Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (1964)

About this wine

The 1964 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico presents a deep garnet color, indicative of its maturity. On the nose, it offers a complex bouquet featuring dried plums, cherries, and morello cherries, complemented by notes of nuts, tea leaves, licorice, and spices. The palate reveals flavors of red berries softened by velvety vanilla notes, achieving a perfect balance with its acidity and tannins. This wine is renowned for its extraordinary longevity, maintaining elegance and complexity over decades. Produced in the heart of Valpolicella, it showcases the traditional appassimento method, where grapes are dried for about 120 days to concentrate flavors before fermentation, followed by aging in large Slavonian oak barrels for six years, resulting in a wine of remarkable depth and character.

About the grape

Corvina Veronese and Rondinella are two grape varieties native to Italy's Veneto region, particularly the Valpolicella area. Corvina, often the dominant grape in Amarone wines, is known for its sour cherry flavors and high acidity, contributing to the wine's structure. Rondinella, valued for its resistance to diseases and consistent yields, adds fresh, herbal notes. Both grapes have thick skins, making them ideal for the appassimento process, where they are dried to concentrate sugars and flavors, a key step in producing Amarone wines.

Quick facts

• 🍷 The 1964 vintage of Bertani's Amarone della Valpolicella Classico was aged for over 20 years in cask and more than 10 years in bottle, resulting in a wine with remarkable complexity and longevity.
• 🌰 This vintage exhibits an intense garnet red color and a rich bouquet featuring notes of dried fruits like hazelnut and plum, along with hints of tobacco, cocoa, and leather.
• 🍄 On the palate, the 1964 Amarone offers spicy flavors with a lasting taste that recalls truffle and almond, showcasing its depth and elegance.
• ☀️ The 1964 vintage was characterized by abundant spring rainfall, followed by a dry summer and a pleasant, dry October, contributing to the wine's balanced profile.
• 🍇 Bertani's Amarone is produced using the appassimento method, where carefully selected grape bunches are dried for about 120 days, concentrating their sugars and flavors.

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.