Valpolicella Superiore DOC Dal Forno Romano Veneto 2016

Valpolicella Superiore DOC Dal Forno Romano 2016 is a remarkable and intense red wine from Veneto , created by renowned Italian winemaker Romano Dal Forno . This wine demonstrates how Valpolicella can achieve a depth and structure that rivals the world's finest wines when produced with great care.

Although technically a Valpolicella Superiore, it is often referred to as a “mini-Amarone.” This is due to Dal Forno’s use of the traditional appassimento method, in which the grapes are lightly dried before fermentation, which intensifies the flavor and gives the wine a full-bodied and complex character.

Type:

Red wine – Valpolicella Superiore DOC
Year: 2016
Area: Veneto, Italy
Grape varieties: Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina and Oseleta
Alcohol: Approximately 15–16%

Vinification:

The grapes are dried for approximately 45 days (shorter than for Amarone)

Slow fermentation

Aged for about 24 months in new barriques (French oak barrels)

Subsequent bottle aging for several years

Produced in very limited quantities and only in the best vintages

Fragrance:

Intense and complex aroma with notes of black cherries, blackberries, dark chocolate, tobacco, balsamic, leather and vanilla. There are also nuances of spice, licorice and toasted oak.

Taste:

Extremely concentrated and structured with silky yet distinctive tannins. Ripe dark fruits, cocoa, spices and dried fruit are balanced by a fresh acidity. Long and persistent aftertaste with both strength and elegance. A wine in top form.

Serving suggestions:

– Ideal for game, grilled beef, braised lamb, ossobuco, hearty pasta dishes and aged cheeses
– Serve at 17–18 °C , and should be decanted for at least 1–2 hours
– Can be stored for 20+ years under good cellar conditions

Reputation and status:

Considered by many to be the best Valpolicella Superiore in the world

Often compared to great Amarone and Barolo wines

Highly sought after by collectors and wine specialists

Critics often give 95–98 points

In short:

Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore 2016 is far from an "ordinary" Valpolicella - it is a big, deep and impressive wine that combines power and precision with a luxurious complexity. A wine for connoisseurs and for special occasions.