La Giaretta Amarone della Valpolicella
La Giaretta Amarone della Valpolicella
Classico DOCG
100% Valpolicella blend: Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara ABV 15.5%
The region:
Prior to the unification of Italy, Veneto had been an independent state for over a thousand years, known as the Venetian Republic. The capital was, and still is Venice. Besides Italian, most of the inhabitants also speak Venetian. It is known for the valpolicella wines. The area in northeastern Italy in Veneto with rolling hills is the Valpolicella region – the name is thought to come from the Greek meaning ‘valley of many cellars’. It is the second largest producer of quality (DOC) wines.
The grape / Amarone WINE: Valpolicella
There’s a somewhat practical explanation as to why Amarone is one of Italy’s top red wines. After harvesting the Valpolicella grapes for ‘Tier 1’ Valpolicella Classico, they are immediately crushed and fermented. This is a light, high acid red wine; it generally sees no oak aging. By contrast, the fruit destined to become Amarone will be from older, more mature vines. Grapes are picked a bit later to ensure ripeness. Then, they are left all winter to dry into raisins. During the roughly 120 days that this occurs, the grapes will lose 30-40% of their weight. The result is intense concentration and a very high sugar content, which in turn translates into 15% or higher alcohol levels. A whole lot more fruit (2x as many grapes) goes into a bottle of Amarone than a bottle of Valpolicella. The drying process demands an investment of time and space on behalf of the winery. There are less than 12,000 acres in the world of the most important Valpolicella grape varieties–Corvina and Corvinone. Valpolicella also has a regulatory committee that protects the historic nature of the land around Verona. It means if a winery wants to plant a new vineyard, they’ll have to rip out an old vineyard to allocate space.
Expect bold aromas of cherry liqueur, black fig, carob, cinnamon, and plum sauce along with subtle notes of green peppercorn, chocolate, and crushed gravel dust. On the palate, Amarone wines often have medium-plus to high acidity balanced with high alcohol and flavors of black cherry, brown sugar, and chocolate. The older the wine, the more it will offer flavors of brown sugar, molasses, and fig. This is a wine that improves with age. It goes well with braised beef, juicy main courses and mature cheese. It is an excellent meditation wine.
The wine:
The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is obtained from the best grapes of every harvest. At least two years of aging and subsequent refinement in bottle result in a ruby red wine with an intense bouquet of cherries and preserved morello cherries in alcohol, with a robust body and a particularly well-balanced flavor. Cassis, dried plums, ripe black fruits. Rustic, full-bodied, great length.