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2017 Masi Costasera Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Removed from a professional wine storage facility; Purchased direct from a distributor

Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

94James Suckling

A really fresh and well-balanced Amarone here, with tapenade, ripe but fresh blackberries, chili chocolate and some red berries, too. This is tight and juicy, with a medium-to full-bodied palate and a long, fruity finish.

94Wine Enthusiast

The wine is quite reserved on the nose to start, but with a decant it opens up nicely. The wine has aromas of red-cherry preserve, ripe plum, clove, anise and cinnamon. The palate is elegant with notes of dried leaves, dark chocolate and dark cherries. The tannins are already well integrated, giving the wine a magnificent texture.

92Vinous / IWC

...intense, with masses of dried black cherries and mocha complicated by spiced citrus rinds and a dusting of cocoa. This is a total pleasure on the palate, seamlessly silky and elegant with a spicy core of red fruits.

90Wine Spectator

A medium- to full-bodied red, with savory notes of fresh earth, tobacco and smoke on the nose, which underscore the palate's crushed black currant, black cherry and dark chocolate flavors. Firm finish.

REGION

Italy, Veneto, Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, usually called simply Amarone, was awarded its prestigious DOCG appellation status in 2009. Though lush, high alcohol content red wines have been made in the Veneto since the ancient Greeks settled there, the popularity of Amarone over the last few decades has resulted in international demand for the wine. Amarone is typically made from 45% to 95% Corvina, blended with Rondinella and other indigenous grapes. The blend is essentially the same as for Valpolicella, but Amarone is made from dried grapes, which gives it a rich, viscous quality and an alcohol content between 14% and 20%. Though Amarone is a dry wine, there is a sweet version called Recioto della Valpolicella. The recioto style wines are included in the DOCG, and the word “ripasso” on label usually indicates the sweeter style.