Romano Dal Forno, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2011

"The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta is an incredible wine that has magically managed to maintain the fresh acidity associated with the cooler part of the growing season. It also shows the inky black concentration and ripeness that is reflective of the hottest part of the summer. I am impressed by the tannic management, as the wine is silky and fine at this young stage; however, the underlying structure promises a long aging future, should you chose to put your bottle aside. Overall, this vintage is slightly more accessible and ready to drink if you don't have the patience for cellar aging." – Wine Advocate

"The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Lodolette is darkly alluring, with a haunting bouquet of incense, exotic spice, clove, balsamic-tinged black cherries, sage and ashen stone that captivates the senses. It’s velvety in feel, with depths of ripe red and blue fruits complicated by nuances of cocoa and blood orange. A bump of cooling acidity keeps the experience fresh, even as a staining of primary concentration drenches the palate, leaving a web of fine-grained tannins and a subtle citrus twang to linger incredibly long. The 2011 is in a beautiful place, more vibrant than anticipated and seriously complex. This is a stunning performance. The 2011 was the first vintage in which Dal Forno fermented their Amarone below one gram per liter of residual sugar. It was matured in 100% new French oak." – Neal Martin