Reviews
- James Suckling -
Technical Details
- 80% Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella
- Andrea Lonardi
- Italy
- Veneto
- Valpolicella
- Veronese
- Slavonian oak
- 96 months
- 15.5%
Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella 2015
19% OFF RETAIL!
Layered, deeply complex, and inextricably connected with the land in which it is grown – this magnificent 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella is more than sheer power. It’s a rich and expressive red wine, with characteristics showcasing both individual grape varieties, as well as the terroir on which they are grown. Coming from the grand and historic Bertani winery – and with 100 POINTS from James Suckling, who called it “one of the great Amarones” – this nearly 20% off library vintage Amarone is primed for a spot in your cellar!
Bertani's influence on Veneto winemaking, particularly in Amarone production, is so substantial that 'Bertani' and 'Amarone' are almost interchangeable. Their history, spanning over 150 years, is marked by pioneering initiatives and royal recognition. While honoring their heritage, Bertani endeavors to innovate, employing advanced techniques and equipment alongside extensive experience and a profound reverence for tradition to produce wines of uncompromised quality.
This 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella is 80% Corvina and 20% Rondinella, aged for 96 months in Slavonian oak and over a year in bottle. The unique winemaking process of drying the grapes before pressing and fermenting, called “appassimento” in Italian, creates a more powerful wine with greater tannic structure and typically higher alcohol content. All of these factors make it an incredibly age-worthy wine, with loads of nuance and depth that continues to evolve and improve for decades to come.
The 2015 is still considerably youthful for an Amarone, but drinking beautifully at this stage, with a core of juicy dark fruits mingling with more savory elements to make for a big, brooding, yet elegant red wine. A heap of dried figs, juicy wild blackberries, dried flowers, and prunes fills the glass, while accentuations of old leather, olive tapenade, star anise, sweet cigar box, shaved dark chocolate, and cured meat round it out. A harmonious and long finish and saddle-smooth tannins bring it to a joyous close – and it’s no wonder this exemplary Amarone collected 100 points. For almost 20% off, this is an absolute non-negotiable to add to your collection!
PAIRING IDEAS: Amarone is a fantastic food wine and goes incredibly well with rich foods like smoked or braised meats. Since it’s summer, let’s go with this juicy, flavor-rich, spice-rubbed, grilled pork tenderloin.