1988 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 92 points

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  1/1/2023 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Almost fully saturated cork. Very slow, clear legs on the glass. Limpid garnet in colour fading to iron oxide at the rim. Very clear and crystalline. Gobs of leather, dried red berries, rhubarb, sour cherry, touch of eucalyptus, licorice, dusty stone and light funk on the nose. Beautiful mouthfeel! Silky smooth, full bodied, off dry, fully resolved sweet tannins and a nice balance of acid and alcohol to offset all the fruit extract. Dried and tangy and sour red fruits like dried cranberry, red plum skin and rhubarb, glove leather, chestnut, black tea, dried rose petal and dark bark mulch on the palate. Very soft and full and sensuous in the mouth, but with that little bit of bitterness on the tip of your tongue that lingers long after swallowing.

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  6/25/2022 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Bought at action. Only about 2 cm ullage in this bottle. Only about 0.5 cm of the cork not soaked, but no signs of seepage. Not much sediment, so doesn't really need decanting. Full garnet in colour with a pure ruby core lurking in its depths. Robes the glass in a solid sheet and then forms very slow legs. Mascerated dried red and black fruits, leather, tobacco, cedar, black loam and more. The fruits are cherry, mulberry and red plum. Super smooth and full bodied but at the same time almost weightless on the palate. Not mouth-coating by any means. Drier than I would have expected. Slightly elevated alcohol, but with nice acidity as well - again, more so than I would have expected. The flavours are dried, sour cherry, tobacco, leather, chestnut, light tar and ends on a spirited and that tell-tale bitter note. Overall, lots of life left in this wine and it has held up extremely well! (Good thing since I have several more!) I don't have much experience with old school Amarone but this clearly was made in a restrained, classic and elegant style for such a big wine. Especially with the good acidity and dry finish. Absolutely lovely! 95 for quality, taste and persistence!

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  5/31/2015 - daveste Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Kept well. Mild tannin, still some acid. Long elegant fruit. Nose of blackberries, prunes and flowers. PNP but improved over 2 hours. Lovely with beef stew.

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  4/9/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 89 Points

  Dallas 2nd Wednesday Group - Italians (Mi Piaci's in Dallas, TX): WIML89
  
  Tasted April 9, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking. Nose of golden raisins, currants, herbs and licorice. Flavors of currants and berries. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink now.

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  4/9/2008 - win wrote: 89 Points

  Italian Wines at Mi Piaci: Large Italian wine tasting. Minimal notes.

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