“Monte Lodoletta” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2011 late release

Romano Dal Forno | Veneto
Az. Agr. Dal Forno Romano | Località Lodoletta 1 | IT 37031 Cellore d'Illasi

03292111 · 0,75 l · 460,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping6 units available
Limitation of 1 articles per customer

There is no announcement calendar for this wine. No planned release date, no market strategy. Marco Dal Forno has opened his treasure trove – and pulled out the 2011. That's all you need to know. Romano Dal Forno makes his decisions in the vineyard, not in the cellar. Only vines over ten years old provide grapes for the Amarone – only the best sites on Monte Lodoletta. After the harvest, three months of appassimento in the drying rooms of the well-ventilated Lodoletta: the berries lose up to 40 per cent of their weight, what remains is concentration in its purest form. Fermentation in steel tanks with computer-controlled pump-overs, at least 24 months in new barriques, then years – many years – in the bottle. The vintage itself was full of surprises: started cool, exploded in August, cooled down for the harvest.

What this sequence leaves behind is the contradiction that makes great Amarone possible in the first place: heat concentration and freshness in one glass. Dark as ink. Plum, coffee, leather, blackcurrant, a hint of dried fig. Power and silkiness on the palate without compromise – and an acidity that carries the long, spicy finish to the end. Who knows when the treasure trove will open again. SUPERIORE.DE

"Deep dark ruby with violet tones. Rich aromas of milk coffee, precious wood, rich cassis and black cherry on the nose, with elegant earthy tones and a subtle aftertaste of alcohol. Rich and with warm fruit on the palate, shows tight, earthy tannins, also good juiciness, voluminous, slightly alcoholic, slightly tangy on the finish, can and should still age." Falstaff

"The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Lodolette is darkly alluring, with a haunting bouquet of incense, exotic spice, clove, balsamic-tinged black cherries, sage and ashen stone that captivates the senses. It’s velvety in feel, with depths of ripe red and blue fruits complicated by nuances of cocoa and blood orange. A bump of cooling acidity keeps the experience fresh, even as a staining of primary concentration drenches the palate, leaving a web of fine-grained tannins and a subtle citrus twang to linger incredibly long. The 2011 is in a beautiful place, more vibrant than anticipated and seriously complex. This is a stunning performance. The 2011 was the first vintage in which Dal Forno fermented their Amarone below one gram per liter of residual sugar. It was matured in 100% new French oak." Vinous

"A dark, deep and super-complex wine, profound in its earthy aromas of coffee, leather, prunes, milk chocolate, game and meat, enhanced by dried figs and toast. Lush and powerful, with a smooth palate, a full body and zesty acidity that’s slightly lifted in the finish. Ripe, velvety tannins with a chewy aftertaste." James Suckling