Amarone della Valpolicella Cl. Ris. Sergio DOCG 2017 Zenato

This is one of those wines where your nose is in the glass for ages, enjoying the complex array of aromas that range from raspberries to dates, perfumed bark to polished wood, pressed flowers to fresh mushrooms. Full-bodied, dense and focused with fine, well-integrated tannins, plenty of fruit flavor and an endless finish.

The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio Zenato is very classic Zenato style, with macerated cherries, sultanas, sweet herbs, cocoa, black pepper and cedar chips. This wine is very structured, with a dense wave of mineral-coated dark red fruits and balsamic spice supported by a core of bracing acidity. Mocha and clove mingle with blackcurrant and olive as the 2017 finishes dramatically long and powerful. There is just so much going on here, and more is guaranteed to come with ageing. It's also worth noting that the 2017 has a residual sugar content of just 3.3 grams. This wine is as serious as it gets.