1988 - 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella

2006 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva – The nose showed dusty cherry, dried fruits, a hint of funk and tobacco. On the palate, it was focused and intense with dried cherries and holiday spices. It remained balanced with velvety textures that seemed to melt from the palate throughout the long finish. (93 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

2006 Nicolis Amarone della Valpolicella Ambrosan – On the nose, I found candied cherry and sweet spices. The palate was medium in body with bitter cherry and hints of herbs. The finish seemed restrained with slightly drying fruit. (88 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

2006 Musella Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva – The Musella Riserva was savory and sweet with notes of olive tapenade, cherry sauce, potpourri and dark soil tones. On the palate, it show excellent balance with brisk acidity which lent a juicy quality to the rich dried cherry, bitter chocolate and herbal flavors. The finish was long, showing inner floral notes and dried fruits. (94 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

2005 Venturini Amarone della Valpolicella Campomasua – Medicinal cherry, spice and undergrowth dominated the nose. On the palate, it was juicy with silky textures and flavors of cherry, cinnamon and herbs. The long finish was soothing and warm with dark red fruits. (92 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

2005 Tenuta Sant’Antonio Amarone della Valpolicella Campo dei Gigli – The nose showed tart cherry, dark licorice and hints of manure. On the palate, it was smooth with cherry and herbal notes intermingling against a balanced frame. The finish was dry with tart cherry and cranberry. (89 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

2004 Begali Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Monte Ca Bianca – Dark chocolate and was prominent on the nose, followed by black cherry, herbs and a hint of orange zest. On the palate, it was tart and muscular yet focused with its red fruits. The finish showed floral notes with intense cherry that saturated the palate. This is a wine for the cellar and should reward 5 – 10 years of patience. (92 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

2003 Tedeschi Caplitel Monte Olmi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – The nose was dark and rich, showing crushed cherry, earthy minerals and sweet floral notes. On the palate, it was velvety, but not heavy, with intense black cherry extract, chocolate and hints of pepper. The long sweet-and-sour finish lingered for over a minute with flavors of cherry sauce and spice. (93 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

2001 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Ca’Florian – The nose was earthy, sweet and rich with notes of tobacco, fall leaves, dried cherry and fresh soil. On the palate, it was elegant yet juicy, showing ripe cherry, spices and hints of herbs. The finish was long and saturating yet refreshingly so. (92 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

2001 Venturini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – The nose showed cherry, herbs and spices but with a skunky hint to it. On the palate, it was elegant and finessed with cherry fruit and earth tones. The finish was medium in length, showing tart cherry. (89 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

2000 Nicolis Ambrosan Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – The nose was dark and intense with dried cherry, sweet floral notes and balsamic tones. On the palate, it was rich with velvety textures, showing dried black cherry with a sweet-and-sour quality which lasted into the long finish with notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon and cherry liquor. (93 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1998 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio Zenato – The nose showed dark, sweet cherry, floral perfumes, and a hint of burnt sugar. On the palate, it showed an almost syrupy consistency with textures morphing between richness and juicy acidity. Cherry sauce and spice dominated in this velvety Amarone that closed in a long, palate-staining finish. (93 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1997 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – The nose showed like a basket of ripe, sweet berries and holiday spice with a dark balsamic undertone. On the palate, it was balanced yet well-endowed with sweet-and-sour cherry tones and black raisin, kept fresh by brisk acidity. It finished on a smaller scale, yet still on a good note, with bitter cherry and herbs. (92 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1995 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – The nose showed crushed, dried flowers, dried black cherry and minerals. With time in the glass, the bouquet expanded and sweetened. On the palate, it was velvety smooth and youthful with dark chocolate, rich black cherry and hints of earthy minerals. The long finish showed bitter cherry and licorice, which seemed to slowly melt away from the palate. (95 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1990 Masi Mazzano Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – The nose was earthy and dark yet remained rich and sweet with crushed fall leaves and dried cherry. On the palate, it was finessed and graceful showing spiced red fruits. The finish was long and fresh with flavors of cherry and minerals. (93 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1988 Speri Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigneto Monte Sant’Urbano – The 1988 Speri was perfectly matured, showing black cherry, nutmeg, dark soil tones and a hint of manure. On the palate, it was silky, juicy and remarkably youthful with lively red fruits and spice notes. The finish was smooth with lingering flavors of spiced cherry and dark chocolate. (95 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!