Masi Amarone with Tony Apostolakos, US Director of Masi Agricola
Vinopolis, Portland, OR
Tasted Friday, November 12, 2010 by David Paris with 1,320 views
Introduction
A rare opportunity to taste through 9 Amarone's from one producer in one sitting, including three verticals. Tony was an enjoyable person to talk to, and showed some photos and videos of the production process at Masi on his iPad. My opinion of Masi remained the same, which is that they make some very good Amarone, but I think they are partially skating on their reputation and marketing; you can definitely find better Amarone's out there for half the price. The pricing of their single vineyard wines are over $100, and while they are very good, they aren't commensurate with that price. There are other producers (Tomasso Bussola comes to mind) that really knock it out of the park for similar or less money.
2006 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera 86 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
On the nose, rich raisins, chocolate, some stewed fruits, and thick and rich smelling. Really pleasing nose. Some initial alcohol and spice hit on the palate, then tending towards some vibrant acidity. A bit gritty and slightly off balanced. It's thick and gritty as it leaves the palate, finishing slightly off balanced as well.
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1999 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Serègo Alighieri Vaio Armaron 91 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Thicker than the Costasera on the nose, expressing rich aromas of maraschino cherry, a little funk, and some moldy cherries. The palate shows really rich chocolate, and primarily amazingly rich soft plums. Delicious. Big tannins on the finish, but really nice and creamy, tasting of milk chocolate. Drinking really nice today.
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2001 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Serègo Alighieri Vaio Armaron 90 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Soft and spicy on the nose, lighter than the 1999, and almost elegant. Soft on the palate, showing some candied fruits, and more mild in nature than usual. Coating the palate on the finish, as this is quite gritty and spicy. Light alcohol lingers. This is skating right between 89 and 90 points.
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2003 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Serègo Alighieri Vaio Armaron 90 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Pleasing nose, quite creamy, soft, and yummy. Similar yum factor on the palate, which is again on the lighter side for Amarone, but still expressing some pretty rich plums. Soft and creamy, with a luscious finish.
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1999 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe 91 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Some strange green veggies on the nose (green beans and brussles sprouts), but I really like this aspect, as it's mingling with some cherries coated in Christmas spices. Really nice mix of earth and fruit on the palate... quite delicious. Some almost moldy character on the finish (but I enjoy it), as acid and tart funkiness linger heavy and long on the finish. Really pleasing complexity and lingering character, with 40+ seconds later still showing some evolution. Best Amarone of the lineup. 91+
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2000 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe 91 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
None of the green notes I detected in the 1999, showing more typical stewed red fruit aromas. Nice. Really pleasing on the palate, showing figs and it's quite rich and thick. Really nice spice on the finish, figs, and it's quite juicy, yet with good balance.
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2001 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe 86 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Almost identical experience to the last bottle a year ago. I didn't know that this was the same bottle I had a year ago until I looked it up after I wrote this note... Definitely a let down considering the price, and the enjoyment present in the 2000 and 2001. This time I noted that the wine was softer and lighter in size on the nose than the previous wines in the lineup. It was weird on the palate, and really quite tight... just not expressing much. It's dim. Strange and light on the finish, and fairly off balanced. There's virtually no rich fruit. It could be possible that this is in a shut down period, but I wouldn't expect it to be out of balanced if that's all that was going on. Not sure if this will be as interesting to follow as the previous vintages.
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2001 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano 87 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Another disappointment and not as good as the previous vintages. I've found quite a few 2001's that haven't been drinking as well as they should as of late. This one was soft on the nose, showed some cherry, spice, and gravel dust. It's again off balanced on the palate, without much richness; just soft and gritty. There's spice, funk, and more off balanced structural pieces on the finish.
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2000 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano 90 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Richer, thicker than the 2001. Creamy, soft, milk chocolate, and soft dark red fruit on the nose. The palate is big and balanced, delicious really, showing some pleasing soft dark fruits. Really tasty. Some alcohol kicks up on the finish, spice, and there's a little alcoholic zing that stays with me, and keeps this one from reaching higher. If it weren't for the distraction of the alcohol, this could be really enjoyable.
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2000 Masi Osar Veronese IGT 91 Points
Italy, Veneto, Veronese IGT
This was a welcome surprise, as I've never had or heard of Oseleta, which used to be a common blending grape in Amarone and Recioto 100 years ago. Post-phylloxera it was never really replanted due to it's finicky nature (small berries among them), so it was nearly lost. Masi re-planted some in the 80s or 90s, and this is the result, now 100% Oseleta. They also put some in their top Amarone. This was quite rich and thick, and a bit surprising that there was no appassimento with these grapes. The nose was rich and creamy, and quite pleasing. Very large in scale. It expressed tarter cherries on the palate, where it was really drying, rich, soft, and big. The finish is tart, big, and puckeringly bitter. But yummy. Rich and bright at the same time, showing some funk. Really enjoyable. Too bad it's not less expensive and easier to find.
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