Originally published on May 27, 2009.
Apparently, I never actually published this. Bummer – such a waste of a good scoop! As I type, we have indeed moved into the 2008 vintage, but rest assured, it’s still good wine and well worth a try.
Follow me while we go back in time, to May, when it was still raining, just like today:
In this week’s “Wines of the Times” column, Eric Asimov and Co. chose the Vaona Valpolicella Classico as their #1 pick out of 25 different Valpolicellas.
We’ve had this wine on the Frankly Wine shelves since February, when one of our sales reps brought a bottle, winemaker in tow, for us to taste. I remember it was a cold, natsy day, but the wine was fresh and vibrant, medium-bodied, but full of flavor – berries, floral notes, minerality, It wasn’t trying to be an Amarone or anything particularly “serious.” It was just a really well-made, very enjoyable, highly drinkable wine – exactly what a Valopolicella should be.
As often seems to be the case, the article specifically mentions one vintage….just as a new one is about to arrive. As I type, we have 6 bottles of the 2007 left and the new 2008 is on a boat about to dock at a port somewhere in New Jersey. So buy the 2007 now, wait for the 2008 later, or forever hold your peace! Read more about the Vaona in the New York Times piece or in Eric Asimov’s blog, The Pour.
Back to the present….buy the 2008 right here. Price: $18.99