Le Ragose - Amarone della Valpolicella 'Classico' 2019

In 1969, oenologist Arnaldo Galli, and his wife Marta, purchased a promising but abandoned piece of land in Negrar, the highly-rated valley in Valpolicella Classico, an estate called Le Ragose. Much of the region had been left to destitution in those decades, as some winemakers chased more fertile land and greater yields to maximise profits. Galli, however, was a real wine lover, and a believer in excellence, and he had assessed that his new land had more potential than anyone had given it credit.

The winery is now run by the second generation, Arnaldo and Marta’s sons Marco and Paolo, trained respectively in wine agriculture and business. The family belief in the sites, in the value of quality winemaking, in the primacy of traditions and the value of trusting the vines has never wavered. Today, they may sometimes be hard to find, but Le Ragose, great innovators and guardians of tradition, are well worthy of the effort.

The grapes are harvested by hand, directly in the vineyard during the month of September, and placed directly into small plateuax of plastic, on single layer, until December/January. This process is called "Appassimento". Fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for about 20-30 days with indigenous yeasts, where they for a period of 8-10 months. Aging for 7/8 years in Slavonian oak casks with capacity of 50 hectoliters.

“A Christmas-cake nose, offering dates, raisins, nuts, spices and more. The same, intense and festive flavors on the palate, together with dried citrus rind and even a touch of balsamic. Full-bodied with some tight tannins that stem the flood of dried fruit a little, introducing a minerally note. But this essentially remains a dried-fruit gala. A little old-school, but super-clean and enjoyable. Drink or hold.” - 93 Points, James Suckling

“Dried sour cherries, savory spices, herbs and forest floor open the door to this old-school Amarone. Rich and mouth filling with a ton of cooked plums, fresh tobacco and graphite notes. The wine finishes with rounded tannins and a seemingly endless rich blackberry note.” 90 Points, Wine Enthusiast

Producer: Le Ragose

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Varietal: Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone

Appellation: Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Vintage: 2019

Size: 750ml