Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2018

“Cocoa, cinnamon and clove come together with crushed plums and balsam herbs as the 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico blossoms in the glass. This is silky and enveloping yet cool-toned in feel, with depths of dark red fruits nicely contrasted by a core of saline minerality. The 2018 finishes structured and long, tugging at the palate with grippy tannins as hints of Baker’s chocolate and inner rose slowly fade. This is a vertical and racy edition of Allegrini Amarone, but it will require some time to come fully into focus. Drinking window: 2025-2035. 93+ points

One of the things I have always enjoyed about the Allegrini portfolio is how focused the family is on the importance of place. Last year, the La Grola hill provided terrific insights into the importance of terroir. La Grola is the source of Allegrini’s namesake wine and the varietal Corvina Veronese, La Poja. This year, the high-elevation (411 meters), Fieramonte vineyard really shined with the release of the 2015 Riserva. While the Amarone Classico remains a benchmark of the region, the Fieramonte takes things to a deeper and more savory place. Its aromatics alone are enough to keep the taster fascinated for quite some time. The 2015 is one of the best wines I’ve ever tasted from this estate. My hat is off to Marilisa Allegrini.”

Eric Guido, Vinous (03/23)