Aldegheri I Lastari Valpolicella Classico Superior 2016, Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Corvina
🍇 Rondinella
🍇 Other Indigenous varietals

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

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The nose is rather intoxicating with aromas of sour cherries, wild strawberries, leather, vanilla and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, light-medium bodied, bright flavours, lively acidity and smooth tannins. The finish is long with juicy red spicy fruit flavours lingering.

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Tasted this Valpolicella at an industry trade tasting. It was my favourite of the afternoon by far. A wonderful Valpolicella with stunning aromatics, wonderful combination of freshness and easy drinking qualities. Needless to say, strongly recommended my wine friends. Cheers 🍷

Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella 2013, Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Corvina 50%
🍇 Rondinella 30%
🍇 Corvinone 15%
🍇 Oseleta 5%

🧐 Alcohol 15%

🍁 My Score 93 Points

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What a sensuous nose on this Amarone with aromas of cherries, plums, dried figs, raisins, leather, chocolate and toasty notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, rich fruit concentration, luscious texture, smooth tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is long, incredibly flavourful with flavours of ripe cherries, chocolate and raisiny flavours lingering.

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I love Amarone, I don’t know why I don’t drink them more often, they are such a treat. Purchased in March 2017 and tasted sometime in 2018 at a trade tasting. I thought it needed additional time in bottle and my patience provided a show stomping, gorgeous fruity Amarone, so bold and yet so soft and elegant. There are many reasons why this is one of the most popular Amarone in Canada. This is such a perfect match when paired with pizza, there is so much going on in both the pizza and wine. Stunning wine my wine friends. Cheers 🍷

I Campi Campo Vulcano Soave Classico 2010, Veneto Italy

Straw yellow in color, this Garganega/Trebbiano blend opened up with aromas of grapefruit, pears and light stony, minerality notes. On the mouthfeel, light to medium bodied (alcohol comes in at 12.5%), a lot of citrus fruit, tree fruit with light minerality and vibrant acidity. Medium length on the finish, a bit tart with grapefruit flavors lingering. Enjoyable, but for me, this vintage was not as ripe as the 2009 vintage, score 89 points.

Purchased March 30, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (269969) at $18.95

Giuseppe Campagnola Le Bine Monte Foscarino Soave Classico 2011, DOC Veneto, Italy

This wine is from a single vineyard, hand harvested blend of 70% Garganega and 30% Trebbiano, ageing took place in ox tanks (no oak) and alcohol comes in at 12.5%.

This wine opened up with very fresh aromas of citrus fruit, gooseberry, pear and light mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with steely, salty and citrus flavours, perfectly balanced by refreshing acidity. The finish is long, crisp, refreshing with lots of citrus/lime fruit, pear flavours and an underlying minerality. Such a superb value for a wine of this quality. As for a pairing possibility, I would suggest any dish with a cream sauce or white fish with a splash of lemon. Strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased June 8, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (134551) at $13.95

Antolini Morópio Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, Doc Veneto, Italy

 

 

This wine is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and a small amount of Molinara. The vines are between 30-40 years old, grapes drying process took place over 100 days before pressing, maturation in small barrels and oak barriques and also a small part in cherry wood barrels for about 24 months, alcohol comes in at 16%.

This Amarone opened up with a ripe bouquet of field berries, raisins, mocha covered cherry, vanilla bean and sweet spices. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, luscious entry, juicy and slightly creamy with fresh acidity and well integrated tannins. This wine's finish is very long, silky smooth with rich fruit concentration and sweet and peppery spices. This wine, even with 16% alcohol is well balanced by good acidity (for an Amarone) and generous fruit concentration, lots of everything but no excess. Loved it at first sip, a real treat and awesome value for such a well made Amarone. Score 93 points.

Purchased February 4, 2012 LCBO Vintages New Release (247957) at $34.95 

Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2008, Igt Veneto, Italy

This wine is a blend of 70% Corvina, 25% Rhondinella, and 5% Sangiovese, 30% of grapes are dried Amarone style and alcohol comes in at 13.5%.

Deep ruby in color, this red blend opened up with aromas of blackberry - plumy fruit, prunes, dried cherry, green peppers, fresh herbs and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful, rich and somewhat sweet, fresh acidity and soft tannins. The finish is long, creamy, smoky with flavours of raisins, chocolate and blackberry jam lingering. Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2008 is not especially complex but the flavours are very nice, made in a crowd pleasing style which should appeal to many. Very nice, score 88 points.

Purchased December 8, 2012 LCBO Vintages New Release (672931) at $25.00

Michele Castellani Cinque Stelle Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, Doc Veneto, Italy

This wine is a blend of the usual Amarone suspects of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, the grapes go through a drying process of 3-4 months with maturation taking place in 60% Slavonian oak barrels and 40% French barriques for about 3 years and finally, alcohol comes in at 16%.

Oh my! What a lovely maturing exotic bouquet on this Amarone with aromas of dried cherries, prune, raisins, soft leather, cola, clove and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with a fantastic mid palate richness and weight, low acidity and velvet tannins. This wines finish is long, very smooth, savoury with a silky texture. I think this Amarone is drinking pretty much at its peak right now, slightly verging on oxidation. I paired this wine with a tomato based pasta dish with sausage and it was wonderful. This Amarone is the perfect remedy for a cold winter evening, an absolute beauty. Score 93 points. 

Purchased October 15, 2011 LCBO Vintages New Release (75127) at $54.95

Remo Farina Montefante Riserva Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, Doc, Veneto, Italy

 

This Amarone is a blend of 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 5% Molinara and 5% Dindarella with maturation taking place in 5 hectolitre Slavonian oak casks for 4 years, plus 1 year in bottle, before its release. The alcohol comes in at a reasonable 15% (for an Amarone).

This wine opened up with aromas of stewed berries, raisin, prune, dried figs, soft leather and savoury spices. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, rich with silky smooth texture, a lot of fruit and alcohol but it is perfectly balanced by crisp acidity and fine tannins. This wine has a very good length and depth on the finish with a hint of chocolate with raisins, red and black fruit flavours with a little heat and very smooth. This Amarone is very tasty and flavourful with lots of everything but no excess. A real treat, very comforting and strongly recommended, score 92 points.

Purchased September 1, 2012 LCBO New Release (63636) at $59.95

Vigne Nuove Di Musella Valpolicella Superiore 2009, Docg, Veneto, Italy

I seldom purchase Valpolicella, I find them light and a bit pedestrian with little flavour or structure, but this little over-achiever blew me away. On the nose such exquisite aromatics with flavours of red cherry, plum, rhubarb, vanilla, slightly spicy with light cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, fresh ripe fruit, spicy with crisp acidity and fine silky tannins. The finish is very refreshing with a good mixture of sweet and sour fruit, ending with fine silky tannins, adding weight and structure to the whole package.

 

This wine is a blend of 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 10% Barbera with alcohol coming in at 13.5%. I served this wine around 16-17 °C because my experience is that lighter wines are better enjoyed slightly chilled. This is an easy drinking wine, unpretentious, of great value and delicious. Strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased November 24, 2012 LCBO New Release (205757) at $15.95

Remo Farina Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2009, DOC, Veneto, Italy

This wine is made from the usual suspects, Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, with the first fermenting process carried out in autumn. At the beginning of spring it is then re-fermented (Ripasso) with leftover Amarone grape skins and seeds soaked in wine, which adds flavours and texture to the Valpolicella.

This wine opens up with attractive aromas of cherry, dark plums, raisins, chocolate and sweet spices. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied (with alcohol coming in at 13.5%) with balance acidity, soft tannins and well integrated oak. Very tasty on the finish with a creamy texture and flavours of cherry, chocolate and spices lingering. Quit a lovely and enjoyable wine and represents excellent value for money. Strongly recommended, Score 89 points.

Purchased July 7, 2012 LCBO New Release at $16.95

Tommasi Arele Appasimento 2009, Veneto, Italy

This wine is a blend  of  90% Corvina with the remaining 10%, of the lesser know Oseleta with maturation taking place in Slovonian and French oak for 12 months. In the making of a Appasimento style wine, fully ripe grapes are dried for about one month before pressing, usually producing a fuller, sweeter and richer wine.

This wine opens up with aromas of sour cherry, plums, leather and spices notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with alcohol coming in at 13%, an interesting tug of war between sweet and sour fruits, lively acidity and firm tannins. Slightly short on the finish with sweet flavours winning the war with sweet cherry pie, savoury notes and light tannins lingering. This wine is better served slightly chilled to tame the tartness and give more chance for the fruit to shine. Best enjoyed served with food, overall I enjoyed it. Too many wine these days are too sweet, this one had better complexity than most at $17.95, score 89 points.

Purchased on April 28, 2012 LCBO New Release (224188) at $17.95  

i Castei Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, Veneto Italy

Wow, what an incredable nose on this Amarone. Aromas of dried berries, prune, raisins, fresh dates, soft leather and attractive cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 15.5%), luscious fruit flavours, low acidity and velvet tannins. Very good length on the finish with rich, creamy concentrated flavours. The blend on this wine is 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella with the remaining 10% a combination of Molinara and other unspecified grapes. Amarone can some times be a little over the top when it comes to sweetness, for me, this one strikes the right balance between sweetness, tannins, alcohol and enough acidity to make it all very enjoyable. Score 91 points. 

Purchased February 5, 2011 LCBO New Release (739979) at $34.95

I Campi Campo Vulcano Soave Classico 2009, Veneto, Italy

This wine is a blend of 85% Garganega and 15% Trebiano and opens up with aromas of citrus fruit, almond, floral and mineral notes. On the palate, very fresh, light bodied (with 12.5% alc.), bright acidity which is well balanced by good fruit concentration. The finish is clean, refreshing with flavours of pears and citrus fruit, with a bit of honey, which makes it slightly creamy. A very nice wine here, score 90 points.

This wine was purchased January 21, 2012 LCBO New Release at $19.95.

Pasqua Vigneti Black Label Amarone Della Valpolicella 2007, Veneto, Italy

 

Wow, I love the elegance of this Amarone. I know, usually elegance and Amarone rarely go together, but in this case, the wine is not to sweet and concentrated or extracted. A wonderful aroma of sensous juicy black cherry, blackberry jam, dates, leather, clove and savoury notes. On the palate, even at 15%,  the alcohol is nicely integrated by balanced acidity, refined tannins, rich and creamy texture. This Amarone finish is long, intense, luscious with ripe fruit, black currant and toasty notes lingering. Surprisingly, there are about 450 bottles of this Amarone still available in our Province to be enjoyed. I love (yes, love) this style of Amarone. This is a good example of a smart buy, strongly recommended. Score 90 points.

This wine was purchased October 29, 2011 LCBO New Release at $36.95

Michele Castellani Cinque Stelle Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2005, Veneto, Italy

The suggested pairing for our pasta dinner was a Ripasso or an Amarone. Since I didn’t have a Ripossa I opened one of only two Amarone in my cellar. Isn't this a good excuse for opening an Amarone? I think so!  A classic version of Amarone with aromas of prune, fig, dates, dried raisins, stewed fruits, chocolate and leather. This full body mouthfeel of 15.5% alcohol has rich and sweet texture, low acidity and well integrated tannins. Great length and velvet on the finish. The exact blend for this Amarone is 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 10% Molinara. Strongly recommended for fans Amarone and full bodied red. 

This wine was purchased November 27, 2010 LCBO New Release at $54.95.

Giuseppe Campagnola Le Bine Monte Foscarino Soave Classico 2009, Veneto, Italy

I have this love and hate thing with Soave, sometime its quite delicious and complex, then there are times where its just dull and bitter. I think it is a wine most enjoyed with food. What do I think about this Soave?  I think that it is a very well made wine, a blend of 70% Garganega and 30% Trebbiano, complex aromatics of citrus fruit, pear, melon and almonds. A medium bodied wine, fresh, almost piquant acidity, refreshing citrus flavours and long finish. I think that this is a great value, a superb wine at $14.00 for sure. I had this wine with a Cajun Chicken Alfredo and it worked very well. I can see this wine served with a Grilled Chicken Salad or White Fish. Strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased on June 11, 2011 LCBO New Release at $13.95