2017 | Zenato | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Bright, rich ruby red. Beautiful nose of candied citrus, blood orange, also slight hints of dried grapefruit, then cherries, roses, raspberry cordial and wild strawberries in the aftertaste. On the palate it is compact and with great texture, shows itself as complex and yet accessible, juicy tannin envelops the clear fruit, very long finish.

Reviews:

• Decanter: A potent wine with a big, fiery personality with great impact. A lighter, perfumed, violet-accented aroma opens to reveal intense black and red fruit flavours with a delightful touch of herbal complexity on the edges. The tannins are firm, but the concentration gives promise for further aging.

• James Suckling: Complex and deep nose with blackberries and subtle black dates, Chinese herbal medicine, porcini, chili chocolate and cocoa beans. Classic Amarone palate with an excellent balance between juicy freshness and dried fruit. Outstanding tannin quality here, with lots of resolve and finesse. Long and rather subtle, too. Textbook reference for quality Amarone today, with some modern drinkability despite the 16.5% alcohol. Delicious now, but better to hold for extra complexity.

Producer Information

Zenato is an important producer in the Veneto region of northeast Italy, with estates in the Lugana and Valpolicella regions. It is particularly known for its Amarone della Valpolicella wines, although it makes a range of other wines, from Pinot Grigio and Soave to varietal Corvina wines. The Amarone Classico wines are made at the Costalunga estate at Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella. The generic cuvée uses grapes that are dried for three to four months before fermentation and 36 months in oak barrels. The flagship Riserva Sergio Zenato is made from grapes that are dried in a single layer on trays, then aged in 7500-litre Slavonian casks for 48 months. Both are predominantly Corvina, with smaller portions of Rondinella and Oseleta. The Cresasso, also made at the Costalunga estate, is a single-vineyard varietal Corvina which comes under the Veronese IGT designation. The grapes for this wine are picked in two phases: the first is dried for two months, and the second is over-ripened on the vine then fermented in stainless steel. The two parts are then blended and aged in French oak casks for 24 months. The estate also makes a Recioto, a Ripasso, a Valpolicella Classico Superiore and the Cormì Veneto IGT, made from Corvina and Merlot. Zenato's other estate, Santa Cristina in San Benedetto di Lugana, has 75 hectares (185 acres) of vineyards. Under the Zenato banner, the estate produces Pas Dosé and a Brut Metodo Classico sparkling wine, plus the Lugano San Benedetto from Trebbiano di Lugana (or Verdicchio). The S. Cristina range also includes Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, a passito, a grappa and olive oil. The Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato, also made from Trebbiano di Lugana, tops the Lugana range. The company also produces a Bardolino red and Bardolino Chiaretto (rosé).

DISCLAIMER** This is a single item listing unless otherwise noted in the description. Retailer advises either in stock or in route to their location. Usually ships within one to four business days. Longer processing times may occur especially around holiday(s). Some items may become backordered or delayed without notice due to demand & will ship out upon arrival. Overseas 700ml products typically have longer processing/transit times. You can always verify product availability by calling 1-888-548-0333. Please refer to our cancellations & returns agreement or reach out to our support team at help@caskcartel.com for any additional questions.

Our dedicated team specializes in creating personalized shopping experiences. If you’re looking for a specific item or collection that isn’t appearing on our marketplace, please reach out to us at concierge@caskcartel.com or fill out the product inquiry form and one of our dedicated team members will be in touch.  Whether it’s a product you’ve experienced while traveling or a rare, hard to find item you’ve been searching for, we have an established global network of retailers with the ability to locate and source the rarest and hardest to find products.