This magnificent wine is made using the ‘appassimento’ method, where whole bunches of grapes are dried on straw mats to concentrate sugars, flavours and character. After fermentation the wine is mixed with Amarone skins, adding further complexity to proceedings. Red cherries and cassis characters meet a wonderful ripple of eastern spice – cinnamon, clove, black pepper – as well as dark chocolate, coconut and gentle vanilla notes. Quite a mouthful and one that raises the quality bar for most Ripassos.