Amarone

The “Ultimate Statement Wine”

Dal Forno Romano • Zenato

Tommaso Bussola • Santa Maria

Up to 100 points

“Dark,” “Deep,” “Rich” and All In Stock

“In Fair Verona, where we make our scene.” I like to say that Verona is the city in northeast Italy where Romeo and Juliet did not live because they are fictitious characters. But it is the home of Amarone, the “Wine of Contemplation.”

The favorite wines of the ancient Romans were sweet. That continued through the Middle Ages, the height of Venetian power, and up until the middle of the last century. Winemakers had long known that drying the grapes on straw mats (hence, Straw Wine) up in the attic where the winds were controlled with shutters, would concentrate the sugars and give them the elixir their customers wanted.

In the hills of the Valpolicella, outside the city of Verona, where wealthy merchants built summer palaces to escape the heat of Rome or Venice, the sweet wine called Recioto was made. Valpolicella translates to “valleys of many cellars”, the valleys between the hills where the grapes grow, or legend says that it meant “the valleys of many brothels” in a local dialect. The main grapes grown, Corvina and Rondinella, are named after birds - the blackbird and a pigeon with black head, wings and tails - that like to snack on the grapes when they are ripe.

Often a barrel would accidentally ferment totally dry, a disaster for the winemaker. This amaro (bitter) wine was sold off cheap, given to servants to drink, or used for cooking (leading to dishes like the famous Risotto alla Amarone). In 1936 Adelino Lucchese found that one of his forgotten barrels was fermented dry, but not bitter and was not “Amaro, but Amarone!” (the good kind of dry). Amarone was first marketed in 1953, and was raised to DOCG status in 2010.

Now days the wine is made by design, not by accident. And the result is truly a statement wine, for your contemplation. These treasures are in stock and ready to go from our cellar to yours! Cheers.

2015 Dal Forno Romano Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta

$389.89 (750ml) In Stock - Buy Now

100 JS / 98 VM / 97 WA / 96 WS

This is black as pitch in the glass and, yes, there’s a light, tarry edge to the super-concentrated prune, date and currant fruit. But even more interesting are the complex notes of bitter-orange liqueur, aged balsamic, fresh roasting herbs, cinnamon, roasted chestnuts, black tea and licorice. The more you decant in advance, the more nuances will emerge. It’s full-boded with huge concentration and lots of chewy tannin that is managing to hold the fruit back for now. This needs plenty of time to develop in the bottle. Just superb. One of the greatest Dal Forno’s ever.--James Suckling

2013 Tenuta Santa Maria Amarone della

Valpolicella Classico Riserva

$79.89 $72.00 (750ml) In Stock- Buy Now

97 DE / 95 VM

Lovely complex notes of plum, liquorice, cherry brandy, subtle leather, tobacco and spice. Lush and velvety tannins on the palate, with sweet cherries, clove and nutmeg. This wine is round, generous and has beautiful length. -Decanter

2015 Tenuta Santa Maria Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva

$79.89 (750ml) In Stock- Buy Now

96 VM

Sweet violets and roses give way to black cherries, balsamic spices and white smoke as the incredibly pretty 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva blossoms in the glass. This is an undeniably elegant and refined style, casting a polished display of licorice-tinged blackberries and savory herbs across a core of brisk acidity. The resulting expression is quite savory, tapering off long with building tannic tension that grows with each sip. Rich notes of mocha contrast fresh mint and salty minerals, as this finishes impossibly long with an umami feel. The 2015 gets an official “wow” in my book.-- Eric Guido, Vinous Media

2012 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva TB

$129.89 (750ml) In Stock- Buy Now

98 VM

The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva TB takes things to a much darker, deeper and more savory place than nearly any wine in its category. Cloves and cinnamon combine with balsamic spice, molten chocolate and medicinal blackberries as this blossoms in the glass. It floods the palate with racy, silky textures and an intense burst of ultra-ripe red and black fruits offset by a bitter twang of sour citrus and cocoa. Tantalizing acidity barely maintains balance yet ultimately succeeds. Exotic spices and dried black cherries saturate and are framed by a coating of fine tannins that promises decades of further evolution. This is a powerhouse.--Eric Guido, Vinous Media

2010 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella

Classico Vigneto Alto TB

$199.89 (750ml) In Stock- Buy Now

97 VM / 93 WA / 93 WS

A dark display of musky black cherries, mocha, brown sugar, cinnamon and sweet violet florals wafts up effortlessly from the 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigneto Alto TB. There is a viscosity here that is more like molten chocolate than wine, as this contrasts savory, bitter and sweet, creamy yet full of energy, and it washes across the palate with ease. Its ripe red fruits and exotic spices are penetrating and persistent, yet zesty acids maintain vibrancy and leave you completely refreshed for another indulgent sip. The word "wow” does not do this justice, as it goes down way too easy. This is a rock-star wine already, yet it has the potential to evolve for many years in the cellar.--Eric Guido, Vinous Media

2015 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio Zenato

$99.89 (750ml) In Stock- Buy Now

98 JS / 95 VM / 94 WS / 94 DE

#29 James Suckling Top 100 Italian Wines of 2020

An Amarone for the future with terrific richness and tannin power, offering dried fruit, figs, blackberries, bark, mushrooms and hints of wood. Full-bodied and very structured with a powerful finish. It needs a lot of time to come around. Try it after 2024. - James Suckling

2006 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva

$99.89 (750ml) In Stock - Buy Now

98 JS

Incredible nose of wet earth, spices, dark chocolate and blueberries. Stunning. Full body, with superfine tannins and polished texture. Balance and harmony. Better in three or four years. - James Suckling

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