My love for Corvina is well-documented, and made in the Bardolino style is the WINE AMERICA NEEDS. Geeks everywhere–especially acid-freak somms and *natural* devotees–would be blown away by the freshness and fruit they deliver in a low-alc, crystalline body. And SOOOO inexpensive. This one is transparent as usual, and showing copious brick throughout here at 3+. Dusty and dank, the fruit clearly distilling into tertiary forms, it still churns ridiculous vegetal briar and smoky underpinnings with a berry core ripe and concentrated.

Tasting it injects pure acid and fruit onto the tongue, piquant and sharp, the cherry and berry firm and green, the earth a mild concoction balancing all and the bitter ire of youthful structure biting and fierce. There’s a bit of Robitussin solidifying on the palate, making the whole package feel slightly older than the label would hint. Comparisons to Pinot are rife, though this one feels more *grenache-y* in spirit. But I hate varietal comparisons in grapes which can stand on their own, and this one is ALL Corvina glory.

2019 AZIENDA VINICOLA VALETTI LUIGI Corvina/Rondinella ‘Classico’ Bardolino DOC Veneto Italy 12.5

https://valetti.it/en/