Pieropan : Amarone Della Valpolicella Riserva 2020

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Amarone Della Valpolicella Riserva 2020 from Pieropan

Tasting

Appearance

This Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva displays an intense, deep ruby-red colour, reflecting the concentration achieved through the drying of the grapes.

Nose

The nose opens with aromas of black cherry, plum and blackberry jam, accompanied by notes of dark chocolate, leather, coffee, black pepper, cinnamon, clove and juniper berries, finishing on a refreshing balsamic note.

Palate

On the palate, this wine from the Pieropan estate is powerful and enveloping, supported by a well-integrated tannic structure and remarkable freshness that balances the richness of the fruit. The aromatic persistence lingers on notes of dark fruit, spice and chocolate.

Food and wine pairing

This wine is an ideal match for game dishes, grilled or braised red meats, and long-aged cheeses, including the most spicy ones, whose power and salinity echo the wine's aromatic density.

Serving and cellaring

The Amarone Della Valpolicella Riserva 2020 should be served at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Thanks to its structure and long ageing, this wine has great potential for development.

An Amarone della Valpolicella from eastern Veneto, balancing power and freshness

The estate

Founded in Soave, in Veneto, by Dr Leonildo Pieropan, the Pieropan estate has established itself as a benchmark of Italian winemaking, notably thanks to the Calvarino cuvée, emblematic of great terroir-driven white wines. Today run by Andrea and Dario Pieropan, the fourth generation of the family, the estate cultivates a large vineyard between Soave Classico and Valpolicella, entirely under certified organic farming, and exports a large share of its production internationally.

The vineyard

This Amarone della Valpolicella comes from the Monte Garzon vineyard in Cellore d'Illasi, in eastern Valpolicella. The vines, planted in 2000 and Guyot-trained, grow on calcareous and clay soils rich in pink limestone, with traces of gypsum, at an altitude that is high for the appellation, on south-facing slopes. Yields are deliberately kept low, within an organic approach attentive to biodiversity.

The vintage

The grapes for the 2020 vintage were hand-harvested in small crates, at a stage of ripeness suited to the drying phase characteristic of Amarone.

Winemaking and ageing

After a prolonged natural appassimento, the grapes are hand-sorted, then destemmed and gently crushed. Fermentation takes place over a long period, with regular pumping over and punching down to extract colour, structure and aromatic complexity. This Italian wine is then aged for several years in oak barrels to refine the tannins and harmonise the bouquet.

Grape varieties

This cuvée is a blend of Corvina Veronese, Corvinone, Rondinella and Croatina Veronese, traditional grape varieties of Valpolicella.