Amarone della Valpolicella Docg Riserva '1888' 2012
Italy, Valpolicella
Description
Beautiful garnet-red with bricking. Nose of jammy black fruits with graphite and spice notes. Generous, ample and finely oaked attack on the palate. Substantial length driven by fine, tightly-wound tannins. Drink with grilled red meats.
Awards
Gold International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC)
90 pts Gilbert & Gaillard Rating
Alcohol
16.5%
Analytical data
dry
Vinification
Vinification is carried out sometime between the end of December and the end of February (depending on the vintage), using roller crushers and with partial destemming. The fermentation takes place in 2600-litre vats; the temperature, raised initially to 10 °C, stabilizes at around 15 °C till the end of the process. The maceration is very long: it lasts over 40 days, with 1 délestage (aeration of the fermenting juice followed by re-soaking of the solid matter) every other day.
Maturation
In June or July, after 2 rackings, the clear wine is transferred into 225 - or at most 500-litre oak barrels (20% of which are new).After one year an analytical and sensory examination determines whether or not the wine can become “Riserva” according to our strict quality standards. The wine remains in barrel for a few more years and subsequently in stainless steel tanks for six months for the final assemblage. It then matures in bottle for at least one year.
