She Didn’t Know the Score. Teresa Picked the 94-Point Biodynamic Valpolicella Anyway.
2023 Monte Dall’Ora “Saseti” Valpolicella Classico
Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy
50% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, 10% Molinara & Oseleta
94 Points James Suckling | 90 Points Vinous
Drink: Now–2028
Regular Price: $33.99
NET Price: $26.98
Shop Now - On Sale Thru 9/28/2026
At a recent Carolina industry tasting, Teresa tasted through a large selection of wines, without knowing which bottles had received high scores or major critical attention.
And this was her favorite.
She came back insisting that we feature the 2023 Monte Dall’Ora Saseti Valpolicella Classico, describing it as light but lush, incredibly smooth, with a gorgeous lifted palate that lingers softly after every sip.
Only afterward did we see the reviews: 94 points from James Suckling and 90 points from Vinous. It’s always fun when a wine stands out completely on its own, then you discover the critics were just as taken with it.
One of the things we love about the Daily Flash is that it’s truly a team effort. We’re always tasting, comparing notes and sharing the wines we think offer the best mix of quality, character and value. Not surprisingly, this wine is also part of the Louis/ Dressner Selection.
Monte Dall’Ora was founded in 1995 by Carlo Venturini and Alessandra Zantedeschi, who took on a set of neglected vineyard terraces and rebuilt them from the ground up. The estate later moved to biodynamic farming, and today they remain deeply focused on traditional Valpolicella grapes and preserving the character of the land.
Saseti comes from terraced vineyards planted over limestone-rich soils, and the wine is fermented spontaneously and aged without heavy oak, keeping the fruit bright, fresh and wonderfully pure.
In the glass, it’s all wild strawberry, fresh cherry, subtle spice and a touch of savory earth, with that silky, lifted texture Teresa loved so much.
This is exactly the kind of red we want heading into fall: enough fruit and texture to feel satisfying, but still light, fresh and incredibly easy to drink.
What We’d Pair With This?
With the first apples of the season starting to appear, we’d make crispy roasted chicken thighs with apples, onions and rosemary. The savory chicken and herbs play beautifully against Saseti’s bright red fruit, while the apples add just enough sweetness to echo the wine’s lush side without overwhelming its freshness.
Easy Sheet-Pan Chicken: Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, 1 sliced yellow onion, 2 sliced shallots, 3 roughly chopped apples, 1 heaping tablespoon fresh or dried rosemary, 2 tablespoons good EVOO, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Spread everything onto a sheet pan and roast for about 45 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and beautifully browned.
And if you don’t feel like cooking, this wine would be just as happy alongside a charcuterie board, a pizza, or a good rotisserie chicken from the market with a veg of your choice.