Dal Forno Romano Monte Lodoletta Amarone della Valpolicella 2006 (RP97)

Country:             Italy
Region:               Veneto Rating:                RP97
Grape Variety:  70% Corvina and Corvinone,  20% Rondinella,  5% Croatina,  5% Oseleta
Type of Wine:   Red Wine
Bottle Size:        750ml

By Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 97
Back in 2006, this estate farmed approximately 25 hectares of vines, and the Valpolicella was just beginning to feel its new celebrity status, thanks to a new generation of vintners (to come after Quintarelli and Dal Forno) showing impressive results. The 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta was born in a vintage that was not easy: It saw hail and above-average rainfall for much of the growing season. This expression opens to an inky dark appearance and heavy aromas of dried fruit, pressed blackberries and sun-dried prunes. There is a slightly sweeter side to this vintage (the residual sugar is up to ten grams per liter), and the mouthfeel offers enormous volume and richness. You get some jammy and raisiny fruit at the back. Like the 1990 vintage also tastes in this retrospective, this bottle from the 2006 vintage was slow to open and felt a bit closed initially. In fact, I gave it 94 points at that time. However, I recently opened a bottle of this same wine that I had in my cellar, and it was just stunning. It showed none of the shyness that I described above. Inspired by that second magical bottle, I went back and adjusted the drinking window and my score to the one you see here.

James Suckling 97
Wonderful aromas of rose petal, blackberry, sugared walnut and hints of sea salt. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a warm, enticing palate with dried fruits, blackberry, black olive and freshly cracked slate. Fabulous Amarone.

Wine Spectator 94
Game and ashy smoke details lead the way in this ripe red, followed by juicy plumped cherry, date, dark chocolate and woodsy spice notes on the plush-textured palate. Velvety tannins give this some brawn, but this is beautifully knit and balanced, showing an overall sense of finesse. Delivers a lasting finish of fruit and spice. Drink now through 2033.