2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera Riserva

Love the dark fruit with cloves and spices. Full body, ripe and velvety tannins and a fresh finish. Fleshy and rich. Wonderful balance here. Drink now. Nov 2016, www.jamessuckling.com

Almost impenetrable deep ruby. Oak-dominated nose offers plenty of vanilla and sweet spice that push the ripe black cherry and prune aromas into the background. Then more vanilla in the mouth but with bright, juicy acidity and floral lift providing freshness and precision on the long rising finish. As always the Costasera Riserva, a wine dominated by its Oseleta presence (a grape variety that gives tannic, powerful wines), will need plenty of time to round out. A blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara and Oseleta. (15.5% alcohol) May 2017, www.vinous.com, Drink: 2021-2032

This is a beautiful wine by the technical winemaking team at Masi. The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Costasera opens to a midnight black appearance and thick concentration. On first nose, you really get a sense of the power and depth of this wine. The bouquet is redolent of dried blackberry and plum with spice, barbecue smoke and cured meat. The wine is textured and powerful in terms of mouthfeel with a thick coating of dark flavors that wrap thickly over the palate. Masi's Riserva Amarone shows great results in warm vintages like this. May 2017, www.robertparker.com, Drink: 2017-2030