Splash decanted and drank over two hours. Completely opaque black. Smooth and rich. Full bodied. Dark berries with hints of cherries and nice spice. In a good place.
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I’m not a big Amarone fan but this certainly has some charm. Lovely, complex aroma (best part). Palate a bit less interesting. Definitely life left, despite other claims on here.
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The wine was decanted for 20 minutes and enjoyed over the next 90 minutes. While there was nothing wrong or bad about this wine it certainly is restrained and quiet. Not a whole lot going on here. The wine did open up over time, but even towards the end of the bottle only mild aromas of sour cherries, pickled raisins, leather and scorched earth were showing. The mouthfeel was pleasant and no heat detected despite 15+ ABV. This may need more time in the bottle or significant decanting, but I doubt it will ever be a powerhouse. At its best this appears to be an elegant Amarone, which is not likely what one is looking for in an Amarone.
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Took several hours to open up, but beautiful when it did. Smells like toasted banana nut bread and coffee on a Sunday morning in November. Very easy to drink. I usually don't spend this much on a bottle of wine ($50), but this time it was worth it.
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6th Annual Christmas dinner and cellar raid (Naperville, IL): Part of Christmas Dinner and Cellar Raid, didn't take detailed notes. Been dying to try this as the Valpolicella (black Label) was one of the first wines that helped me fall in love with wines when I first started drinking. This was by favorite of the Amarone's
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Not a particularly pleasent nose. Full bodied, nice mouthfeel, long finish and at 15.5% fairly potent, but it does not taste "hot". All and all a pleasent quaff and I would have scored it a little higher if the nose had been nice. While a decent wine, I have had better amarone in this price range so I would not buy again. Gave it an hour decant and then drank over the following 2 hr.
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Dark purple in the glass with slow running legs. Black cherry and ripe plum on the nose with allspice, clove, vanilla creme and some heat from the alcohol. Similar palate albeit less fruit than on the nose. The allspice is more pronounced and the clove notes become more anise-like. The tannins get quite grippy with a little air before smoothing out over time in the glass. Never really did get that fig/raisin/prune flavor profile that I was expecting. Small amount of sediment present. Not very complex but pretty good overall albeit a bit different than most other Amarones I have tasted.
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Decanted several hours, really nice nose but that was the best part of this wine. Fairly hot with somewhat harsh flavor profile. Was worse on day two. Was not terrible but i have had much better amarone at this price point. Have another bottle so I will give it another year or two but at this point I am not hopeful. Would not buy again
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This is a classic Amarone with dark, expressive, raisin-like fruit with subtle notes of earth tones. You must decant for an hour to let the tannins soften and integrate with the rich fruit. Very enjoyable to drink a nice value for fans of Amarone.
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Medium bodied, with dark red/black fruit. Doesn't have the intense acidity or noticeable heat found in many Amarones. Overall, pleasant enough but a bit on the simple side. Might have opened up with decanting and could gain complexity with more bottle age.
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Decanted for 2hrs. Nose, an assortment of sweet aromas including fig, dates and moulasses. Similar tones on mouth, though less clearly defined-- perhaps, because slighlty overpowerd by the alcohol (15.5%).
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4/2/2021 - Osiris021 wrote: 92 Points
Meditation wine as is expected. Some sweet spiciness, dried fruit, cherries, long. Still years ahead.
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11/28/2020 - BURGHen Boy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good lively red fruit on PnP. Develops some deep plum and red grape flavors with a crisp red fruited finish.
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10/1/2020 - Ed B Likes this wine: 91 Points
Splash decanted and drank over two hours. Completely opaque black. Smooth and rich. Full bodied. Dark berries with hints of cherries and nice spice. In a good place.
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2/15/2020 - lifeattable Likes this wine: 89 Points
I’m not a big Amarone fan but this certainly has some charm. Lovely, complex aroma (best part). Palate a bit less interesting. Definitely life left, despite other claims on here.
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8/30/2018 - 1961Vintage wrote: 89 Points
I would say somewhat rich but flat. Not the excitement one would expect for $50. Sad.
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5/6/2018 - DavidBrost Likes this wine: 87 Points
The wine was decanted for 20 minutes and enjoyed over the next 90 minutes. While there was nothing wrong or bad about this wine it certainly is restrained and quiet. Not a whole lot going on here. The wine did open up over time, but even towards the end of the bottle only mild aromas of sour cherries, pickled raisins, leather and scorched earth were showing. The mouthfeel was pleasant and no heat detected despite 15+ ABV. This may need more time in the bottle or significant decanting, but I doubt it will ever be a powerhouse. At its best this appears to be an elegant Amarone, which is not likely what one is looking for in an Amarone.
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4/7/2018 - sommwines Likes this wine:
Deep color. Spice and earth and sharp red fruit on the nose. Plum, chocolate and an earthy finish.
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5/6/2017 - jayw Likes this wine:
Took several hours to open up, but beautiful when it did. Smells like toasted banana nut bread and coffee on a Sunday morning in November. Very easy to drink. I usually don't spend this much on a bottle of wine ($50), but this time it was worth it.
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12/26/2016 - Bobc7had Likes this wine: 89 Points
a good wine. enjoyed with lasagna but not as powerful/flavorful as a typical Amarone. Mildly disappointed
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12/17/2016 - bablues wrote: 92 Points
6th Annual Christmas dinner and cellar raid (Naperville, IL): Part of Christmas Dinner and Cellar Raid, didn't take detailed notes. Been dying to try this as the Valpolicella (black Label) was one of the first wines that helped me fall in love with wines when I first started drinking. This was by favorite of the Amarone's
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11/28/2016 - jsapping Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still plenty of life. Great finish and balance.
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4/27/2016 - americanstorm Likes this wine: 88 Points
Not a particularly pleasent nose. Full bodied, nice mouthfeel, long finish and at 15.5% fairly potent, but it does not taste "hot". All and all a pleasent quaff and I would have scored it a little higher if the nose had been nice. While a decent wine, I have had better amarone in this price range so I would not buy again. Gave it an hour decant and then drank over the following 2 hr.
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12/28/2015 - johnwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine continues to improve with intense flavors of prune and coffee in a backdrop of earthiness.
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12/26/2015 - yayinski wrote: 91 Points
Always a treat to drink Amarone with decent bottle age. Notes of herbs, raisins, sweet pepper, bitter cherry and dark chocolate.
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11/23/2015 - gmat5497 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Better the second day. Needs to decant for at least a few hours.
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10/24/2015 - ChipGreen wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple in the glass with slow running legs. Black cherry and ripe plum on the nose with allspice, clove, vanilla creme and some heat from the alcohol.
Similar palate albeit less fruit than on the nose. The allspice is more pronounced and the clove notes become more anise-like. The tannins get quite grippy with a little air before smoothing out over time in the glass.
Never really did get that fig/raisin/prune flavor profile that I was expecting. Small amount of sediment present. Not very complex but pretty good overall albeit a bit different than most other Amarones I have tasted.
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7/3/2015 - americanstorm wrote: 85 Points
Decanted several hours, really nice nose but that was the best part of this wine. Fairly hot with somewhat harsh flavor profile. Was worse on day two. Was not terrible but i have had much better amarone at this price point. Have another bottle so I will give it another year or two but at this point I am not hopeful. Would not buy again
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1/16/2015 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a classic Amarone with dark, expressive, raisin-like fruit with subtle notes of earth tones. You must decant for an hour to let the tannins soften and integrate with the rich fruit. Very enjoyable to drink a nice value for fans of Amarone.
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10/12/2014 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 90 Points
Maybe a touch better than the previous bottle, but overall pretty similar. A decent, but unspectacular, Amarone.
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10/11/2014 - johnwine Likes this wine: 88 Points
This wine is not really together at this point. Some bottle aging should do the trick.
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9/6/2014 - TastesGoodToMe wrote: 89 Points
Great nose. So-so on the palate. I would give these a little more time to age. Just nothing memorable or complex.
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1/1/2014 - Iceman611 wrote: 92 Points
Very good
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11/24/2013 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium bodied, with dark red/black fruit. Doesn't have the intense acidity or noticeable heat found in many Amarones. Overall, pleasant enough but a bit on the simple side. Might have opened up with decanting and could gain complexity with more bottle age.
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10/26/2013 - DDicaprio wrote: 90 Points
Went from bland to one of potential within one hour of being open, but seems like it needs a year or two more time
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10/18/2013 - APatHB wrote: 90 Points
Still developing I believe. Next year!!!
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5/26/2013 - gmat5497 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice
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5/2/2013 - knothoef wrote: 89 Points
Cassis fruit. Raisins . Plum. Smooth. Licorice. Leather.
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9/23/2012 - Shelbi & Kirk wrote: 85 Points
Too much pepper and to little fruit, fig, etc to be a great Amarone...
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3/5/2012 - IGN WINESNOB wrote: 90 Points
Nice. Spaghetti waiting for this. Opened quickly. Finish changed during the night. Enjoyed.
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1/21/2012 - jsapping wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic dry finish. Ready to drink now, but I am sure it will continue to evolve. Black fruits start strong and then vanish in a long dry finish.
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11/27/2011 - alamoave wrote: 90 Points
Not ready. Hold.
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10/2/2011 - WDSteers wrote: 86 Points
big disappointment. light, alcoholic and faint raisin and dried fruit character of amarone. no depth or richness and thus more like Valpocella.
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2/26/2011 - alamoave wrote: 91 Points
Good potential. Big. Don't touch for 5 years at least.
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2/7/2011 - jorge48 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2hrs. Nose, an assortment of sweet aromas including fig, dates and moulasses. Similar tones on mouth, though less clearly defined-- perhaps, because slighlty overpowerd by the alcohol (15.5%).
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