Vantorosso Amarone della Valpolicella 2018

Vantorosso produces this Amarone della Valpolicella in the hills of Verona, the flagship of a project led by former racing driver Vanni Pasquali with Franco Allegrini's guidance. Amarone is made by appassimento, where the harvested Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella are laid out to dry for several months in airy lofts. The grapes lose water and concentrate their sugar, acid and phenolics, so the pressed must ferments to a full dry wine of around 16 percent. The marl and limestone soils of the area keep acidity in the fruit, which balances the concentration. Ageing runs eighteen months in French, Allier and Nevers oak, where slow oxygen exchange tames the tannins and layers in spice, cocoa and dried fruit. The wine is deep garnet, with aromas of dried cherry, fig, raisin and plum over dark chocolate, leather and sweet spice. The palate is full, warm and velvety, the tannins ripe, the finish long with a gentle Amarone bitterness. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees in a large glass, decanting an hour ahead. It suits braised beef, roast lamb and mature hard cheese.