2003 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio Zenato

What a pleasure it is to taste the 2003 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio Zenato, one of the most pleasant surprises in this tasting. Black cherries, mint, leather and licorice are some of the many notes that flow from this explosive, totally expressive Amarone. The 2003 boasts notable richness, power and full-throttle opulence. Readers will recall that 2003 was a blisteringly hot year in Italy, hardly the conditions that are ideal for Amarone. Yes, the 2003 has a lot of richness and overtness, yet Zenato has somehow managed to balance those elements beautifully here. Ideally, the 2003 needs another few years for some of the baby fat to melt away. There is a lot to admire here.