2001 Amarone della Valpolicella

The 2001 Amarone is an exceptional wine of incredible class, purity and breed. It is still quite primary, with a deep, dark color and vibrant sweet fruit. With air notes of smokiness, new leather and tobacco emerge to complete this magnificent, seductive wine. While I generally prefer Amarones on the young side, this is a very structured wine that clearly has the ability to age. It is hard to resist today, but will almost certainly be better in another year or two. Given the prices most other Amarones fetch in today’s market, Marion’s Amarone is a steal. The blend is typically 45% Corvinone, 25% Corvina Gentile, 20% Rondinella, 10% Croatina. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016. What a joy it is to taste these new releases from Marion, a relative newcomer to the scene. Proprietor Stefano Campedelli along with Celestino Gaspari (who cut his teeth working with Giuseppe Quintarelli) produce sumptuous, richly textured wines that are sure to find many admirers. The estate’s approach is rigorously rooted to an expression of terroir as well as search for the best clones possible, many of which come from the vineyards of other high-quality producers rather than nurseries. Readers need to make sure the wines of Marion are on their radar screens. Importer: Omniwines Distributing Co. Llc., Linden Hill, NY; tel. (718) 353-8700