The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico seduces with a sweetly spiced and extroverted display that blends medicinal black cherries, mint, lavender, sweet smoke and a dusting of cocoa powder. The textures are silky, energized by vibrant acidity, as ripe red and black fruits drench the palate, leaving notes of bitter dark chocolate, cinnamon and clove. A coating of tannin lingers, tugging at the senses with youthful poise, and hints of sour citrus and inner violet florals linger long. The 2016 is massive, structured and intense yet with tremendous balance and potential for the future. It's rare that I find myself pouring a second glass of an Amarone during tastings, but that's exactly what happened here. I tasted the 2016 twice and it just kept getting better.

Appealing aromas of black-skinned berries, pipe tobacco and cocoa emerge from the glass. The concentrated palate offers blackberry jam, licorice and clove alongside fine-grained tannins. Drink 2022-2029.