1997 Amarone

1997 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Allegrini. Served today for dinner with grilled items.

Rich, syrupy, deep bodied, flavors of currants, dried fruit and spice. Great deep garnet color. Long tannin finish. Appassimento on corvina grapes at its finest.

If you can still find it I recommend it to anyone, like myself, who likes Amarone. I have found it is a truly love/hate relationship, in that some people just done like the wine. But for me I love the dried fruit flavors and intensity of the finish.

Mike
I get a bit each of love / hate myself in Amarones. The good ones really are good when the mood takes, but I find poorer examples tend to be undrinkable, rather than just uninteresting.
regards
Ian

While it is always worthwile taking an early peek at wines, I drink my Amarones much, much older than 10 years. If you have patience, you might liek then when they are old and complex.

[Jenise]

While it is always worthwile taking an early peek at wines, I drink my Amarones much, much older than 10 years. If you have patience, you might liek then when they are old and complex.

We recently drank our last bottle of the '95 Allegrini. Sure it may have lasted much longer, but it was in such a GOOOOOOOOD place, we couldn't resist. There's a lot to be said for drinking wines possibly too early than absolutely too late.

We recently drank our last bottle of the '95 Allegrini. Sure it may have lasted much longer, but it was in such a GOOOOOOOOD place, we couldn't resist. There's a lot to be said for drinking wines possibly too early than absolutely too late.

I still have 71, 74 and several 80s vintages. Believe me, these wines ager gracefully if you can keep your paws off them long enough.

Thanks for the tasting note on the '97 Allegrini, Mike. I've had this wine 4 times over the last 2-3 years and only the last bottle was anything less than excellent. A truly good bottle can be extremely plush and exotic, yet fresh and fun.

-Michael

The only bottle of Amarone I ever had left me with a frown. I do have a bottle of the 1997 Allegrini that I got as a gift. I'll wait to open it.

Mike
I get a bit each of love / hate myself in Amarones. The good ones really are good when the mood takes, but I find poorer examples tend to be undrinkable, rather than just uninteresting.
regards
Ian

Ian, that is for certain that good ones are exceptions and a poor one is a bust. I tend to do research on most of the wine I purchase so that my purchases fulfill my expectations. I cant afford to buy crap wine, nor can any of us. Thanks for the comment.

Thanks for the tasting note on the '97 Allegrini, Mike. I've had this wine 4 times over the last 2-3 years and only the last bottle was anything less than excellent. A truly good bottle can be extremely plush and exotic, yet fresh and fun.

-Michael

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If you like the Allegrini you should try the Cinque Stelle Amarone Classico 2003. I sampled my shipment recently and all I can say is when this baby ages it will be stupendious. Its rated and available right now.

FYI I use http://www.italianwinemerchant.com for most of my Italian purchases. They have a good cellar and will not ship during any poor temperature period so you wine wont cook. Thanks for the comments.

I had a Masi Amarone Classico 1988 back in May for my birthday (kept for 10 years in a closet!) and it was perfect. It had none of the oxidation I associate with some Amarone houses. It was in such good shape I couldn't believe it was 20 years old. Full but elegant with a touch of sweetness. Too bad nobody else there was a wine geek so I had nobody to share my enthusiasm with..

I had a brilliant experience with an 1997 Amarone from Michele Castellani, I beleive it was I Castei Campo Casalin. It was a present from my previous boss and it must have been one of the if not the best Amarone I had in my life, good to hear. After some bad experiences with Amarones this last year I was happy to see there are also brilliant Amarones made like the one you and I had.

I had a Masi Amarone Classico 1988 back in May for my birthday (kept for 10 years in a closet!) and it was perfect. It had none of the oxidation I associate with some Amarone houses. It was in such good shape I couldn't believe it was 20 years old. Full but elegant with a touch of sweetness. Too bad nobody else there was a wine geek so I had nobody to share my enthusiasm with..

I too had the 88 classico which was great. I also had two different 95 Masi both great. Masi makes some great wine. THeir high point is consistency so when they are available I always purchase more.

And many of these producers also make brilliant EVOO! The Allegrini has been particularly good, and reliable.