Faith, Hope, Love
Back to feed- Posted: 11/4/2017
- Categories: Wine
A bit heavy an opening for a humble wine blog, to be sure, yet these are strange times, and even this most mundane of pleasure can be a transcendental segue to something a little more than our meager expectations.
My own journey has been tethered by a love of wine that permeates all else in my life. In these aged, besotted eyes of mine, I am beginning to see things much, much differently, and where there was a lingering doubt, I have found the resolve to rage against the dying of the light, so to speak. The fear to fail is what has held me back yet now, in the earliest stages of my somewhat newly-acquired (supposed) wisdom, I have no interest in its piquant ravings any longer. Yet in spite of these bold assertions, there is one challenge of which I still remain in fear. In its presence I am still just a young boy, awed and uncertain, though in my present state of mind, I must press on, I must be unyielding, I must, I must…
These are the thoughts of a 20th century poet in the shadows of a 21st century world. The splashing air of havoc in a post-modern world, lumbering toward destination unknown, and I, its reluctant pioneer, bleary-eyed and contemplating, the unrequited paramour, the wallflower, the ghost, beguiled by a distant muse, enchanted, beguiled, bewitched… love in all it’s dark and shadowy enpuzzlements, to paraphrase I Corinthians, is the greatest of all things.
Recently, the man, the myth, the legend, Ardie Bonanno, dropped in with Barbara de Rham Tori of Enoteca de Rham to show off some great wines from Valpolicella’s Le Ragose:
Le Ragose Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2013. Predominantly Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone, this stunning red is medium-bodied, with light, fragrant red berry, red flower and exotic spice notes, leading into an unctuous, almost-sinewy presence across the palate. This is a delicious red with dynamic notes of strawberry jam, red currant and dried herbs.
Le Ragose Amarone della Valpolicella 2007. Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone make up this rich, decadent and voluptuous red. Dark berry fruits swirl in a deep, smoky vortex of black fruits, exotic spices, dark chocolate and almost resiny tannins that are bordering on hedonistic. A really sexy glass of wine!
Le Ragose Cabernet Sauvignon Rosso Veronese 2008. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Earthy, dark and showing remarkable nuances of black olives, dried herbs, bitter chocolate, black fruits and turnt earth. Quite the surprise.
Le Ragose Recioto della Valpolicella 2014. Sweet notes of dried cherries and assorted red fruits mix it up with mocha and spice, finishing slightly dry for an incredible, well-balanced dessert wine. Simply beautiful.
