Made with organically grown grapes, this opens with aromas of violet, dark-skinned fruit and new leather. The savory, balanced palate offers dried black cherry, star anise and black pepper alongside fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2029.

2016 La Dama Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Veneto, Italy
Gabriele and Miriam Dalcanele are first-generation winemakers who established La Dama in 2006 and whose love for the land is evident in each and every one of their cuvées. They have a special affinity for Amarone, the majestic, powerful wine of the Veneto made from dried grapes. Their distinctive Amarone is crafted only from grapes harvested in vineyards that are more than 20 years old based on their belief that mature vines produce more concentrated fruits which bring forth wines of great power and longevity.

The La Dama property includes 16 hectares of land, 10 hectares of which are vineyards located in two parts of Valpolicella Classico: Negrar and Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella. These relatively small holdings allow the Dalcaneles to lavish plenty of attention on their vines. The area is enriched with spring water that enhances the fertility of the valley. Soothing summer winds, coming from Monti Lessini, cool down the temperature at night, allowing the grapes to develop vibrant acidity. The property became certified organic in 2015.

Grapes for the Amarone wines are harvested from the end of September through the beginning of October. They are hand-sorted, placed in 6kg crates, and are transported to traditional drying rooms with no forced ventilation, where they stay for 90-100 days and lose 40% of their original weight. They undergo a slow fermentation, one part of the grapes in steel vats and one part in 500ml French oak barrels for 30 days, where pump-overs occur daily. After fermentation the wine is aged in 255L French oak barrels for 14 months, followed by 18 months in 1500L Italian oak vats and 1 additional year in the bottle before release. Approximately 5000 bottles are produced per year. The blend is 70% Corvina, 15% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone, and 5% Molinara.