AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO ALDEGHEI 2009 16% 75cl

This highly prestigious wine is produced exclusively from hillside vineyards, whose finest grapes are left to dry in cases after being harvested. The wine undergoes a long ageing process before being served, first in oak barrels and then in bottles in underground cellars. Grape Varieties Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, other indigenous or recommended varieties to finish. Vineyard (geographical position and characteristics) The vineyards are situated in the northwest part of the arc of hills in the province of Verona, in the classic Valpolicella area. The average age is 20 years and reaches 35 years for some Corvina vines. The hilly Neolithic calcareous soil is thin and stony. Vintage (time and method) At the beginning of October, when slightly over-ripe. The grapes are harvested manually, selecting the finest bunches for subsequent raisining. Vinification After careful raisining, the grapes undergo a soft destemming and crushing process at the beginning of February; the must and marc are then fermented for a long time. Successively, after several rackings, the wine is transferred to special large oak barrels for an ageing process which lasts more than 3 years. A small part, about 15%, is aged in barriques: when added back to the wine in the large barrels it transmits its special characteristic hints. Finally, the Amarone is bottled but is only released for sale 6-8 months later when the ageing process has finished. Amarone & Cuisine Ruby red with garnet tones. On the nose shows tertiary oaky and nutty notes and hints of cranberry and marasca cherry. Full mouthed and round with a good structure and a tannic finale with aftertaste of cherry and marasca under spirit. Excellent with roasts and game, also ideal with very mature and/or piquant cheeses. We recommend uncorking the bottle a few hours before drinking or "oxygenation" with a decanter. Serve at 18-20°C.