Novaia Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Le Novaje DOCG 2022 500ml (Italy) Rated 92JS

James Suckling Review
Rated 92
An elegant wine with aromas of restrained dark fruit, earth, chocolate and black pepper, then flavors of blackberries and blood oranges. Medium-bodied, very savory and smoky, it shows firm structure and balance. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.

Novaia Recioto della Valpolicella Classico "Le Novaje" DOCG 2022 - 500ml

Sweet. Velvety. Volcanic elegance in a half bottle.
The 2022 "Le Novaje" Recioto from Novaia is a single-vineyard, organically farmed dessert wine grown at 320 meters in Marano di Valpolicella. Crafted from Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and other native grapes, this wine undergoes a natural drying process for 140 days in a traditional fruttaio before slow fermentation and aging in wood. The result is a rich, velvety red with residual sugar, layered aromatics, and a long, elegant finish.

• Appellation: Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG Classico
• Vineyard: "Le Novaje" - 1.5 ha, south/southeast exposure
• Elevation: 320 meters
• Soil: Marly with clay and limestone layers
• Grapes: 50% Corvina, 30% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Drying Process: 140 days in hillside fruttaio at 400m
• Fermentation: 40-50 days in stainless steel with cold maceration and "cold technology"
• Aging: 12 months in wood + 6 months in bottle
• ABV: 13%
• Bottle Size: 500ml

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Red fruits, underbrush, coffee, bitter chocolate, and spice.
Palate: Sweet and velvety with notes of fruit jam, vanilla, and dried herbs.
Finish: Long, warm, and elegant with persistent aromatic depth.

Why You'll Love It

• Single-vineyard Recioto from volcanic soils in Valpolicella Classica
• Crafted with traditional drying and fermentation techniques
• Certified organic and aged for complexity
• Perfect for pairing with chocolate desserts, dried fruit, foie gras, or aged cheeses

Novaia "Le Novaje" Recioto 2022 is a luxurious, small-format dessert wine that captures the soul of Valpolicella's ancient winemaking tradition - ideal for gifting, pairing, or savoring slowly.