Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta 2016 (750ML)

97 DE / 96 FS / 95 WA / 95 VM / 93 WE

The new release for 2024, 2016 is a much anticipated vintage from Dal Forno given that the 2017 was released first. But it has needed the extra time in bottle: export manager Marco Pinna explained that production volumes in 2016 were compromised by hailstorms in 2015. This had the result of naturally reducing yields and lending even more concentration than usual to the wine. Darker and richer in aroma compared to the 2017 Valpolicella, it clings on to a nutty, reductive character, with wisps of mint and fenugreek. In the mouth it's fleshy and powerful; less vertical than the 2017. There's a slightly meaty touch to the ripe, concentrated red and black berries, lifted by floral notes of iris and violets as well as crushed rock and exotic spices. Voluptuous black cherry emerges towards the end, but this still feels quite tight and closed; the best is yet to come.-James Button, Decanter

Bright, dark ruby red colour. Expressive and fragrant nose, nuances of dried rose petal, raspberries, candied oranges, blackberries, precious wood, dark chocolate, finishing with subtle mint notes. On the palate with polished notion, hearty, with great juiciness and clear fruit, coated with noble woody tannins, powerful, elegant, long.-Falstaff

The Dal Forno Romano 2016 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is a wine of characteristically dark intensity and rich extraction. If there's one thing this estate knows, it's making big wines with soaring intensity that strike a balance and have complexity all the while. The Dal Forno production is always an artful expression, as these are wines that can be made in no other hands. This is because of the unique qualities of the Lodoletta Vineyard, which has alluvial clay soils, and the proprietary technology used during fermentation and winemaking. This classic vintage reveals black fruit, olive, dark tar, mahogany and sweet barbecue spice. The wine is soft and rich in terms of texture with tight tannins, but it finishes relatively dry with a contained 14% alcohol content. The blend is 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 5% Croatina and 5% Oseleta, aged in new French and American barrels for 24 months. This is a 30,000-bottle release.-Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

The 2016 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is intense, with a captivating bouquet that blends cedar shavings, savory herbs and balsamic spices with rum-soaked cherries, sweet lavender and dark chocolate. This sweeps across the palate with silken textures, delivering masses of tart red and black fruits along with hints of espresso bean. Crunchy mineral tones and zesty acidity add dramatic lift. The 2016 tapers off long and staining, sporting a pleasantly bitter tinge of cocoa as grippy tannins resonate. The 2016 is a well-muscled dancer yet still youthfully coiled. -- Eric Guido, Vinous Media

Dense and concentrated aromas of blackberry compote, macerated plums with star anise, cocoa dust and freshly turned earth stake their claim in the glass of this powerful wine. Youthful, this wine shows the upfront new oak notes and tannins, but the core of black fruit stands its ground and is supported by a mixture of savory herbs and dried violets on the finish. Drink 2025–2035. — Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast

The Dal Forno family has been making wine since 1983. Located in Val D’Illasi, the estate consists of 65 acres of vines planted to traditional indigenous varieties of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Croatina. The estate vineyards and farm are located where the slopes begin to rise toward the mountains and sit 1,000 feet above sea level. The loose, alluvial soils, meticulous pruning and scrupulous viticultural techniques ensure remarkable-quality grapes. The Dal Fornos use traditional methods to grow the finest fruit, and then employ modern techniques to produce the best wines — classic in expression and modern in purity. Dal Forno Romano is well-known for a number of superior wines that range from the region’s famous Valpolicella and Amarone to unique bottlings such as Vigne Seré, a passito dessert-style wine.