2018 Amarone della Valpolicella

A dusting of cocoa powder gives way to blood orange and dried black cherries as the 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella smolders up from the glass. It's velvety smooth yet lifted and refined, with a polished wave of mineral-drenched wild berry fruits complicated by a bitter tinge of dark chocolate and balsamic spice. This leaves a mentholated freshness and a tart hint of clove, finishing long and structured with saturating tannins that clamp down hard. The 2018 is intense yet possesses amazing balance. Bury your bottles deep.