“Villa Rizzardi” Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG 2020

Guerrieri Rizzardi | Veneto
Guerreri Rizzardi Az. Agr. | Strada Campazzi 2 | IT 37011 Bardolino | Italien

03242620 · 0,75 l · 65,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

The Rizzardi family has been cultivating the hills of Pojega in the heart of Negrar since 1649. What began as a vineyard became, over generations, a place where landscape and wine become inseparable – the famous Giardino, the Teatro di Verzura, the villa itself. From the south-facing plots of this historic cru comes an Amarone Riserva that is only produced in vintages deemed worthy of the family. However, the fact that 2020 is one of them is anything but self-evident. Because 2020 was a testing year. Sunny spring, heavy summer rains, heat and coolness in constant alternation – valpolicella demanded experience and sensitivity. The old Corvinone vines in Pojega in particular, late-ripening and deeply rooted in the chalky clay, produced grapes of unusual concentration from the climatic contradiction. On its centenary, the Consorzio spoke of wines with "strong personality and remarkable balance" – at Villa Rizzardi, this hits the nail on the head.

Dried in the historic fruttai of Pojega and matured in French oak, the Riserva 2020 develops a dark, almost meditative intensity: dried cherry, liquorice, damp undergrowth, a hint of tobacco. The acidity is livelier than in warmer vintages, almost nervous – this is precisely the signature of 2020: not an opulent gesture, but concentrated tension, carried by tannins that demand patience and promise depth. An Amarone that understands: great wines do not come from simple years – but from the ability of a house to give a concise face to the complex. SUPERIORE.DE

"A vibrant wine with aromas of tomatoes, blood oranges, red cherries and sweet spices. Velvety on the palate, with citrus flavors, energetic acidity and firm, smooth tannins. Medium- to full-bodied. Chalky finish." James Suckling

"The Amarone Classico della Valpolicella Riserva 2020 flows from the glass with a wildly fresh bouquet of crushed black cherries, orange peel, sweet sage and wet stone. It is surprisingly fresh and tangy, with a cascade of rosy flowers and bright red berry fruit accompanied by a sour citrus note. The finish is long and slightly tannic, leaving a tart aftertaste that tantalises the palate." Vinous