Winemaker, Maurizio Clementi, has a real twinkle in his eye when he talks about his Valpolicella and that twinkle seems to appear in the wine itself in the form of perky acidity and a cheeky glint in its eye. His father, Pietro, established the ‘house style’, a lighter style of Valpolicella, high-toned and sappy, but with the succulence that ripe Corvina and its cohorts confer. The colour of Clementi’s Valpolicella Superiore 2019 is that of a confidently pale red wine, translucent, yet somehow concentrated, like a really good tomato consommé! It spent 2 years in oak and a further 2 years in bottle before release and has the feel of a very composed wine, with a lovely flow and silky tannins, more akin to a Pinot Noir. As well as the morello cherry and orange peel notes, there is a gentle dusting of baking spices, giving the wine a mellifluous feel, as a counterpoint to the twinkling acidity. Enjoy this from a wide-bowled glass with tomato-based pasta sauces, roast pork with crackling, or a fillet of duck breast or venison. 13% alc. Drink now-2028