Amarone della Valpolicella - 3 Cru - Guerrieri Rizzardi - Veneto - Italy
Red Wine
Rizzardi
The Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG classification accounts for about 25% of Valpolicella production. Amarone is produced from a similar blend of grapes though Molinara is not permitted. In this '3 Cru Amarone' the vintage mix is 60% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone & 5% Barbera and the grapes are selected from Guerrieri Rizzardi's three recognised single vineyards - Calcarole, Rovereti and Pojega.
Amarone is made from 'recioto' grapes, i.e. grapes that are dried pre-fermentation to increase their concentration and complexity. This wine is intense in more ways than one - in aromas, flavours, colour and tannins though the drying process also alters the tannins and acids so that the wine becomes very rich and balanced.
Aromatic with ripe dark berried fruit alongside sweet spice leading to a palate that is full-bodied but not heavy. The fruit carries through with ripe dark berries, sweet raisin and subtle oak. Well structured and maintaining good freshness; decant an hour before serving.
Food pairing: richly flavoured food like rib of beef, venison, pheasant. Cheeses such as mature Cimbro, Pecorino Vecchio and mature cheddar. It would work well with slightly sweet dishes, most other cheeses including Parmesan and Gorgonzola, cured meats, robust pasta dishes, Risotto all’amarone, dishes flavoured with balsamic vinegar, braised beef, lamb, strong-flavoured meats like wild boar, ox or veal cheek and oxtail, Wagyu beef etc
