Tasting Notes

Symbol of the Valpolicella region, Amarone is among the most iconic red wines of Italy. Amarone is the result of a distinctive production method called ‘appassimento‘ (‘drying’) in which the dried grapes acquire greater concentration and favor the development of a rich, intense aromatic profile. The resulting wine is then fermented until it’s dry (for the sweet Recioto della Valpolicella the fermentation is stopped so that the natural sweetness remains in the wine). Amarone is a rich, heady, robust wine with 14 to 16 percent alcohol, that needs about ten years to mature and can age for 15 to 20 years or more.

At Costa Arente, the Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinalla grapes are grown using the traditional Pergola Veronese training system. They are harvested by hand between the end of September and the beginning of October, then placed on plastic trays to dry for a minimum period of 100 days in a large, thermo-conditioned room to ensure the right aeration, temperature and humidity. The process is called ‘appassimento’. At the end of this process, 3 to 4 months later, the grapes are partially shriveled, having lost 30% to 35% of their weight and their juice, and ready for vinification.

Each bunch is carefully selected before being destemmed: this ensures that only the best grapes are selected to become Amarone. Soft pressing and vinification occurs in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature of 25°C which follows a slow maceration of 30 days, of which 12 in cold temperature, with 3 punch downs per day to facilitate the extraction of polyphenols present in the skins. The wine is then racked into oak barrels of different size (25 hl and 5 hl), towards the end of May, where it ages for more than 36 months. Before the bottling the two parts are blended together.

Costa Arente Amarone has an intense ruby red color with a garnet rim. On the nose, it shows a complex bouquet with a combination of red and black fruit such as sour cherries and blackcurrant along with spicy notes of licorice, tobacco and black pepper. On the palate, it shows great elegance with intense notes of plums and vanilla. The bright acidity is well balanced with the firm tannic structure and warm alcohol. Long lingering finish and great concentration and complexity. Hearty Amarone is definitely a wine for the wintertime: accompany it with full-flavored roasts, games or mature cheeses. Decant.

– 2015 rated 95 LM, 91 WS, 93 JS

– 2016 rated 92 Vinous, 93 JS, 93 LM

Winery	Costa Arente
Region	Veneto
Varietal	50% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 15% Rondinella, 15% other red grapes
Location of Vineyards	Grezzana (Valpantena)
Altitude	820-1150 ft asl
Soil	Loamy, calcareous
Type of Cultivation	Pergola Veronese
Vinification	Harvested by hand then placed on plastic trays to dry for a minimum of 100 days in large, thermo-conditioned rooms to ensure the right temperature and humidity. At the end of the ‘appassimento’ the grapes are vinified in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature and slow maceration for 30 days (12 of which at cold temperature).
Aging	36 months in Slavonian oak barrels of different sizes (25hl and 5hl). The two parts are blended together before bottling.
Alcohol Content	16.5%
Oenologist	Giovanni Casati, Riccardo Cottarella (consulting enologist)