Begali is a family run winery producing a total of 10,000 cases only. The vineyards cover 18 acres in the rolling hills of a commune of Valpolicella, called Cengia. The name Cengia translates to ledges, and is derived from the physical appearance of these Alpine foothills.
The vines are planted in a specific area known as Ca’Bianca. The winery was started after World War II when grandfather Giordano began to produce wine from the region’s native grape varieties – Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. It was his son, Lorenzo, together with his wife Adriana – the current owners of the winery – who started to market the wine in 1986. Today, their children Giordano and Tiliana play active roles in the winery.
This ripasso is a red wine of medium structure with good character, aged 12 months in oak barrels. The bouquet is intense, with notes of black currant, eucalyptus, dried flowers and roasting. The taste is consistent with the nose, determined, dry and very smooth.
Monica Larner of Robert Parker writes “There is plenty of cherry sweetness to the 2016 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore la Cengia, with fresh, plump berries and some candied cherry in there as well. I love that bright intensity. This wine would work well with a traditional Venetian bigoli con l’anatra (pasta with duck sauce), thanks to its tonic and fresh quality of fruit, all spread over a mid-weight mouthfeel.” Drink 2019 to 2025 and 90+ points