TN: Amarone in the house. Pasqua, Righetti.

Ciao Berserkers,

I’m “representing” for the Veneto.

  1. 2008 Righetti, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, “Capitel de’ Roari”. 14.5 % alcohol.

A Xmas gift, but Google reveals a price of anywhere from $25 - $35 a bottle depending upon whom you get it from. I go back a long way with Righetti, and to be honest never thought much of them, so expectations were low. However, the wine beat my expectations by a mile, and was quite tasty. A dark blackberry/black cherry color, youthful, vivid. A nice nose of black cherry, spice, plum, a touch of raisininess, nice. On the palate bright, vibrant black fruits, Veneto spice, drinks medium bodied for an Amarone, good acidity, nice spicy finish. Overall a very delicious wine, but one more like a good Ripasso in depth of flavor than a real Amarone. Grade: solid B.

  1. 2007 Famiglia Pasqua, Amarone, 15% alcohol. About $28 on sale in Joisey.

I bought this at Xmas time while visiting mi famiglia in New Jersey. Another youthful Amarone, I liked this even better than the Righetti. It had a bit more of everything than the Righetti, more depth of flavor and a more expressive and typical bouquet. The color is very dark, almost black. The nose has penetrating amarena cherry fruit, Veneto spice, slight bitter chocolate, it’s warm and inviting. On the palate it is delicious, with blackberry/black cherry fruit, spice, rich, round, no tannin, good acidity, long finish of raisiny cherry/spice. A more modern and approachable style of Amarone, the back label says it spends 18 months in small oak barrels, but does not say whether new or old, and I did not detect the “vanilla” the label proclaims, which is fine by me. A very satisfying Amarone. Grade: B+.

Ciao, dc.

Thanks for this post, Dave - I’m searching for some Amarone reccs and now I’ve got a couple of solid QPRs!