Amarone della Valpolicella | Quintarelli, Dal Forno, Bussola

February 4, 2010

Amarone
These days there is more to Amarone than just these two legends, and I'm delighted to offer my clients a selection of gorgeous, opulent Amarones that traverse the spectrum of style, palate and value.

Begali Amarone Monte Ca Bianca 2003

The '03 Amarone Monte Ca'Bianca is a limited-production effort that reflects a predominantly traditional orientation and possesses a rather restrained expression, which is rooted in Amarone's classic dried fruit character. The nose on this wine displays earthy details such as dried herbs and eucalyptus, while the palate opens to reveal menthol, clove, dried cherries and a savory scorched earth quality. The finish is decidedly spicy and long. Fewer than 500 cases of this cru Amarone are produced. Drinakablity is emerging on the '03 yet can be cellared through 2018. For more information on this producer, follow this link.

Quantity	Price
1 – 11	$88.00
12 +	$80.96

Nicolis Amarone della Valpolicella Ambrosan 2003

Nicolis' approach includes placing harvested grapes in small cases during the drying period (known as appassimento) and the use of Croatina grapes (which take the place of Molinara, the regular third contributor to the blend). The "˜Ambrosan' achieves a rare and elusive balance, delivering a graceful eloquence and sensitive integration despite Amarone's inherently opulent nature. The "˜Ambrosan's caught, in effect, between the Old and New worlds, and all the better for it, working with the context of a structured vintage to elicit a wine that has found its place in the Amarone genre.

Quantity	Price
1 – 11	$91.50
12 +	$84.18

Corte Sant'Alda Amarone della Valpolicella 2004

Amarone della Valpolicella (Amarone from Valpolicella), is the masterpiece of the Veneto. With its rich flavors of raisins, dried fig, spice, mineral, and tar, it is easy to understand why oenophiles are enamored of its persona. Amarone has long resided in the upper echelon of Italian wine, operating on par with Barolo and Brunello. No other dry wine in the world offers Amarone's level of extraction and complexity, enveloped by a glorious, velvety body.

The intense and inimitable flavors of Amarone derive from its traditional production techniques. Winemakers carefully select Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes, which they spread out in single layers to dry on straw or plastic mats for 60 to 100 days. During this time, the grapes lose a substantive amount of water weight, dramatically concentrating their sugars. Thereafter, the raisined grapes are crushed and fully fermented into a heady and robust wine.

Quantity	Price
1 – 11	$99.00
12 +	$91.08

Dal Forno Romano Amarone 2003

Dal Forno crafts a wine unlike any other in the Veneto. Even in this tricky vintage, using strict vineyard management and sophisticated technique in the cellar he achieves density, weight, complexity and polish that simply don’t exist in concert in the wines of any other producer. Dal Forno’s Amarone well deserves its reputation as one of Italy’s best.A blend of Corvinone (60%), Rondinella (20%), Croatina (10%), and Oselata (10%) made in the appassimento style—the grapes are spread on straw mats for three months to drain them of their water and concentrate their sugar, crushed and fermented in a stainless steel vat for six days during which the cap is submerged with rigorous frequency, and aged in new French oak barriques for two years then in the bottle for 12 months more. This rich, expansive wine is one of the best of its kind.

$449.00

Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella 2000

Sergio has confessed that he remains at a loss as to how Quintarelli does that thing he does—namely, the crafting of life-altering wines that induce impassioned states in wine enthusiasts of all persuasions. Quintarelli once told Sergio that the most integral element in a winemaker’s approach is patience—a virtue that is virtually obsolete in the realm of the modern winemaker. While Sergio entertained the possibility that patience might be the method to the Master’s majesty, he concluded that Quintarelli’s wines simply can’t be rationalized. Patience, however, is necessary when encountering these expressions: “They are thinking wines, meaning that they force you to reflect. Nothing else even comes close. You may confuse a Giacomo Conterno Monfortino with a Bartolo Mascarello Barolo...[and] a California Cabernet with a first-growth Bordeaux, but once you taste Quintarelli you’ll never forget.” ~Sergio Esposito

Intense with complex structure and strength that make this wine suitable for long-term aging in the cellar.

$339.00

$725.00

$1,500.00

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