Vinous (93)

A burst of mocha and clove is balanced by dusty black cherries and savory herbs as the 2017 La Poja blossoms in the glass. This is a heady and extroverted expression with a pretty inner sweetness contrasted by tart black fruits and inner herb tones. Dark chocolate, cloves, hints of vanilla and candied lavender can all be found through the incredibly long and palate-staining finale. The 2017 finishes lightly structured. For all of its extroverted character, the La Poja boasts only three grams of residual sugar per liter. This may be a big wine, but the balance is remarkable.

Vinous (93)

A burst of mocha and clove is balanced by dusty black cherries and savory herbs as the 2017 La Poja blossoms in the glass. This is a heady and extroverted expression with a pretty inner sweetness contrasted by tart black fruits and inner herb tones. Dark chocolate, cloves, hints of vanilla and candied lavender can all be found through the incredibly long and palate-staining finale. The 2017 finishes lightly structured. For all of its extroverted character, the La Poja boasts only three grams of residual sugar per liter. This may be a big wine, but the balance is remarkable.

Vinous (97)

With the 2016 still being held for release down the road as it slowly comes into focus, today it's the 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta that is being released into the market. This is dark, sultry and almost animalistic in nature, as crushed fall leaves and earth tones open the experience, giving way to masses of macerated black cherries, cedar shavings, spiced cookies and a lifting hint of camphor. It floods the palate with velvety textures while maintaining fantastic energy, as stimulating acidity adds unexpected vibrancy, and tart wild berries slowly saturate. While structured, the tannins are sweet, and the wine remains remarkably fresh, almost crunchy, as an air of inner rose and balsam herbs slowly fades. Frankly, I can't believe the 2017 finished at 16% abv, because it is simply so palatable and charming.

Vinous (97)

With the 2016 still being held for release down the road as it slowly comes into focus, today it's the 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta that is being released into the market. This is dark, sultry and almost animalistic in nature, as crushed fall leaves and earth tones open the experience, giving way to masses of macerated black cherries, cedar shavings, spiced cookies and a lifting hint of camphor. It floods the palate with velvety textures while maintaining fantastic energy, as stimulating acidity adds unexpected vibrancy, and tart wild berries slowly saturate. While structured, the tannins are sweet, and the wine remains remarkably fresh, almost crunchy, as an air of inner rose and balsam herbs slowly fades. Frankly, I can't believe the 2017 finished at 16% abv, because it is simply so palatable and charming.

Introducing the remarkable Monte Faustino Fornaser Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2017. Born from Veneto's fabled Valpolicella region in Italy, this wine is a testament to meticulous viticulture and winemaking practices. Monte Faustino, a bespoke winery where the Fornaser family exudes passion and respects deep-rooted Italian traditions, is renowned for its singularly stunning wines.

The 2017 vintage involves hand-picked Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes, partially dried on 'arele' trays, enhancing intensity and concentrating aromas. The fermentation process, followed by a 30-month maturing period in Slavonian oak barrels, yields a beautifully balanced wine that defies comparison.

Endowed with a rich ruby red hue, the Monte Faustino Fornaser Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2017 offers multifaceted sensory notes, a delightful spectrum spanning spiced fruit, tobacco to chocolate. Nuanced acidity complements embracing tannins, elegantly harmonising in a persistent finish. This fine wine is an epitome of quality, mastery, and timeless Italian character.

Luca Maroni (97)

No note present.

Luca Maroni (96)

Wine Makers Notes: Castelforte Corvina is a dry, full-bodied wine with a deep ruby red color. It shows a scent of black cherries and ripe blackberry with hints of vanilla and sweet spices. A perfect match for red meats, game and mature cheeses.

Indulge in the splendour of Roccolo Grassi Amarone della Valpolicella 2017, a bold and distinctive fine wine from the top-rated vineyards of Valpolicella, Italy. Expertly crafted by the esteemed producer Roccolo Grassi, this Amarone offers a perfect expression of its origin. Late harvested, the hand-picked Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone grapes are air-dried for four months, intensifying their rich, fruity flavours before a 30-month oak ageing period.

Beautifully layered and opulent, Roccolo Grassi Amarone della Valpolicella 2017 reveals aromas of dried cherries, plums and spices enveloped with hints of dark cocoa and tobacco. As you sip, savour the wine’s elegance, fascinating complexity and lasting finish. This Amarone is age-worthy, highlighting Roccolo Grassi's precise tannins and exceptional balance, hallmarks of a commitment to quality and tradition. Immerse yourself in the experience of Roccolo Grassi Amarone della Valpolicella 2017, a divine marriage of power, grace and Venetian finesse.

James Suckling (95)

Pungent nose of violets, amarena cherries, dried figs and lightly charred oak. Some toffee notes emerge with air, together with more pressed flowers. Not so much full-bodied as full-flavored, with silky, fine and polished tannins. Very young and driven at the moment. Lacks the depth and complexity of more fortunate vintages, but still shows exceptional quality. Try from 2024.

Savour the sublime experience of the Secondo Marco Valpolicella Classico 2017, crafted meticulously in the picturesque vineyards of Veneto, Italy. This resplendent red wine embodies the quintessence of traditional Italian winemaking partnered seamlessly with modern viticulture techniques. Conjured from the revered Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grape varietals, it exhibits a delightfully progressive character, an audacious initiative by the venerated winemaker, Marco Speri.

Proudly bearing the Classico designation, the Secondo Marco Valpolicella 2017 confirms its origins within the original Valpolicella production zone. Marco, the sixth generation of the Speri family lineage, pays homage to the time-honoured traditions with this elegant vintage. Possessing an unrivalled richness, it offers a harmonious interplay of black cherry and ripe plum notes intensified by a spicy undercurrent. The ageing in Slavonian oak barrels amplifies its magnificent depth and rounded tannins.

Ebullient and complex, the Secondo Marco Valpolicella Classico 2017 is nothing short of a vinous masterpiece, a corroborated testament to Marco's virtuosa in winemaking.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant'Urbano is dusty and darkly alluring, as dried flowers and incense gives way to nuances of cocoa and, with time in the glass, a vivid note of black cherry. This is texturally deep and savory in style, coming across as almost salty in character, with an intense and saturating core of raspberry and cherry. Exotic spices, dark, dark chocolate and clove develop toward the close. This tapers off long and staining, lightly structured, needing only a short stay in the cellar to come together. Speri did a remarkable job of maintaining balance in such a warm and difficult vintage.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant'Urbano is dusty and darkly alluring, as dried flowers and incense gives way to nuances of cocoa and, with time in the glass, a vivid note of black cherry. This is texturally deep and savory in style, coming across as almost salty in character, with an intense and saturating core of raspberry and cherry. Exotic spices, dark, dark chocolate and clove develop toward the close. This tapers off long and staining, lightly structured, needing only a short stay in the cellar to come together. Speri did a remarkable job of maintaining balance in such a warm and difficult vintage.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant'Urbano is dusty and darkly alluring, as dried flowers and incense gives way to nuances of cocoa and, with time in the glass, a vivid note of black cherry. This is texturally deep and savory in style, coming across as almost salty in character, with an intense and saturating core of raspberry and cherry. Exotic spices, dark, dark chocolate and clove develop toward the close. This tapers off long and staining, lightly structured, needing only a short stay in the cellar to come together. Speri did a remarkable job of maintaining balance in such a warm and difficult vintage.

James Suckling (98)

This is one of those wines where your nose is in the glass for ages, enjoying the complex array of aromas that range from raspberries to dates, perfumed bark to polished wood, pressed flowers to fresh mushrooms. Full-bodied, dense and focused with fine, well-integrated tannins, plenty of fruit flavor and an endless finish. A joy to drink even now, but this will age gracefully for many a year.