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Begali, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Monte Ca' Bianca, 2015

"From a small winery based in San Pietro in Cariano, this riserva is sourced from the Cengia and Monte Ca’ Bianca hills. After 100 days of appassimento, it is aged in French oak barrels for 40 months. Focused on balsamic notes with a mint-chocolate character and cherry fruit, the texture is grainy yet the tannins are sweet and dense over the palate, with firm acid balancing fruit concentration. Savoury and toasty, it finishes with lingering liquorice and tobacco. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040" 95/100, Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter May 2021

From a blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, all grown in the single Monte Ca' Bianca vineyard, and all aged in French barriques, 1/3 new, for 40 months.

The Begali family - father Lorenzo, son Giordano and daughter Tiliana - farm 10 hectares just east of Lake Garda. Although small, this is a top Valpolicella estate, having won numerous Tre Bicchieri awards in Gambero Rosso, but with very fair pricing. We offer two examples of the famed Amarone style, made from selected bunches of grapes dried in the autumn to concentrate the sugars and dry extract. In this country Amarone is often drunk to accompany hard cheese at the end of a meal (and it's great with well-aged cheddar) but in Verona you find restaurants serving it by the carafe to accompany red meats. It's a stunning and unique style.