Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2015

No. 1 Wine of 2024. A vivid ruby color with a garnet tinge and super-restrained nose of licorice, oak bark, smoke, wood, cigar box, leather, dark chocolate, crushed violets and prunes. Freshness and subtlety. Full-bodied and elegant on the palate due to ripe, filigree tannins with long acidity and a toasty, savory aftertaste. One of the great Amarones. Corvina and Rondinella. Ready to drink now, but intended for the long haul.

Comforting aromas of dusty wood, dried red fruits, dark chocolate and some subtle floral lift lead to a superbly textural and airy palate which gives energy and space to the concentrated red and black fruits. Breezy and fragrant, lifted and poised, it's a masterclass of harmony and elegance, with a lovely salty edge and some crunchy berries. The complexity will come with time.

Cedary spices mix with shavings of dark chocolate and crushed black raspberries as the 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico entices from the glass. Cool-toned and crisp, it offers silken textures offset by depths of tart red berry fruits and balsamic tones. A pleasantly bitter sensation puckers the cheeks, as fine tannins saturate and nuances of sour citrus fade. Despite the warm vintage, Bertani has found a beautiful balance in its 2015 Amarone.