Wine merchants and brothers Gaetano and Giovan Battista Bertani founded Bertani Winery in 1857. By 1870 they undertook a project to bring recognition to the Valpolicella Valpantena wine district in Verona. This Amarone was produced from grapes sourced from the Tenuta Novare vineyards at Arbizzano di Negrar in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica area. The soils within the 550 acres of vineyards are calcareous-marl and dedicated exclusively to the production of Amarone.

The blend is 80% Corvina Veronese and 20% Rondinella grapes aged for 7 years in large Slavonian oak barrels. This wine is traditionally produced in the traditional appassimento style, with partially dried grapes. After harvest, grapes are taken to a drying room and laid in a single layer on bamboo racks. They are air dried for approximately 100 days to concentrate the complexity of the wine.

This is one of those fantastic bottlings of old school styled Amarone. It is the kind that you fell in love with and fondly remember decades ago. It was a delight to experience this Amarone with 11 years of age. The edges of the wine are mahogany with mature aromas of dried flowers, figs and herbs. This wine speaks to you with caramelized citrus fruits and orange zest intertwined with savory accents of vanilla and brown crystallized sugar. The delicate acids keep this wine fresh through the finish. The tannins are ripe, mature and rounded with a silky definition. It is approachable now or for a special occasion.

By W Peter Hoyne