Ricossa Appasssimento Piedmont 2021 750ml
Description
Ricossa brings the ancient technique of appassimento to Piedmont with this innovative wine, demonstrating how traditional methods can create unique expressions even in regions not typically associated with dried-grape wines. This 2021 bottling showcases how the concentration achieved through partial drying can enhance Piedmont’s native varieties, creating a wine of unusual richness and complexity.
While appassimento is most famously associated with Amarone in Veneto, Ricossa has adapted this technique to Piedmontese grapes, carefully drying them to concentrate flavors and sugars. The 2021 vintage provided healthy, ripe fruit perfect for this process. The result is a wine that bridges the gap between Piedmont’s traditionally austere style and the richness that modern palates often seek.
This wine opens with an immediately appealing nose that shows the effects of the appassimento process. Concentrated aromas of dark cherries, plums, and blackberries are enhanced by notes of dried fruits, chocolate, and sweet spices. There’s a richness and depth to the aromatics that sets this apart from typical Piedmontese wines, while maintaining enough freshness to avoid being cloying or heavy.
On the palate, the wine delivers the concentration promised by its production method. The texture is rich and mouth-coating, with soft tannins that have been mellowed by the drying process. Flavors of ripe and dried fruits mingle with notes of vanilla, mocha, and herbs, creating layers of complexity. Despite the concentration, the wine maintains good balance thanks to sufficient acidity, while the finish is long and warming with lingering fruit and spice notes.
What makes this wine interesting is its successful adaptation of an ancient technique to a new context. Ricossa has created something unique – a wine that offers the concentration and richness of appassimento while maintaining a distinctly Piedmontese character. This is innovation that respects tradition while creating something new.
Excellent with braised meats, aged cheeses, or chocolate desserts, this wine offers versatility despite its richness. For those seeking something different from Piedmont or fans of Amarone looking for alternatives, Ricossa’s Appassimento provides an intriguing exploration of how traditional techniques can create new expressions.
- Producer
- Ricossa
