2015 Bussola Valpolicella Classico Superiore TB

2015 Bussola Valpolicella Classico Superiore TB

2015 Bussola Valpolicella Classico Superiore TB The 2015 Valpolicella Classico Superiore TB is an intense and powerful effort that blends crushed cherry cordials with balsamic and autumnal spices to create a dramatic display that will remind you more of Amarone than Valpolicella. It’s silky-smooth in texture and much more savory than you’d expect following its extroverted bouquet. Within I’m finding tart red berries and salty minerals as well as a bitter twang of pure cocoa. There’s amazing persistence, too, as this finishes incredibly long, spicy and with a buildup of chewy concentration. It’s hard to compare this large-scale wine within its own category, yet there’s plenty of pleasure to be found. This is made using 50% fresh and 50% dried grapes, all aged in new 700-liter barrels, and it shows.

Tommaso Bussola

The story of the Tommaso Bussola winery began when Tommaso started working at the small estate of his uncle, Giuseppe Bussola. In the early years Tommaso followed in the footsteps of his uncle, making traditional wines in the classic style in Italy – which came to be labelled “BG” the initials of his uncle Giuseppe Bussola.  His first vinification was in 1983 and in each successive vintage he sought to constantly improve the quality of the wine.

Ten years later, in 1993, in order to keep upping their qualitative game, they completed the construction of their new wine cellar, where stylistically, you can see many throwbacks to Tommaso’s previous career as a stonemason. Along with the new cellar came the introduction of some new barriques which would be used for the new top crus of the new line of TB wines and the single vineyard Vigneto Alto. Soon after, in 1995, Tommaso’s wife, Daniela joined in the adventure, focusing on the office and export markets. Years later in 2006, Tommaso’s son, Paolo, started working full time at the winery and soon began to take over the work in the cellar and become the winemaker as well as also following the work in the vineyard. Tommaso’s younger son, Giuseppe, followed suit in 2008 though Giuseppe works alongside his mother Daniela following the commercial side of the business and exports. Tommaso helps with everything but at this point, his primary focus is on the vineyards.