1999 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
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Tasting notes
Corvina 75%, Rondinella 20%, Molinara 5%. Aged in 100% new barriques. Very dark ruby with very narrow orange-tinged rim. Very elegant and at the same time rich. Much less alcoholic than 1997. Dark fruit and much less passito mouldy character than in the 1997. Hints of dark chocolate and laurel and liquorice and talcum powder. Hints of oak. Elegant, round, full attack, immediately followed by acidity and powdery, but surprisingly powerful, tannin. Ends clean but also quite restrained. Seems dry (3.7 g/l RS ) also due to tannic impression and bitter laurel impression on the finish. Needs food! (WS)
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 1999 Amarone is reminiscent of the 2001 and the 2004 even if it doesn't quite have the same depth of those vintages. Fresh, perfumed aromatics are layered nicely with bright red fruits in this relatively delicate, high-toned Amarone.
The impressive 1999 Amarone della Valpolicella is from a vintage which was anything but easy, but apparently created few problems here. Rich, jammy, and spicy aromas are followed by full and voluminous flavors, broad and warmly alcoholic with abundant super-ripe fruit and notes of chocolate, solid but voluptuous and extremely long on the finish. Drink: 2005-2020. Importer: Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620