Amarone Classico, Bertani 2015

The wine world needs to give more recognition to classical wines that embody the greatness of time and place. This is one reason that JamesSuckling.com has chosen the Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2015 as our Wine of the Year for 2024. It comes from vineyards on the Tenuta Novare estate in the northeastern Italian region of Valpolicella Classico, where vines have thrived since the Roman Empire. The wine’s balance and refinement are breathtaking, illustrating the greatness of neoclassical wines today – wines that draw from the past but reflect contemporary precision in viticulture and winemaking, offering the ultimate in harmony and drinkability. And its superb character and nature shines through in the glass despite the traditional grape-drying processes used to produce this red.A vivid ruby color with a garnet tinge and super-restrained nose of licorice, oak bark, smoke, wood, cigar box, leather, dark chocolate, crushed violets and prunes. Freshness and subtlety. Full-bodied and elegant on the palate due to ripe, filigree tannins with long acidity and a toasty, savory aftertaste. One of the great Amarones. Corvina and Rondinella. Ready to drink now, but intended for the long haul.