Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ‘Cinque Stelle’

Country: Italy
Place of Origin: Veneto
Winery: Michele Castellani

Description: It can be matured for a further 12-15 years. Intense and dark ruby red. Bouquet is vinous, very rich of red berries and plums, coffee beans, bitter chocolate and spices (green/black pepper). The taste is extremely complex and pleasantly rich and dry, well-bodied with the right acidity. Full bodied, elegant and luscious wine, it has a marked, spicy, ethereal scent with a powerful, explosive fruit on the palate, which is, however, never unbalanced and it shows formidably fine texture and an extremely long finish.

Production: Amarone is obtained from carefully selected grapes, dried for a period of 3 -4 months in well-aired rooms. This brings an extraordinary concentration of sugar, tannins, extracts and glycerin. After that, grapes undergoes a soft pressing process and a low fermentation of must for over 40 days at controlled temperature (25 C.) with skins. Extremely long maceration (more than 40 days) with 2 remounts per week. 60% of the wine is matured in Slovenian oak barrels of 5000 L, whilst the remaining 40% is matured in French new oak barrels (barriques). Total maturation in wood lasts for 3 years. Further bottle maturation for 12 months before release. It can be matured for a further 12 - 15 years.

Food Combination: It is a perfect match to roast meat, game and poultry, grilled and braised meat, and seasoned, spicy cheeses. It is unrivaled when sipped in good company at the end of the meal.

Awards: ◆2007 Vintage *93 Points - Wine Spectator 2009