Santi Solane 2008 Valpolicella

Not quite one of those days.  It was much worse.  And when we were heading back to Mary's parent's farm I knew I need a drink.  After all I just gave an eulogy for my mother at her wake and tomorrow we would bury her.  My in-laws are past the age that one keeps a selection of alcohol at home and I failed to bring any down.  Fortunately, there was a Hy Vee grocery store on the way.  My intention was a cheap bottle of Sutter Home red blend, something that had gotten me through the winter.  Red and dry and nobody would want to share it with me.

I always like to check out the "wine & spirits" section of any store in any city to satisfy my curiosity of the culture of the town.  That and the newsstand.  What is offered and sold reflects upon the people that live there.  I admit that the selection of wine at the south side Ottumwa, Iowa, Hy Vee was alright.  And once again I felt like a little kid in a toy store trying hard to make a decision without much time.

The red blend was not available.  The mythical Tisdale white zin was absent as well.  I may have purchased the last of that at Fareway a month ago in the discount booze cart and now regret not doing the write up on that.  I cannot find it anywhere.  It has such a nice hint of  raspberry to it.Tisdale was the $2.99 wine for quite some time.  Cork not screw top.  Then it hit me.  This was a dark day, one that required a special wine albeit a cheap wine.  Find Bolla Valpolicella, my favorite red.  But again, despite the other Bolla offerings, it too was unavailable here.

"The wine is aged in wood for about 15 months..and is suitable for long aging."

A quick glance back and I realized there was not an "Italian" section. Reds from Bolla were located under "Latin America."  Geography 101 fail.  Then I looked up and saw the Veneto blessing.  Santi Winery from Italy.  Region aside, it was $18.99 bottle which is exceeding my criteria of cheap wine.  A search on the internet reveals that it is a $14 bottle but sold out in a few locations and even "unavailable" in my State.  Lisa's Liquor Barn dot com has it for $11.  Bolla would be $10 in Des Moines.

It is labeled as "ripasso" which means it had a second fermentation.  This was the first time I looked up that word.  I have had Valpolicellas that have gone through the ripasso before and have not found them to be better than regular Bolla Valpolicella.  This process increases the alcohol percentage.  Solane clocks in at 13.5%.

Real cork judging by the way I murdered it upon extraction.  I failed to get a photo of it in the wine glass. Yes, my mother in-law gave me a real wine glass.  No Mason jar or sundae glass tonight!  Nice rich red color.  I must state it felt a bit lighter than the Bolla counterpart.  Two of my sons shared some but did not go back for seconds.

Lisa's Liquor Barn describes it as "Santi‘s Valpolicella Classico Superiore RipassoSolane is a huge overachiever for the money. A delicious, feminine Valpolicella, the Solaneoffers up generous red berries, crushed flowers, spices and licorice. To be sure, this is one of the more understated Ripassos readers will come across, but the wine’s balance and sense of harmony are beyond reproach."

So, would I purchase this wine again?  Honestly, at $18.99 a bottle it would have to be a very, very special occasion and without another Valpolicella available.  This was a good purchase for me at a time of need, a distraction from my state of sorrow but I would have preferred Bolla or another brand and perhaps one that lacked the second fermentation.  But I always take the opportunity to consume the Veneto wine when it is available if I know that I would like it.  Give it a try.