Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2021 750ml

Tommasi Family Estates was founded in 1902 in Valpolicella. Its Amarone comes from two vineyards in Valpolicella Classica: La Groletta, which the winery describes as structured, and Conca d'Oro, with limestone-rich soil.

The winery's recipe for recent vintages is 50% Corvina, 30% Corvinone, 15% Rondinella and 5% Oseleta. The grapes dry for about three months in a ventilated fruttaio, then ferment in steel for 25 days and age three years in large 35-hectoliter Slavonian oak botti. It's 15% alcohol.

The winery describes aromas of fruit in spirits, bitter spices, black pepper, licorice and cocoa, and an intense, structured palate with a sinuous, dry finish. James Suckling finds the 2021 overt and fruity, with raspberries, bay leaves and roasted black peppercorns, and Wine Spectator calls it a harmonious red, quite elegant for an Amarone.

Against Serego Alighieri Vaio Armaron 2011 magnum, the Tommasi is a younger 750ml bottle at about a third of the price; for an Amarone to open tonight, choose the Tommasi.

Tommasi suggests serving it at 18°C with game, red meat and long-aged cheeses.

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