Calcarole Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (1997)
SommeliAI Insights
A rich and complex Amarone with deep flavors of dark fruits and spices.
About this wine
The 1997 Calcarole Amarone della Valpolicella Classico from Guerrieri Rizzardi offers a deep garnet color, indicating its maturity. On the nose, it presents aromas of dried cherries, plums, and a hint of tobacco. The palate is rich and full-bodied, showcasing flavors of blackberries, dark chocolate, and subtle spices. The tannins are well-integrated, providing a smooth texture that leads to a long, lingering finish. This wine is a testament to the traditional appassimento method, where grapes are dried to concentrate their flavors, resulting in a wine of remarkable depth and complexity.
About the grape
Corvina is the primary grape in Amarone della Valpolicella, known for its thick skin and high acidity, making it ideal for the appassimento drying process that concentrates flavors. Rondinella, a descendant of Corvina, contributes to the blend with its high sugar content and resistance to disease, enhancing the wine's complexity. Corvinone, once thought to be a clone of Corvina but now recognized as a distinct variety, adds structure and spicy notes to the wine. Barbera and Sangiovese, though more commonly associated with other Italian regions, are occasionally included in Amarone blends to introduce additional acidity and fruitiness.
Quick facts
- 🏞️ The Calcarole vineyard, where this Amarone is produced, is a terraced site located above Villa di Rovereti in Negrar, Valpolicella Classico, known for its particularly warm climate, stony soil, and southwest exposure.
- 🏆 The 2009 vintage of Calcarole Amarone was the first Amarone to be awarded 'Best Wine of the Year' by Gambero Rosso, a significant accolade in the Italian wine industry.
- 🍷 Unlike many Amarones crafted for post-dinner contemplation, Guerrieri Rizzardi designs their Calcarole Amarone to be enjoyed with dinner, balancing power and concentration with freshness and purity of intense, dark berry fruit.
- 🥉 The 2011 vintage of Calcarole Amarone was ranked #3 out of 166 Amarones tasted in Decanter's comprehensive tasting in April 2017.
- 🪨 The Calcarole vineyard is essentially a giant limestone rock with vines atop it, contributing to the wine's unique mineral character.
Palate profile
Producer
Guerrieri Rizzardi is a historic winery in Italy's Veneto region, formed in 1913 through the union of two noble families: the Guerrieri family of Bardolino and the Rizzardi family of Negrar. The Rizzardi family's winemaking heritage dates back to 1649, when Carlo Rizzardi acquired vineyards in Negrar and established the Pojega estate. In 1783, Antonio Rizzardi created the renowned Pojega garden, celebrated for its Italian design and boxwood theater. Today, the winery remains family-owned, producing wines from estate vineyards in Bardolino, Valpolicella, Soave, and Valdadige.
