2016 Amarone della Valpolicella
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella is a savory and meaty wine with brawn and spice followed by thick tones of black fruit, tar and licorice. You get a good window on the appassimento process in which clusters lose about 30% of their water weight thanks to air drying before going into the press. This expression is woven tight with intensity, thick texture and an upfront 16.5% alcohol content. This is a very powerful wine from a classic vintage. The tannins stand out with extra firmness and dryness. This is a 11,700-bottle release.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
From the second I tilted the glass, I knew that the 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella was a total knockout. Macerated cherries are contrasted by a whiff of tangerine that gives way to vibrant rose tones and autumnal spice. This soothes with glycerol waves of spicy red fruits complemented by cinnamon, clove and dark, dark chocolate tones. There’s tremendous balance here with bright acids and a totally sexy and exotic style. This just goes on and on and finishes structured and firm yet incredibly fresh, leaving the palate stained in concentration as violet floral tones fade. For all of its heady depth and concentration, there are only two grams per liter of residual sugar. You don’t need to save this riveting Amarone for the dessert course. (EG)