2013 | Dal Forno Romano | Valpolicella Superiore

The mouthfeel is thick and impenetrable, and the senses are treated to a long succession of black fruit, tar, spice, smoke, mesquite and barbecue flavors. The wine is full-bodied and very opulent, but it carries that massive intensity with grace and precision.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: This is a terrific wine that stood out—and stood tall—despite the fact that it was tasted alongside some of Dal Forno's most important vintages of the top-shelf Amarone. If that's not a full-on recommendation, I don't know what is. The 2013 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta oozes forth with thick concentration and an inky black color. The mouthfeel is thick and impenetrable, and the senses are treated to a long succession of black fruit, tar, spice, smoke, mesquite and barbecue flavors. The wine is full-bodied and very opulent, but it carries that massive intensity with grace and precision. This Valpolicella Superiore is very nicely done.

• James Suckling: A remarkably concentrated red, redolent of dark-cherry ice cream, stuffed with chocolate-chip flakes that turn into meatier, earthier nuances of steak tartar and forest floor. Full-throttle and lavishly chewy, the tannins pucker all sides of the mouth with mesmerizing intensity; nevertheless they remain polished and acutely detailed, like an extravagant, wool-woven, Moroccan veil. Drink from 2025.

Producer Information

Dal Forno Romano is a producer of aromatic, spicy, opulent Amarone in Valpolicella, and is widely regarded as being one of the greatest estates in the Veneto. The estate is located at Illasi, outside the Valpolicella Classico zone, and was established by Romano dal Forno himself in 1983. There are just eight hectares (20 acres) of low-yielding vineyards with gravelly clay soils planted to Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina and Oseleta. The winery was built in 1990 in the style of a 19th Century farmhouse with vaulted brick cellars. Dal Forno makes three wines: a Valpolicella Superiore, an Amarone and a rare, sweet Recioto-style wine called Vigna Seré. All feature Corvina in majority with subsidiary percentages of Rondinella, Croatina and Oseleta. Grapes for the Valpolicella are partially dried for around six weeks, and the wine's quality level exceeds the vast majority of Valpolicella Superiore and numerous Amarones. The fruit for dal Forno's Amarone, which shows even more intensity and complexity, is dried for around three months, and is exclusively made from vines more than ten years old. The Vigna Seré has dense plum and cherry fruit flavors with chocolate and coffee, and is only made in the very best years. It routinely achieves high scores and plaudits from wine critics. The wines are initially fermented in stainless steel before undergoing 36 months aging in new oak barriques. The Amarone also undergoes a continued, slow fermentation for around 18 months.

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