Villa Spinosa Amarone Valpolicella Classico 2021

Villa Spinosa is a family winery in Negrar di Valpolicella, in the hills of the province of Verona in Veneto, north east Italy. Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is its flagship, made from the local grapes Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella. Amarone is defined by appassimento, the process of drying the harvested grapes for several months before pressing. As the grapes raisin, they lose water and concentrate their sugars, acids and flavour, which is why the finished wine reaches 16.5 percent alcohol and shows such density. The Classico zone's limestone rich hillside soils and the cooling influence of altitude keep acidity firm beneath that concentration, which is essential to balance the power. The dried grapes are pressed and fermented slowly and to dryness, so the richness comes from concentration rather than residual sugar. Ageing here runs 12 months in 500 litre French oak followed by 12 months in large foudres, adding spice and allowing slow oxygen exchange that rounds the tannins. The wine is deep, dark garnet with aromas of dried cherry, fig, prune and plum, layered with cinnamon and dark chocolate. The palate is full, warming and velvety, with concentrated dark and dried fruit, fine tannins and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted. It suits braised beef, game and mature cheeses.