged in a 750ml bottle, the 2010 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico sees fruit sourced from the Grola area, one of Valpolicella’s oldest vineyard sites. This is without a doubt one of Aldegheri’s proudest wines. It’s too bad that this expression seems weighed down by heavy, muted aromas of prune and carob. The wine’s inner freshness is unable to break through: Syrupy sweetness coats evenly over the palate. Drink 2014-2018. Not far from the Adige River and the Via Brennero that eventually snakes its way to Northern Europe by way of the Brenner Pass, Cantine Aldegheri is an old-school winery founded in 1956 and managed today by various members of the historic Aldegheri family. The winery is nestled within the urban fabric of Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella, suggesting that much of the town was built after the cantina was established. Fruit is sourced from hillside plots totaling 42 hectares in Valpolicella, including estate vineyards and contracted farmers. A visit to the winery reveals a no-nonsense operation with practical applications for the considerable volume produced. Importer: Testa Wines; www.testawines.com