Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – 2011
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Introduction
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The Dal Forno family has been making wine since 1983. Located in Val D’Illasi, the estate consists of 65 acres of vines planted to traditional indigenous varieties of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Croatina. The estate vineyards and farm are located where the slopes begin to rise toward the mountains and sit 1,000 feet above sea level. The loose, alluvial soils, meticulous pruning and scrupulous viticultural techniques ensure remarkable-quality grapes. The Dal Fornos use traditional methods to grow the finest fruit, and then employ modern techniques to produce the best wines — classic in expression and modern in purity.
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Vineyard Profile
- Appellation: Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG
- Soil: 70% gravel, 15% silt and 15% clay
- Elevation: 50-250 meters (251-820)
- Exposure: South facing
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Vinification
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The finest bunches of grapes are selected, after which a meticulous manual control is carried out to eliminate all grapes that do not meet the standards required. The selected grapes are then placed in plastic plateaux and are then left to rest for 90 days in large open rooms, where an innovative ventilation system helps maintain an elevated and thorough air flow.
- Fermentation: Fermentation takes place in steel tanks at a controlled temperature of around 28°, which are equipped with a sophisticated computerized system which allows for automated punching for a period of around 15 days, including the final maceration which takes two days.
- Aging: After decantation in the middle of January, the Amarone, which still contains some residual sugar, is placed into new barriques, where it begins a slow fermentation process which will last for a further 18 months. The total amount of time that it remains in the barriques is 24 months, followed by 36 months in bottle.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 60% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Croatina, 10% Oseleta
- Alcohol: 17%
- RS: 6 g/L
Images
Reviews
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Dal Forno Romano Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – 2011 – The Wine Advocate – 97 Points
The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta is an incredible wine that has magically managed to maintain the fresh acidity associated with the cooler part of the growing season. It also shows the inky black concentration and ripeness that is reflective of the hottest part of the summer. I am impressed by the tannic management, as the wine is silky and fine at this young stage; however, the underlying structure promises a long aging future, should you chose to put your bottle aside. Overall, this vintage is slightly more accessible and ready to drink if you don't have the patience...
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Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – 2011 – 17.5 points – Jancis Robinson
“Impenetrable, dark cardinal red. Enormous, concentrated sweet-sour cherry nose with malty notes. Bitter, stalky tannins framing the fruit. Intense, long and with amazing balance even if the tannins on the finish are quite dominant and the alcohol is 17%. This will need time (but I am told that the Valpolicella is much less pronto, and the Amarone ‘gia morbido’[already soft]).”
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Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – 2011 – 95+ points – Vinous
"...Rich, dense and balanced, with nicely focused flavors of dark berries and aromatic herbs that have a noteworthy savory tang. The long finish features repeating hints of soy sauce, espresso and underbrush. Dal Forno's is the recognized master of a uniquely powerful, ripe, and concentrated style of Amarone."