Veneto is the most important wine region of north east Italy. It stretches west to Lake Garda and north to the alps. The hills of Valpolicella lie in the foothills of the Lessini Mountains and merge with Soave to the east towards Venice. There is now a strong band of producers who are producing top quality wines in these appellations, far removed from the thin insipid offerings found on the lower reaches of restaurant lists and in the supermarkets. From the shores of Lake Garda there are a few producers making elegant, concentrated Lugana wines.
Tasting notes: Intense ruby red in colour, with the characteristic Amarone perfumes of dried cherries, spicy and powerful which gives way to a wonderful fusion of concentrated fruit and fine, toasty oak that enhances a traditional style of wine. Allegrini’s modern approach ensures that the volatility which often characterises lesser Amarone is never found in his. Intense and powerful through to the end, with a hint of spiced, sour cherries on the finish.
Tasting notes: Between the Palazzo & La Grola, it's the La Grola that is certainly the more elegant and velvety of the two. Displaying multidimensional layering of fruit this vineyard is now producing the quality after almost 20yrs that made it Valpolicella's most fabled 'Crus'
Tasting notes: Enticing scents of chocolate, espresso, dark fruit, licorice and new leather emerge from the boisterous 2007 Palazzo della Torre. The fruit is sumptuous as always, but in 2007 Palazzo della Torre is not quite as approachable upon release as it usually is. Another year or two in bottle should help smooth some of the slightly rough edges that are present today. There is enough balance and elegance in the finish to suggest this will drink well for a number of years. Palazzo della Torre is made from 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese, all traditional Veneto grapes. Approximately 30% of the fruit is air-dried, Amarone-style. The fermenting juice from those grapes is added to the rest of the juice to give the wine an extra dimension of richness and body. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017.
Tasting notes: The Palazzo is produced using the 'ripasso' method. Well-structured, smooth and rounded, this wine is characterised by a long, elegant finish. Deep ruby red in colour, it has a delicious wild berry perfume, with flavour of raisins. The grapes Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Sangiovese from the Palazzo della Torre vineyard follow two different paths: 70 % of the grapes are vinified immediately after the harvest, the remaining percentage is dried until the end of December. At this point, the wine ferments again with the dried grapes.
This wine will age easily for 8 - 10 years.
Tasting notes: This sweet wine, deep ruby red in colour, has a spicy bouquet with hints of dried fruit and is full and velvety on the palate. It shares with Amarone the technique of 'appassimento', the natural drying of the grapes Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Molinara, yet it differs in that the fermentation process is interrupted before all the grape sugar can change into alcohol. This extraordinarily concentrated wine is named after the founder of the estate, Giovanni Allegrini, who chose it as his favourite.
Traditionally this wine is enjoyed with dry desserts, such as shortbread, cantucci (dry almond biscuits), sbrisolona (local crumb cake) but it is also ideal with strawberries and tropical fruits. Thanks to its outstanding roundness, it makes a perfect partner for some cheeses, especially a mild Gorgonzola.
Price: £35.95
Size: 50cl
Colour/style: Sweet
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Tasting notes: A medium-bodied wine with moderate alcohol content. Vibrant ruby red in colour, with a fresh cherry aroma.
Its aromatic qualities are at their peak when the wine is young, but it has the potential to age for 2-3 years.
Tasting notes: This bright wine is full and rich on the palate, with subtle cherry characters, sweet vanilla and dark chocolate, balanced well by smooth, round tannins. Supple and long with an intruiging bitter finish.
