2013 Brigaldara Amarone

Here's a big wine with broad shoulders and sweeping aromas of dark fruit, cola and Christmas spice. The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a blend of 45% Corvina, 45% Corvinone and 10% Rondinella, and the grapes see 120 days of appassimento, which is on the long side. That fruit, therefore, reaches a higher threshold of density and richness. With 16.5% alcohol, the wine flaunts its power and momentum with loads of dark fruit, raisin, Spanish cedar and fragrant mesquite wood. It ages in barrique for one year before going into Slavonian oak casks for two additional years. You'll need a heavy meat casserole with potatoes to stand up to this one. Some 50,000 bottles were rolled out. Review Date: September 2019