Wine Details

Tenuta Santa Maria Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG

In Italian, the name Amarone literally means "Great Bitter," and was actually coined in 1936 within the very cellars of the Villa Mosconi in reference to a wine the Bertani family had been producing under the name "Recioto Secco," (Dry Recioto) to distinguish from the much sweeter Veronese Recioto also produced using the "apassimento" technique. This Amarone is the most intense of the Tenuta Santa Maria wines, with its characteristic aromas and complexity. The wine is ruby red in color with garnet reflections, and the impact of cherry preserves, spices, and dried rose petals lend complexity and elegance to the nose. Warm and subtle on the palate, it presents an important structure and high alcohol content, balanced by velvety tannins and bright acidity and freshness.

Region:

Producer:

Tenuta Santa Maria

Classification:

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG

Variety:

75% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 15% Corvinone

Number of bottles produced:

20,000 bottles

Production area:

Arbizzano di Negrar (Verona)

Altitude:

150-200 meters (492-656 feet) a.s.l.

Age of vines:

29 years

Yield:

4,000 kg/ha

Training:

Guyot

Vinification:

The finest hand-selected grapes dry for 4-5 months on bamboo and wooden mats in the estate's historic chamber (with natural air circulation) until they reach desired concentration of sugars (when they've lost 40-50% of original weight). The dried fruit is pressed and undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation with daily punch downs

Refining:

Long period in large oak barrels of malolactic fermentation and an additional 4+ years of aging; after bottling at least 6 months refining before release

Alcohol content:

15%

pH level:

3.52

Acidity:

6.04 g/L

Soil:

Primarily clay with deeper calcareous layers

Time of harvest:

Mid-September

Harvest:

Manual

Recent press reviews

94

Tenuta Santa Maria Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG 2019

James Suckling (94)- "A deep and complex wine with aromas of raspberries, bay leaves, leather, black pepper and smoke. The full-bodied palate shows velvety tannins, zesty acidity, a savory character and umami length. Drink or hold."

94

Tenuta Santa Maria Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG 2019

Vinous Media (94)- "The 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is hauntingly dark in the glass, slowly evolving with nuances of dark chocolate and dried blueberries complemented by hints of gravel dust and dried roses. It is round and juicy in style with vividly ripe red berry fruits elevated by cooling acidity as a collection of fine tannins adds form toward the close. This finishes long and mentholated, wickedly fresh, leaving a subtle blackberry twang and tinge of spice. Savory yet harmonious."

94

Tenuta Santa Maria Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG 2018

Falstaff Magazine (94)- "Medium bright ruby red in colour with subtle brightening on the rim. Intense aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, plum, dried fig and candied orange on the nose, with a cinnamon and clove finish. Very fruit driven on the palate, velvety, juicy and balanced, with grippy tannins and a fruity finish. "