This bottle was more enjoyable than our previous bottle almost 4 years ago (1/15/18). This bottle was more expressive, open and rich. Decanted for 2 hours with only slight sediment. The color was a clear medium+ violet. Aromas of red fruit (cherry...), earth, and touches of raisin and cedar waft from the glass. On the medium bodied palate the wine showed lots of red fruit, some earth, some cedar, and touches of raisin and chocolate, all wrapped in a juicy acidity that was just a bit more than needed to balance. The finish was medium+ and even showed a touch of tannin. This wine should hold for a few more years, but there's no reason to wait to enjoy.
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I really enjoyed this Tommaso Bussola Amarone. It had the distinct varietal character, including the luxurious richness, but for an Amarone is a bit on the lighter side making it pretty “drinkable” (ie more than one glass required …)
Color is brick red, medium depth.
It’s a reasonably intense nose that immediately tells you it’s Amarone, raisiny with earth, leather and some mint.
Decent acid, firm and mouth coating but not aggressive tannins. A full body but not enormous. Medium+ finish. Actually quite a bit of black fruit balancing the tertiary flavors of the nose, although still a pretty savory wine.
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drank after a 4 hour slow ox. Excellent wine. near perfect balance and the 16.5% abv wasn't even noticeable. Silky and refined, with a palate of raisins (not too much), cherries (too little) and dark chocolate. I imagine the cherries were more prevalent 2-3 years earlier. Finish was fairly long, but shorter than you would expect from a wine this rich. Still has plenty of life left in it, but I don't see it improving. Actually wish I had it a bit younger for a bit more fruit.
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Showed some bricking. On the palate, the wine revealed concentrated fruit on the front end with flavors of figs, raisins, chocolate, and allspice. In terms of weight and mouthfeel, this seems like it is half way to being a port, but, of course, much drier. Nice balance of tannins. Well done, though extremely alcoholic at 16.5% ABV.
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Decanted and tasted periodically: upon opening = a bit pruney and very alcoholic after one hour = same after two hours = just beginning to come together - fruit emerges and alcohol recedes after three hours = all the components finally integrate enough to enjoy, but more decanter time is OK. On the palate, this medium-plus bodied wine presented prune, cherries, a bit of oak, and touches of cinnamon and chocolate. While not as demonstrative or complex as the 2006, this wine is still one of the better Amarones at this price point, from one of the best producers, and should hold for several years.
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Excellent amarone in a very good shape right now. Deep garnet colour, fruity nose, very round on the palate, complex, full body, medium finish, but very pleasant. Definitely one of the best amarone producers.
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Amarone Tasting (Waterford): Beautiful rounded aroma,, slightly modern on palate due to aged. But has sharp acid as compared to Speri. Chocolaty notes and toffee aromas.
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For the price. I would buy this over many more expressive amarone. Really good .
Powerful fruity and Berry aromas and flavours, there is some spicyness and a little vit of heat but very drinkable right now. Tannins are well integrated.
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A great effort by one of my favorite producers in Veneto (no one can beat Quintarelli), I'd rate this slightly higher than most others. I felt the weight of the wine was a great match with the depth of flavours, of which there were many: raspberry, cedar, dark chocolate especially. Given the high alcohol content (~16% if I recall), I felt there was very little "heat," a sign of a nicely balanced vintage. Definitely made in what most would call an "international" style but at the same time I think its a very true representation of a great amarone and the terroir.
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I served this in my wine course. International style. Extremely rich mid palate. Prune nose, chocolate finish, noticeable but well integrated oak. Not the usual raison and cherry. Not my favorite style, but still very enjoyable
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Very "soft" amarone. There is some earthiness (dried leaves) and fruit (blueberry and red cherry), but you mainly notice the toastiness, coffee and chocolate hints. Medium acidity, rich body, soft tannins, high alcohol (16.5%!): this is a good modern style amarone, but for me it's a little too sweet, probably because of the very high alcohol and chocolate flavours. Enjoyable, but somewhat different from your average italian wine.
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As expected, potent, unctuous and port-like. Molasses, coffee and berries. Although this almost passes for a dessert wine, I did not find it overly sweet or cloying. In a tasting night that included Brunello and a Napa Cab, this was the big crowd pleaser.
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3/3/2024 - Altonplace wrote: 94 Points
Sweet and exploding with fruit. Much richer than the 2018 bottle I sampled 6 years ago. This has stamina. Earth, berry, jam, hay.
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12/30/2021 - VlgJeff wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was more enjoyable than our previous bottle almost 4 years ago (1/15/18). This bottle was more expressive, open and rich.
Decanted for 2 hours with only slight sediment. The color was a clear medium+ violet. Aromas of red fruit (cherry...), earth, and touches of raisin and cedar waft from the glass. On the medium bodied palate the wine showed lots of red fruit, some earth, some cedar, and touches of raisin and chocolate, all wrapped in a juicy acidity that was just a bit more than needed to balance. The finish was medium+ and even showed a touch of tannin. This wine should hold for a few more years, but there's no reason to wait to enjoy.
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11/6/2021 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 93 Points
I really enjoyed this Tommaso Bussola Amarone. It had the distinct varietal character, including the luxurious richness, but for an Amarone is a bit on the lighter side making it pretty “drinkable” (ie more than one glass required …)
Color is brick red, medium depth.
It’s a reasonably intense nose that immediately tells you it’s Amarone, raisiny with earth, leather and some mint.
Decent acid, firm and mouth coating but not aggressive tannins. A full body but not enormous. Medium+ finish. Actually quite a bit of black fruit balancing the tertiary flavors of the nose, although still a pretty savory wine.
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12/25/2020 - Joseph Grassa Likes this wine: 92 Points
drank after a 4 hour slow ox. Excellent wine. near perfect balance and the 16.5% abv wasn't even noticeable. Silky and refined, with a palate of raisins (not too much), cherries (too little) and dark chocolate. I imagine the cherries were more prevalent 2-3 years earlier. Finish was fairly long, but shorter than you would expect from a wine this rich. Still has plenty of life left in it, but I don't see it improving. Actually wish I had it a bit younger for a bit more fruit.
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11/21/2020 - malbrecht wrote: 91 Points
Showed some bricking. On the palate, the wine revealed concentrated fruit on the front end with flavors of figs, raisins, chocolate, and allspice. In terms of weight and mouthfeel, this seems like it is half way to being a port, but, of course, much drier. Nice balance of tannins. Well done, though extremely alcoholic at 16.5% ABV.
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1/26/2020 - aChave wrote: 90 Points
Ripe, full, some plumminess with big fruit.
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8/30/2018 - Altonplace Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful, rich mouthful of berry and leather. Decanted.
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1/15/2018 - VlgJeff wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and tasted periodically:
upon opening = a bit pruney and very alcoholic
after one hour = same
after two hours = just beginning to come together - fruit emerges and alcohol recedes
after three hours = all the components finally integrate enough to enjoy, but more decanter time is OK.
On the palate, this medium-plus bodied wine presented prune, cherries, a bit of oak, and touches of cinnamon and chocolate. While not as demonstrative or complex as the 2006, this wine is still one of the better Amarones at this price point, from one of the best producers, and should hold for several years.
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6/7/2015 - ThalesGaspar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent amarone in a very good shape right now. Deep garnet colour, fruity nose, very round on the palate, complex, full body, medium finish, but very pleasant. Definitely one of the best amarone producers.
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11/19/2014 - astroman wrote:
Amarone Tasting (Waterford): Beautiful rounded aroma,, slightly modern on palate due to aged. But has sharp acid as compared to Speri. Chocolaty notes and toffee aromas.
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11/12/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Well, there might be some VA there but it probably needs it.
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5/29/2014 - jens.thogersen Likes this wine: 92 Points
For the price. I would buy this over many more expressive amarone. Really good .
Powerful fruity and Berry aromas and flavours, there is some spicyness and a little vit of heat but very drinkable right now. Tannins are well integrated.
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3/2/2014 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 92 Points
A great effort by one of my favorite producers in Veneto (no one can beat Quintarelli), I'd rate this slightly higher than most others. I felt the weight of the wine was a great match with the depth of flavours, of which there were many: raspberry, cedar, dark chocolate especially. Given the high alcohol content (~16% if I recall), I felt there was very little "heat," a sign of a nicely balanced vintage. Definitely made in what most would call an "international" style but at the same time I think its a very true representation of a great amarone and the terroir.
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1/30/2014 - juffer Likes this wine: 91 Points
I served this in my wine course. International style. Extremely rich mid palate. Prune nose, chocolate finish, noticeable but well integrated oak. Not the usual raison and cherry. Not my favorite style, but still very enjoyable
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1/9/2014 - The years of the grape Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very "soft" amarone. There is some earthiness (dried leaves) and fruit (blueberry and red cherry), but you mainly notice the toastiness, coffee and chocolate hints.
Medium acidity, rich body, soft tannins, high alcohol (16.5%!): this is a good modern style amarone, but for me it's a little too sweet, probably because of the very high alcohol and chocolate flavours.
Enjoyable, but somewhat different from your average italian wine.
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1/8/2014 - jorge48 wrote: 91 Points
As expected, potent, unctuous and port-like. Molasses, coffee and berries. Although this almost passes for a dessert wine, I did not find it overly sweet or cloying. In a tasting night that included Brunello and a Napa Cab, this was the big crowd pleaser.
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