Amarone Della Valpolicella is a luxurious full-bodied dry red Italian wine from the Veneto region of Italy. Amarone is made using the appassimento (ah-pah-see-men-toh) process when grapes are left to dry for several months and then pressed once they have lost up to 50% of their original weight.
Tastes of figs, dates, raisins, baking spices, and a long cherry finish. Corvina or corvinone should be the predominate varietal in an Amarone. Rondinella and molinara adds a small percentage to the blend. These grapes are only grown in the Veneto region. Amarone is intensely sexy and adaptable to vegan and vegetarian dishes. The glossy price reflects the care and devotion used to produce these wines.
VALPOLICELLA MAI DIRE MAI DOC SUPERIORE 2015
The grapes are hand-picked following a gentle pressing for fermentation. The next step is ageing in French oak barrels for 18 months. This wine reveals itself gradually and then subtly the power and personality bursts out. Intense, complex, elegant, and dream-like. On the nose, it offers overtones of tobacco, cedar, and balsamic. On the palate is warm intensity with morello cherry, figs, clove, cinnamon, dates, and coffee. Sophisticated rounded tannins, high acidity, and a long passionate finish. Grapes/Blend is Corvina 50% Corvinone 30% Rondinella 10% Oseleta 10%, and a sassy 15% ABV. Pairs well with short ribs, supreme pizza, collard greens, lamb, veggie stew, and meatloaf with gravy. This is a big bold red wine and could benefit from a decanter.
AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA FAMIGLIA PASQUA DOCG 2020
The grapes are harvested by hand in mid-September and left to dry about 25-30% of their weight. After pressing, the alcoholic fermentation starts in steel tanks for about 25 days. Then transferred to French oak barrels where the malolactic fermentation gives the wine softness. After 18-20 months of maturation, the wine is bottled for further refinement for another 4 months. Deep elegant velvet red in color, the bouquet of this wine is prominent, with aromas of blueberries, dried cherries, baking spices, tobacco leaf, and vanilla extract. On the refined palate are silky tannins, high acidity, Dutch cocoa, morello cherry, oak, cigar smoke, cinnamon, and a long raisin finish. I enjoyed this stunning wine with an Italian sausage, tomato, white cannelloni bean, and kale soup. Grape/Blend Corvina 65% Rondinella 25% Corvinone 10% and a brave 15.50 % ABV.
Pasqua has climbed high with both beautiful Amarone wines, and they make incredibly impressive gifts. The Pasqua company offers a full portfolio of Italian wines.
