Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta (2011)
SommeliAI Insights
A rich and full-bodied Amarone with deep flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, and spice.
About this wine
The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella 'Monte Lodoletta' by Romano Dal Forno is a powerful red wine from Italy's Veneto region. It offers a complex bouquet of ripe black fruits, including cherries and plums, complemented by notes of dark chocolate, licorice, and subtle spices. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and dense, with well-integrated tannins and a velvety texture. The finish is long and harmonious, leaving lingering impressions of fruit and spice. This Amarone showcases the traditional appassimento method, where grapes are dried to concentrate flavors, resulting in its distinctive richness.
About the grape
In the Valpolicella region of Italy, the 2011 Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta is crafted using a blend of traditional grape varieties. Corvina, the primary grape, is known for its sour cherry flavors and high acidity, contributing to the wine's structure. Rondinella, a high-yielding grape, adds fresh, herbal notes and enhances the wine's color. Oseleta, once nearly extinct, was revived in the 1980s and brings deep color and tannins, adding complexity. Croatina, also known as Bonarda in some regions, is used sparingly to introduce additional tannins and color. These grapes are traditionally dried before fermentation, a process called appassimento, which concentrates their flavors and sugars, resulting in the rich profile characteristic of Amarone wines.
Quick facts
- 🍷 The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta by Romano Dal Forno is renowned for its exceptional intensity and richness, offering a complex bouquet of black fruit, prune, dried rose bud, cherry liqueur, spice, and tarry asphalt.
- 🍇 This wine is crafted using the traditional appassimento method, where grapes are dried for about 90 days to concentrate flavors, resulting in a full-bodied and complex profile.
- 🌞 The 2011 vintage experienced a unique growing season, starting cool and culminating in a mid-August heatwave, leading to a wine that balances fresh acidity with deep concentration.
- 🏅 Romano Dal Forno, inspired by the legendary Giuseppe Quintarelli, shifted his family's production focus from quantity to quality, elevating their wines to international acclaim.
- 🌟 The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta has received high praise from critics, including a 97-point rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, highlighting its exceptional quality and aging potential.
Palate profile
Producer
Romano Dal Forno founded his eponymous winery in 1983 in Val d'Illasi, Italy, after being inspired by renowned winemaker Giuseppe Quintarelli. Combining traditional methods with innovative techniques, Dal Forno introduced high-density vine planting and advanced grape drying systems to enhance wine quality. The estate spans 34 hectares, cultivating indigenous varieties like Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta, and Croatina. Today, the winery is managed by Romano's son, Marco, continuing the family's commitment to producing exceptional Valpolicella and Amarone wines.
