The 2019 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico comes from the family that Gambero Rosso named Italy's Winery of the Year in its Vini d'Italia 2027 guide. The Tommasis have made wine at Pedemonte in Valpolicella Classica since 1902, and this is the wine the house is built on.
The grapes come from two hillside crus, La Groletta above Lake Garda and the terraced Conca d'Oro: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and a little Oseleta. After harvest they dry on traditional arele racks for at least 110 days, losing around half their weight, before a slow winter fermentation. The wine then spends three years in large Slavonian oak casks and a further year in bottle. 15% alcohol.
Black cherry, dried plum and blackberry, crushed stone and violets, then cocoa, leather, tobacco and sweet spice. Full-bodied and velvety, with lively acidity holding the richness in check and a long, savoury finish of dried fruit and spice.
95 points, Vinous. 93 points, James Suckling.
Ben’s Recommendation:
A benchmark Classico Amarone at a fair price. Decant for an hour if opening now, or cellar ten to fifteen years. Braised beef cheek, osso buco, game, or a wedge of aged Parmigiano at the end of the meal.
