Dal Forno Romano Amarone Della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta 2016 (750ml)

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Producer	Dal Forno Romano
Country	Italy
Region	Veneto
Subregion	Valpolicella
Varietal	Red Italian Blend,  Corvina
Vintage	2016
Sku	12438
Size	750ml

 

WA

95

V

98

In order to create this wine, the finest bunches of grapes are selected, after which a meticulous manual control is carried out to eliminate all grapes that do not meet the standards required. The selected grapes are then placed in plastic plateaux and are then left to rest for 90 days in large open rooms, where an innovative ventilation system helps maintain an elevated and thorough air flow.

Fermentation takes place in steel tanks at a controlled temperature of around 28°, which are equipped with a sophisticated computerized system which allows for automated punching for a period of around 15 days, including the final maceration which takes two days.

After decantation in the middle of January, the Amarone, which still contains some residual sugar, is placed into new barriques, where it begins a slow fermentation process which will last for a further 18 months. The total amount of time that it remains in the barriques is 36 months.

The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella is a sleeping giant, darkly alluring with dried violets, dusty black currants, shaved cedar and lifting hints of mint. This is sleek and cool-toned in feel—lifted yet intense and savory to the core, with masses of mineral-tinged dark red fruits and balsamic tones carried across a core of zesty acidity. The 2016 finishes tannic and long, clamping down hard on the palate and leaving a bitter primary concentration that lingers on and on. This is just a baby today and in need of serious cellaring, yet the potential is off the charts. Marco Dal Forno explains that he considered selling the 2018 before the 2016 to allow it to come fully into focus, which he already did with the 2017.

This wine is made with special vacuum technology that prevents contact with oxygen. The Dal Forno Romano 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta has developed nicely over the years to show savory smoky notes and a mineral tone of crushed stone or aspirin. This is a thickly concentrated effort with enormous volume and richness. The wood is elegantly integrated, although the tannins remain astringent. Those still need to be tamed (as much as is possible) with more time in bottle.