2019 Guerrieri Rizzardi 3Cru Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 750 ml

This Amarone comes from three different crus in Negrar di Valpolicella, including Rizzardi’s best site, Calcarole, whose single-vineyard bottles go for $70+ (on the exceptionally slim chance they appear in the US at all). 

Negrar is one of Valpolicella’s only municipalities to bear the classico denomination, and it’s an area that Wine Enthusiast says contains some of the region’s best vineyards. Guerrieri Rizzardi is one of the 13 members of Amarone’s Le Famiglie Storiche (Historical Families) association, which has stricter production standards than most of the region and puts out wines that Vinous calls “consistently among the best from each vintage.” 

The Amarone winemaking process results in powerful, concentrated reds with incredible longevity and complexity. The Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone, Barbera, and Barbera in this wine are painstakingly dried, bunch by bunch, over the course of three to five months. As the grapes’ water content evaporates, their flavors intensify, coaxing complex notes of exotic spices and dried herbs and flowers to accompany the luscious red- and black-cherry fruit. Fermentation takes an entire month, allowing an incredible depth of flavor to develop alongside a rich texture. After 36 months in oak, the 3Cru has developed extraordinary polish while maintaining its acidity and energy.

With every sip, you’ll find yourself beguiled by yet another delicious aroma or flavor—and if you’re new to Amarone, there’s no better introduction to this Italian classic.