1994 Dal Forno Romano Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta
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Tasting notes
Deep ruby with narrow orange rim. Very soft oak hints and the beginning of mulch, but lifts with aeration. This is the juiciest Amarone so far, with quite a bit of stalky tannins, but the finish builds a real unity. The mulch/musty note is a little worrying, though. (WS)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Very dark crimson. Sweet and chocolatey. Not quite as lively and refreshing as the 1990 Quintarelli served alongside. Dense and a little sweet and sickly. (JR)
Amarone is an acquired taste, given its size as well as earthy, tarry characteristics. Certainly this wine reaches new levels of extract and richness, yet is dry, well-balanced, and, because of its extravagant richness, able to hide the whopping 16.5% alcohol it routinely possesses. The spectacular 1994 Amarone exhibits amazing freshness for a wine of such mass, size, and concentration. It oozes across the palate, but never comes close to being heavy. There are amazing quantities of truffles, smoke, black fruits, and licorice present in this exquisite wine. This is the product of a true genius. It should drink well for a minimum of two decades. Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200
About the producer
Along with Giuseppe Quintarelli, Dal Forno Romano makes the best wines in the Veneto. The history of Dal Forno Romano, however, is much shorter, and its rise to fame much faster.