Monte del Frá Lena di Mezzo Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2012

The 2012 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore Lena di Mezzo shows all the familiar traits of Ripasso (a wine that sees a double fermentation on Amarone skins for extra intensity). You'll recognize dried fruit, black cherry, tar, resin, cola and wet earth. There's a warm note of forest floor or button mushroom as well. It's a medium-bodied red with soft tannins and some sweetness on the close. Score - 88. (Monica Larner, erobertparker.com, Feb. 2015)