This wine has an openly sweet-smelling bouquet with plenty of candied cherry and almond marzipan. The Michele Castellani 2019 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore Ca' del Pipa San Michele sees lots of red and purple fruit that is framed with light hints of dusty mineral and baking spice. This Ripasso shows an easy and accessible mouthfeel that is not too heavy or rich. Some 50,000 bottles were made.

This wine is very similar to the Ripasso sold under the I Castei brand by the same producer. Both wines flaunt a very attractive and accessible price tag with easy fruit aromas of cherry, dried fig and plum. Perhaps the 2016 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore Ca' del Pipa San Michele is slightly thinner in mouthfeel and texture but not by much, although it still closes with a spot of pizza-friendly acidity. The blend of grapes is 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and 5% Molinara, and the wine goes into large oak casks for 20 months. Some 30,000 bottles were made.

The 2012 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore Ca' del Pipa San Michele shows simple lines and bright acidity. Cherry, raspberry and cranberry aromas are followed by light shadings of baking spice and cinnamon. This no-fuss Ripasso would pair with lamb tagine with cumin and almonds.

The 2011 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore Collezione Ca del Pipa San Michele offers some of the same drinking intensity as Amarone, only with less extraction and power at the back. The bouquet is broad and all encompassing with spice, black fruit and dusty mineral. Veins of fresh cherry and blackberry are woven within its soft fabric. Drink 2013-2016. Sergio and Maria Castellani farm 40 hectares in the Classico zone that are almost all planted to the traditional Pergola training system. The overhead trellis is making a comeback in these beautiful hills after many years of experimentation with cordons, cane-pruned vines and other international systems. The family sources fruit from two important single vineyards, Ca del Pipa and dei Castei, and each represents its own line of wines under the Castellani Michele & Figli brand. Importer: Bedford International, www.winesfrombedford.com