Allegrini
Cesari
Fratelli Zeni
Masi
Guerrieri Rizzardi
Zenato
Zeni
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Masi 1999 Amarone Classico
is a blend of corvina, rondinella, and molinara grapes,
which are dried in the open air for several months.
The grapes weigh 35-40% less at pressing, than when they were originally picked.
This concentrated must makes for an incredibly rich and intense wine.
Fermentation intially occurs in large Slavonian oak barrels.
Masi Amarone Classico has prominent rasinesque qualities with very, very smooth tannins.
This is one Amarone that can be enjoyed young, because of its smooth tannins,
but I suspect it will become more interesting as the years pass.
Retail price $40. Tasted October 5, 2003.
Enjoyable now and a gem for the future earning two out of three  .
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Cesari 1999 Mara Ripasso
is one of the best ripasso I've ever tasted.
Ripassos, if you recall, are wines made by pressing
Valpolicella wine through the Amarone remains, forcing more juice out of the Amarone pumice or by
placing fermented wine in a cask with the Amarone lees.
This process gives the wine flavors similar to that of a young Amarone.
Cesari Mara Ripasso is a perfect of example of how this process can turn a simple wine into a rich,
rasinesque, extracted, wine with velvety tannins. Everything about this ripasso is intensified.
Retail price $12. Tasted May 15, 2003. We give this wine three  .
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Cesari 1998 Amarone Classico
Bright, dried fruit flavors, classic of the Amarone style, greet you on the palate.
Then sultry, brooding tannins sweep in to add structure to the overall balance of the wine.
The lighter style fruit has notes of raspberries and roses.
Classic acidity allows this wine to be an excellent accompaniment to
rich foods and fatty cuts of meat.
A few more years in your cellar will prove advantageous.
Retail price $40. Tasted August 22, 2003.
Classic style and bright flavors earn this Amarone two out of three .
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Cesari 1997 Amarone "Il Bosco"
An elegant, rich, interesting, representation of Amarone.
Dried, rasinesque flavors, flirt with ripe, dense black fruits.
The tannins and acidity are balanced to the fruit flavors.
The mid-palate is interesting with roasted, smoky flavors,
as the finish shows a distinct green olive spark.
Very drinkable now, but will continue to improve for at least a decade.
Retail price $80. Tasted August 22, 2003.
Classic Amarone with interesting notes of dried fruit and olives,
earning three out of a possible three
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Guerrieri Rizzardi Soave Classico DOC 2002
is lovely and classic.
It is floral, honey'ed, with hints of white peaches and minerals.
It is very smooth and light, yet rich on the mid-palate.
The finish has a snap of acidity that is asset usually found in Soave Classicos.
Pair this wine with fish, chicken, salads, and vegtable dishes.
Retail price $9. Tasted September 9, 2003. Light and classic worthy of one  .
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Fratelli Zeni 1997 Amarone della Valpolicella
Imagine walking into a potting shed brimming with the drying flora of a summer garden.
Along the walls are all sorts of aromatic gems, flowers, cherries,
tomatoes, herbs, large tobacco leaves, and berries.
Zeni Amarone is liquid potting shed.
Fill a bowl full of dried cherries, add a few dried blackberries and blueberries,
add some sun dried tomatoes, and then top it off with a pinch of dried flowers and herbs.
The dried black and wild cherry flavors were very, very pronounced on the mid-palate,
while saddle leather and tobacco flavors bring on the finish.
The acidity and tannins really bite you back, but as you adjust to the high acid content, the lovely dried flavors unfold.
This wine is extremely interesting and can be enjoyed now, but a patient collector would be very well rewarded.
Retail price $30. Tasted August 20, 2003. One star for now and two for the patient .
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Fratelli Zeni Soave Classico 2000
is a step up in quality from many Soaves I've tasted.
The nose is very flora from the 85% Garganega.
On the palate, the wine is rich in flavors such as melon, honey, green apple, and grapefruit.
The acidity gives this wine a crisp, clean balance.
The finish dazzles your tongue a little.
Retail price is $9. Tasted August 20, 2003. Solid little thirst quencer at one .
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Allegrini 1999 La Grola is a fine example of how
wines from the Valpolicella regions can be rich and enjoyable.
The wine is very structured with dense black cherries, earth, and a touch of smoke.
The fruit is ample enough to pour a glass and enjoy on its own.
The tannins and acidity are perfect for any hearty meal, yet not so over powering that the wine must
consumed with food.
Retail price $18. Tasted February 3, 2003. We give this wine one .
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Zenato Ripassa 2000
is a blend of 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese and 5% Molinara.
The fermented wine is added to barrels that contains the lees from Recioto and/or Amarone.
This gives the wine a wonderful body and raisin like richness.
I am a big fan of ripassos and consider this wine one of the best ones I've tried.
This wine gives the fruity flavor benefits of a young Amarone without the huge tannins.
Hints of licorice, smoke, vanilla, tobacco, rasins, and cassis.
This is a full bodied wine to be served with a full bodied meal.
Retail price $20. Tasted March 22, 2003. Great example of a Ripassa earning two .
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