2005 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Community Tasting Notes (12) Avg Score: 92.1 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View sfwinelover1's profile
  • Report Issue

  4/1/2020 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine:

  Consistent with prior tasting note. Really enjoyed this, after not having an amarone for several years, subject to the proviso that as I drink more wine, I realize that this often works better as a standalone than with food. I write again primarily because this was my first extended experience with coravin, having opened this for a glass for Jessica and a half glass for me when Jessica and Marty came over for dinner a month ago and a half ago (that, along with the dinner at Aziza, now seem like another lifetime ago). Anyway, 6+ weeks later, this wine as fresh as if had initially been opened today. Better living, and winedrinking, through science. Remind me of that the next time I say nothing of value has been invented in the 21st century . . .

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View sfwinelover1's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/22/2019 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 92 Points

  First of 2 from a recent auction purchase ($52.50@). Amarones were my Italian wine gateway drug, but as time has gone by, I've gravitated more toward Barolos and Brunellos because of superior acidity and better qpr, so this was my first Amarone since a trip to Italy in Spring 2016. For those who don't know Amarone, it's the answer to what you'd get if a Chateauneuf des Papes, a CA cult cab and a Port had a baby. Somewhat restrained nose with spices and sweet fruit. Far more vibrant on the palate, with sweet cherry, mixed berry compote, fruit cake, baking spice, medicine chest, chocolate, prunes, raisins, licorice, eucalyptus and tar. Opaque, thick, legs like Kevin Gogan. Whatever acidity there was is completely integrated, medium tannins. No heat despite the 17.0 abv--highest I've ever had for a non-fortified wine--but this wine isn't exactly light on its feet. Paired surprisingly well with a spicy red pasta, stuffed pasilla chilis and less surprisingly, chocolate afterward. In its drinking window for sure, but hard to tell whether it's the top of the sixth or bottom of the ninth. This wine is vibrant and delicious with a wild tang, has more tasting notes than any 3 bottles of wine you'd randomly pick up, but it's not something I could drink all the time (as opposed to the Hartwell cab and Ramey chard I've reviewed in the past 10 days) and tastes as much like something like a coven of witches brewed up in a cauldron as a winemaker in oak barrels and steel tanks.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View malcolmkoo's profile
  • Report Issue

  3/10/2016 - malcolmkoo wrote: 92 Points

  Very nice

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Woodway Mike's profile
  • Report Issue

  12/27/2014 - Woodway Mike wrote:

  Wow - this was like old prune juice. It had the nose of a port, and it was old raisins on the palate. It didn't taste spoiled, just over the top. I have two more and will try them at a later date.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Xisor's profile
  • Report Issue

  6/15/2013 - Xisor wrote: 90 Points

  Minerals, sweet

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

View all 12 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.