12.500 Kr
Production area
The Valpolicella classica region. Specifically, the best vineyards on the hills surrounding the towns of Marano di Valpolicella, Fumane and San Pietro in Cariano.
Grape varieties
Corvina and Corvinone 80%, Rondinella 20%.
The grapes are carefully selected and left to dry for about 100 days before pressing.
Yield
45 q/ha, almost 18 hl/ha.
Ageing
42 months in large Slavonian oak barrels and 225-litre-size barriques, medium toasted French oak barrels; at least 2 years in bottles.
Wine analysis
Alcohol: 15,5% Vol.
Total acidity: 6 g/l
Residual sugar: 3,6 g/l
Sensory impressions
A dark, ruby red colour with garnet hues, it has a wide, complex and refined nose, with intriguingly soft and sensual notes of sour cherry jam, maraschino cherries, prunes and dried figs, forest floor, an infusion of red flowers and a strong touch of dark chocolate. A rich, powerful palate with lively tannins; its high alcohol is well balanced by an acid note, reminiscent of crunchy raspberries.
Serving temperature
16-18° C.
Recommended food pairings
A few years of cellaring make it the ideal complement for the most luscious dishes of international cuisine, such as hare “à la Royale” and roast snipe, as well as recipes featuring white truffle. At a riper age, it becomes a more brooding, “meditation” wine, best savoured alone or with some ripe Castelmagno cheese.
Longevity
If well stored, it continues to evolve and improve for over 15 years.
Curiosities
“In 1964 I decided to produce a truly superior wine that would combine a powerful texture with the most elegant aromas and pleasing roundness. Since then however, the perfect microclimate and seasonal conditions needed to produce our “Gioè” have only occurred few times.” [Giancarlo Begnoni]