Ca la Bionda. Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Amarone Classico della Valpolicella DOCG
Grapes: Corvina (70%), Corvinone (20%), Rondinella (10%)

An epic vintage, powerful espresso and fig laced forest fruit.  An unusual line of purity, complexity and freshness.  An Amarone to drink. 16.5%

Ca' la Bionda producer page

Amarone is the original ‘appassimento’, a system developed when full ripeness was unusual and by drying the grapes Valpolicella morphed into a full, smooth, irresistible red wine.  Today, nature is more generous and the only excuse to dry the fruit is to obtain the ‘appassimento’ flavours.  Amarone made from overly ripe fruit loses its freshness and tastes sweeter.
In 2015, Alessandro made the radical decision to pick the grapes for Amarone early, the skins were a little thicker (better for a healthy drying period), acidity (freshness) a little higher and sugar lower (this is fermented dry, and the alcohol is not lower).  Alessandro wanted to replicate a style he remembered and loved, it worked!  Hand-picked loose bunches, a shorter drying period on wooden trays before a low-temperature, winter fermentation.  3 years in botti*, then bottled unfiltered.