95 pts Vinous
Drinking Window 2025 – 2035
The 2018 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ca' del Merlo wafts up with an incredibly pretty, savory bouquet of dried Mediterranean herbs, geranium and citrus-tinged wild strawberries. It displays depths of ripe red and blue fruits underscored by crisp mineral tones as rosy inner florals arch across the palate, all over a core of tantalizing acidity. The finish is floral and long, leaving a tart sensation of raspberry as hints of lavender fade slowly. This is a supremely elegant and refined vintage for Ca' del Merlo. - By Eric Guido on September 2025

This single-vineyard bottling showcases the estate’s signature depth and texture through a meticulous winemaking process. After three to four days of maceration, primary fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts. The wine is then racked and left to rest until February, when it undergoes a second alcoholic fermentation on the Amarone lees—a traditional ripasso technique that enhances structure and complexity. Following this, the wine is aged for seven years in large Slavonian oak barrels, developing a harmonious balance of power and finesse. Sourced from 30-year-old vines planted in limestone and basalt soils across 11 hectares, the blend of 55% Corvina and Corvinone, 15% Rondinella, 10% Cabernet, 15% Merlot, and 5% Nebbiolo, Croatina, and Sangiovese delivers layered fruit, supple spice, and the estate’s hallmark resinous texture.