Corvina Blend

This proved quite popular at a recent tasting.  The name 11 minutes refers to the amount of time the juice is in contact with the skins.  It comes in an attractive squat bottle with a glass stopper.  A blend of Corvina 50%, Trebbiano 25%, Syrah 15%, and Carménère 10%.  Pale, silvery salmon in color.  Clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with maraschino cherries and slight strawberry notes.  On the palate, this is light bodied but not wimpy.  Notes of cherry licorice.  Very refreshing with some depth.  Orange peel/pith comes out towards the moderately lengthy finish.  This drinks quite well

This is a very nice Amarone that is not crazy expensive if one shops around.  It is a step up from their "Pasqua" bottling.  This is a blend of 65% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Corvinone, and 5% Negrara.  It has a true Amarone quality about it.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, spice, slight dark chocolate and a hint of vanilla.  Full bodied.  This wine is dry but with a mouthfeel that is slightly viscous and seems like it would be sweet.  Very interesting.  on the palate, cherries with underlying earthiness and slight tobacco notes.  A nice backbone of ac

Purple in color, ruby at  the rim.  The nose has cherries and spice.  With air some chocolate and slight craisin notes.  On the palate, this is ripe but not sweet.  Cherries and slight coffee notes.  Wide but not deep.  It is drinking well now but will certainly go for a while longer.  Seemed to be quite popular with those trying it.  It will work better with food but is nice on its own too.  Perhaps braised lamb?  

From a magnum.  A blend of Corvinone (40%), Corvina Grossa (25%) and Rondinella (20%).  Opened and allowed to breathe for about one and a half hours before pouring.  Bussola is in my mind, a close third on the hierarchy of Amarone producers (following Quintarelli and Dal Forno).  His wines are pricey but doable.  This is his base bottling.  Purple in color with some ruby.

Bussola is one of the top producers in Amarone and the top producer I can still afford (after Quintarelli and Dal Forno).  This was an older bottle that was just singing.  It had been stood up for a week and then decanted just prior to serving.  It continued to open up for the next couple of hours.  Really a gorgeous wine.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is great.  Dusty at first, that gave way to slight craisins, cherries with some underlying smoke and even a bit of dried flowers.  With more air, a chocolate/caramel note comes out; almost sweet.  On the palate, this is still l

This is a very nice Amarone in just the right place right now.  Probably at or close to peak but no real hurry here.  Deep ruby in color with very slight browning at the rim.  The nose is very nice with cherries, slight raisins and other dried fruits, a bit of spice and just a hint of roasted herbs.  A voluptuous texture.  Slightly sweet/ripe but just perceptible.  Layers of complexity. Good acidity that works better with food.  Nice finish.  Is this a blockbuster?  No, but it is an outstanding wine that is around $30 for current vintages.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cherries, slight prunes, slight raisin along with some anise and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this  is ever so slightly sweet with cherries, dried cherries and slight prune.  Medium tannins.  Nice depth with layers of complexity.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Should work with medium and heavier dishes very well, probably not so much with spicy foods.  Seems to be closing in on peak but should certainly have another 7 to ten years left.  

50% Corvina / 20% Rondinella, 25% Molinara / 5% indigenous varietals.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is nice with cherries and baking spice.  On the palate, this has deep cherry fruit.  Good acidity.  Slight tannins.  This wine is correct and everything expected for a nice Valpolicella including the price - $18.  Will work with medium and heartier foods and if needed, on its own too.  

Purple in color.  The nose is dusty with black cherries.  On the palate, this has nice black cherries.  Tight and firm tannins.  Not a lot of depth but drinking nicely.  Give it air or cellar time.  Nice acidity.  Works better with food.  Needs five years and should be good for at least ten after that.  

Purple in color, slightly flat.  The nose has black cherries, cinnamon, and spice.  On the palate, sweet black cherries and sweet black raspberries.  Tasty but slightly jammy.  Some depth.  Not a lot of acidity.  Drinking quite well.  When the vintage was revealed, it made sense that it was the hot 2003 vintage.  No hurry on this though.