March 3, 2024 - Sweet and exploding with fruit. Much richer than the 2018 bottle I sampled 6 years ago. This has stamina. Earth, berry, jam, hay.
December 30, 2021 - 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.
November 6, 2021 - 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.
December 25, 2020 - 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.
November 21, 2020 - 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.
January 26, 2020 - Ripe, full, some plumminess with big fruit.
August 30, 2018 - Wonderful, rich mouthful of berry and leather. Decanted.
January 15, 2018 - 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.
June 7, 2015 - 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.
November 19, 2014 - 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.