Comparison
Cru Beaujolais vs Valpolicella Ripasso
How Cru Beaujolais and Valpolicella Ripasso differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Cru Beaujolais has more floral character; Valpolicella Ripasso has more spice; Cru Beaujolais has more earthy character.
Choose
Valpolicella Ripasso
Choose Valpolicella Ripasso if you want something spicier, sweeter, stronger and warmer.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Cru Beaujolais is more floral: medium-plus against low.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Valpolicella Ripasso is spicier: medium against low.
Earthy character
Clear differenceForest floor, mushroom, wet stone, clay and undergrowth notes. Frequently, though not exclusively, associated with cooler and more traditional styles.
Cru Beaujolais is earthier: medium against low.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Valpolicella Ripasso is sweeter: low-medium against low.
Alcohol
Clear differencePerceived alcoholic strength, which tracks actual ABV but is modified by sweetness, acidity and body.
Valpolicella Ripasso is stronger and warmer: medium-plus against medium.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Valpolicella Ripasso is fuller and richer: medium-plus against medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Acidity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Tannin: Similar — both medium.
- Fruit intensity: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Aromatic intensity: Similar — both medium.
- Oak influence: Similar — both low-medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Cru Beaujolais | Valpolicella Ripasso |
|---|---|---|
| Floral character | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Earthy character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Body | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Texture | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 14–16°C | 15–17°C |
| Typical flavours | dark cherry, violet, granite, raspberry, iris | sour cherry, dried fig, cinnamon, plum, bitter chocolate |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
Cru Beaujolais
Gamay from the ten named granite hills — structured, mineral and ageworthy, and nothing like Beaujolais Nouveau.
Style
Valpolicella Ripasso
Valpolicella re-passed over the drained skins of Amarone, gaining body, alcohol and dried-fruit character.
Comparison
Valpolicella vs Ripasso
What does "ripasso" do to the wine?
Comparison
Beaujolais vs Cru Beaujolais
Is a named cru worth several times the price of basic Beaujolais?
Comparison
Amarone vs Ripasso
The full-price version, and the one made from what it left behind.