2011 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$99.00USD

Great showing for this Amarone at age 12.  This was served on board the Celebrity Millennium Cruise ship off the coast of Alaska.  It is 80% Corvina Veronese, and 20% Rondinella. Purple with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful with cherries, slight raisins and some alcohol showing.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate cherries with slight char notes.  Complex and deep.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but would be better with a plate of pasta with truffles in a cream sauce.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2012 Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Il Bosco

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$93.00USD

A blend of 80% Corvina and 20% Rondinella.  Deep garnet in color.  Slightly flat.  The nose is nice with stewed fruits, figs, cherries and spices.  Full bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, prunes, cherries and spice.  Depth.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now.  It is dry but with a feeling of sweetness.  Nice finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It would work well with Eggplant Parmesan.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

Fattori 2020 Valpolicella Superiore Col de la Bastia

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Fattori began making wine in 1900 in this Northeastern region of Italy. Now, as a 5th generation run operation, they are turning out wonderful wines. Made from 85% Corvina along with Rondinella, Molinara and a few other varieties, this offers light, bright cherry, black cherry, pomegranate, rhubarb and plum notes. This fairly simple wine is an ideal companion with a diversity of foods. It’s not an aggressive, heavy tannic thing, but a mellow, warm and delightful wine meant to work well with others. Briefly aged, the fruit is perky and beaming.

2016 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Very impressive showing.  This is a blend of 80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella and 10% Oseleta and Croatina.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, red currants, roasted herbs, dust and slight bitters note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, Cherries, plums, red currants with some spice.  Long finish.  This is deep and complex.  Drinking well now, it should continue to so do for twelve to fifteen years.  Very nice on its own, but even better with food.  It went great with a pasta fagioli.  

2016 Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$37.00USD

Always a nice value in Amarone although the price has crept up.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  This is a blend of 75% Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella and 5% Rossignola and Negrara. The nose has cherries, dried cherries, dust, chocolate and herbal bitters.  Ful bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has cherries, black cherries and char.  Nice finish. Drinking great now and should drink well for ten to fifteen more.  Wonderful on its own, this will work great with hearty food such as Lamb Stew.

2016 Vaona Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Paverno, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$31.00USD

My first time trying this producer and I came away impressed.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, dried cherries, roasted herbs and dust.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, there is nice cherry fruit, some black cherries, with a slight warmth.  Long finish.  Plenty of depth with nice acidity.  This is great on its own and would work well with a nice plate of pasta. Drink over the next ten years.

2017 Cantina Valpantena Amarone della Valpolicella Torre del Falasco, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a lovely Amarone that delivers a lot for its price point.  It is a blend of 85% Corvina and 15% Rondinella.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, plums, dried cherries, slight char and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, lots of fresh and dried cherries with some underlying roasted herbs and spice.  Nice balance.

2011 Romano Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

From one of the top producers in this part of the world,  His Valpolicellas are better and more serious than most Amarones (and more expensive, too).  This is a blend of 70% Corvina,  20% Rondinella, 5% Croatina and 5% Oseleta grapes.  Purple in color, opaque and flat.  This is a dense, concentrated wine.  The nose has cherries, cedar, leather, dark chocolate and a hint of VA (just enough to raise the aromatics without being off putting).  Full bodied.  Concentrated.  Firm tannins with a lush texture.  On the palate, this is teeth staining and delicious.  Cherries, black cherries, with some

2006 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Tb, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

From Magnum.  Pop and pour, it took about 45 minutes to open.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight prunes, slight dark chocolate, raspberries and spice.  Full bodied.  Dry.  On the palate, cherries, raspberries, chocolate with an underlying earthiness.  Nice acidity.  Great mouthfeel.  This is still on the young side, but should be about at peak from a 750ML.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  This drinks well on its own but worked great with a variety of Italian foods.  

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