Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (1967)
SommeliAI Insights
A remarkable 1967 Amarone with complex aromas of dried fruits, spices, and chocolate, offering a velvety texture and enduring finish.
About this wine
This 1967 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico from Bertani presents a bright garnet red color with an orange rim, indicative of its age. The nose is complex, featuring multi-layered notes of cinchona bark, dried porcini mushrooms, pickled cherry, smoke, and dark chocolate. On the palate, it is surprisingly fresh and vivid, with lively acidity that imparts tension, complemented by fine-meshed tannins. The wine lingers for a very long time, providing an experience that reflects its meticulous production process, including the traditional appassimento method where grapes are dried for about 120 days to concentrate flavors. This vintage showcases the remarkable aging potential of Amarone wines, offering a harmonious balance between richness and elegance.
About the grape
Corvina Veronese and Rondinella are two key grape varieties from Italy's Valpolicella region, traditionally used in producing Amarone wines like the 1967 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico. Corvina Veronese, often the dominant grape, is known for its sour cherry flavors and contributes body and structure to the wine. Rondinella, valued for its high yields and disease resistance, adds fresh, herbal notes. Both grapes have thick skins, making them ideal for the appassimento process, where they are air-dried to concentrate sugars and flavors, a technique essential in crafting Amarone wines.
Quick facts
- 🍷 The 1967 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is renowned for its exceptional longevity, maintaining remarkable freshness and complexity even after decades.
- 🪵 This vintage was aged for seven years in large Slavonian oak barrels, contributing to its distinctive flavor profile.
- 🍫 The wine exhibits a complex bouquet with notes of dried plum, hazelnut, black truffle, walnut, and chocolate.
- 🍇 Bertani's Amarone is produced using the traditional 'appassimento' method, where grapes are partially dried to concentrate sugars and flavors.
- 🏞️ The 1967 vintage is considered a benchmark for Amarone wines, showcasing the potential for aging and the unique characteristics of the Valpolicella region.
Palate profile
Producer
Bertani Winery, established in 1857 by brothers Giovan Battista and Gaetano Bertani in Quinto di Valpantena, Italy, is renowned for its pioneering contributions to Italian winemaking. Gaetano, having studied under French viticulturist Jules Guyot, introduced innovative techniques that elevated the quality of their wines. In 1958, Bertani produced its first Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, a style that has since become emblematic of the region. The winery's commitment to excellence was recognized in 2023 when it was named Winery of the Year by Gambero Rosso.
