“Monte Lodoletta” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016 · MAGNUM in OWC

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

03292416 · 1,5 l · 530,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping3 units available
Limitation of 1 articles per customer

At the time, Marco Dal Forno initially held back his Amarone from the 2016 vintage – he released the 2017 vintage earlier because 2016 was not yet ready. At Dal Forno Romano, the wine determines the schedule. This is all the more true for the large formats: they are released three years after the 0.75-litre bottle – i.e. another three years later than an already later release. What this means for 2016 can be felt in the glass. Created under conditions that demand everything in the Val d'Illasi: three months of appassimento in the well-ventilated drying rooms of the Lodoletta, controlled fermentation in steel tanks with computer-controlled pump-overs, new barriques made from French and American wood, then the large format that requires hours of aeration – that needs hours of aeration before it begins to open.

Deep, dark, charged in the glass. The nose is cool and precise: dried violets, blackcurrant, cedar wood, mint, balsam, liquorice. Behind this is a structure that will last for decades. An intensity on the palate that is constantly changing: Tannins that cling, acidity that holds, a finish that is bitter-sweet and long. 2016 is not an accessible vintage. It is a great one. And in the magnum – after all these years – it sleeps even deeper. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark ruby red, rich. Initially a nose of cinnamon sticks, ripe blackberries, dark chocolate, wild berry jam, precious wood, dried violet blossom, very complex. Very polished on the palate, with an oily, great texture, comes in many layers, concentrated and yet not opulent, finishing on fine coconut, will mature excellently, infinitely long." Falstaff

"This dark and dense wine reveals itself slowly, with fragrant accents of tarry smoke, graphite, coffee liqueur and warm spices, before flavours of blackberry paste, plum cake, stemmy herbs and cocoa powder begin to unfold. This wine is tightly knit, with a core of grippy tannins that give it a compact feel today. Give this wine some time in the cellar or allow it to decant extensively to bring out its best." Wine Spectator

"The Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta 2016 takes the intensity of the wine to an almost unimaginable level. This is the magic of this winery, and without a doubt this wine occupies a category that makes it completely unique in the Italian wine scale. In this classic vintage, the wine is even richer, more powerful and more concentrated. This overall intensity also carries over to the tightly wound and firm tannins. Black fruits, baked plums, tobacco, soya sauce, grilled herbs and sweet spices are generously embedded in the wine's full-bodied texture." Wine Advocate

"The 2016, which was released after the 2017 vintage because it was decided that this dense and concentrated vintage would benefit from more time in the bottle, is fuller and broader in the shoulders than the 2017 Amarone. It has more of everything - body, concentration, tannin, richness, spice... And although it has a reduced note of petrol, its flavours are still very lively, carrying hints of wild black fruits and balsam from the glass. Already tantalising, its future looks very bright." Decanter

"Turquoise-coloured in the glass, almost rimless. Aromas of cloves, coconut, graphite, dark, lush blackberries, plums and cherries. Full-bodied with great fruit concentration and a super dense and velvety palate. Extremely rich but balanced by crisp acidity and thick but dynamic and chewy tannins. Amazing finish of salted chocolate. A super-strong Amarone with grace." James Suckling

"The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella is a sleeping giant, beckoning with dried violets, dusty blackcurrants, shaved cedar and a hint of mint. This wine is supple and cool to the touch, yet intense and savoury at its core, with an abundance of mineral-tinged dark red fruits and balsamic tones supported by a core of zesty acidity. The 2016 finishes tannic and long, gripping the palate firmly and leaving a bitter primary concentration that lingers. This wine is still a baby today and needs good cellaring, but its potential is obvious." Vinous