Cantina di Illasi 'Malanchino' Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva DOCG

'Valpolicella' is a very famous wine appellation on the hills above Verona. Literally translating to 'Valley of Many Cellars'. Valpolicella essentially has three main tiers of quality, all made predominantly from the same native grapes: Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella. The top wines from the appellation are 'Amarone della Valpolicella', where high quality grapes are picked then dried in special rooms for 3-4 months until they shrivel, losing 30-40% of their water content but leaving behind all the sugars, with a much higher juice-to-skin ratio. This is then fermented to a dry wine producing a densely concentrated hedonistic wine with high alcohol, and full but superbly silky tannins, aged a minimum of 2 years in barrel before further aging in bottle.

'Riserva' Amarone sits at the top of the food chain, fully deserving the DOCG appellation status. The wines must age a minimum of 4 years and must have a minimum of 32g/l dry extract in the finished wine, ensuring a concentrated and full bodied experience.

This is a classical example of Amarone produced by Cantina di Soave, an important wine co-op based in Verona. The wine is a blend of 70% Corvina, the balance Molinara and Rondinella grapes. Deep ruby almost black in colour, and intense and complex nose with obvious extra aging influence- raisin, macadamia nuts. Full bodied and warm, wild berries, spices, chocolate, with an intensity and impressive length with opulent fine tannins. Exceptionally delicious.