Wine Tasting - Cesari "Mara" Ripasso Valpolicella 2007

Vino bonjour my friends!

Tiffany & I sat on the back porch this evening enjoying slices of fresh artichoke & mushroom pizza, sipping this wine, and watching Mother Nature pass time away.  A most comfortable evening assisted with the use of a floor fan.  It's beginning to get a little warm here in Central Florida with 90's expected before the weekend is over.

But it's never too hot for a great wine!  When we pulled this wine from the rack, it looked neither familiar to Tiffany nor myself.  We're confident that this bottle was a Christmas gift from my sister.  She could not find wines from Peidmont, Italy but found some other Italian wines for us to enjoy.  This one is from Northeastern Italy and the Veneto viticulture region.

Vineyards in the Valpolicella region.

Point Score A:  88

Point Score B:  90

2007 Cesari "Mara" Ripasso Valpolicella

Appellation:  Quinzano, Italy

Grape Varietal(s):  undisclosed blend ("dry red wine")

Retail Price:  unknown (gift)

Vintage:  2007

Producer:  Gerardo Cesari SPA

Alcohol:  13.5%
Calories:  94 per 4-ounce

Tasting sheets as follows.

Review A

Review B

We both experienced a beautiful elegant dry red wine.  Lots of initial tannins to pucker the palate.  As it breathes, it roars in bold smoky cherry notes.  We rated the nose and the flavors equally.  It was the balance and finish where we differed only slightly.  Where we described our tastes, they may have differed in descriptive words but signaled a mutual impression of the wine.

Recommended by both Tiffany and Chucky.  It's not a Barolo or Barbaresco from Piedmont but it's quite as delightful as a Barbera.  This Cesari "Mara" Ripasso Valpolicella may very well be that wine that Jeremiah's friend always sang about.

The label reads as follows:

"Mara is named in honor of Mara Cesari, the matriarch of one of the Veneto's most reknowned winemaking families.  The secret of Mara's soft, velvety character is a light, springtime, refermentation on Amarone lees, called Ripasso.

Thanks to the ancient technique of Ripasso and to the skillful winemaking of the producer Franco Cesari, Mara has a full-bodied yet balanced presentation.  Mara ages in oak casks for 6-12 months and at least 6 months in the bottle.  Serve at room temperature, suitable with game, grilled meats and mature cheese."

Conclusion?  I owe my sister a big hug and thanks for finding this bottle and sharing it with us!

Hi-dee hi-dee wine-make-great-gifts-ho my friends.