About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Selected grapes come from Ca’ Rugate vineyards in the hills around Montecchia di Crosara, on gravel and limestone soils. Yield is 90 quintals per hectare.
Grapes
45% Corvina, 40% Corvinone and 15% Rondinella. The 2013 article emphasizes the exclusive use of native Veronese varieties.
Vinification
The grapes are hand-picked during the final two weeks of September and laid flat in small wooden boxes holding about 6 kg to maintain airflow. They dry gently in ventilated rooms for approximately 4–5 months, concentrating flavour, sweetness and colour. Crushing takes place in the winter after harvest. Once fermentation is complete, the wine proceeds to oak ageing.
Ageing
Approximately 25–30 months in oak barrels.
Technical data
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG. Approximately 15% alcohol by volume. Production is about 30,000 bottles, with 375 ml, 750 ml, 1,500 ml, 3,000 ml and 5,000 ml formats.
Tasting profile
Intense garnet red. Concentrated ripe blueberry, blackberry and cherry aromas are lifted by spicy oak. The palate is rich, full-bodied and complex, with balance and a persistent finish.
Serving and pairing
Serve initially at 17°C. Pair with char-grilled meats, mature cheeses or game. It is also positioned for special occasions, sharing at the end of a meal and meditation.
Vintage notes
The 2013 vintage was described in the winery’s post-event review as a terroir-driven Amarone shaped by native Veronese grapes and the traditional drying of fruit. Angelo Peretti highlighted orange peel, candied fruit, clove, dried flowers, hay, brined olives, smoke, iodine and salt, awarding 92/100. Mario Plazio found an ethereal, spicy, old-school profile of herbs and flowers and scored it 87/100. Gambero Rosso singled it out for elegance and a fresh, dynamic palate. Claudio Serraiotto emphasized complexity and elegance, with candied orange, potpourri, brined olives, clove, eucalyptus, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, liquorice and a saline, iodine-tinged close. The same article recalls the 2005 vintage as exceptionally successful.
