2019 Amarone della Valpolicella, Roccolo Grassi
Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy
Velvet Thunder from Verona.
This is Amarone with both swagger and precision, and it comes from a vintage that gave the region every chance to shine. 2019 is widely regarded as an outstanding year for Amarone, with the Valpolicella Consorzio awarding it five stars and praising both its ageing potential and freshness.
Deep, dark and beautifully composed, it opens with black cherry, baked plum and blackberry conserve, then unfurls into cocoa, sweet spice, dried herbs and a savoury, stony edge that keeps everything lifted. There is richness here, of course, but not heaviness. The palate feels velvety and powerful, with waves of concentrated dark fruit, fine tannin and that unmistakable Amarone warmth, all held in shape by freshness and mineral tension. A seriously grown-up red, layered, polished and built to linger.
The 2019 is made from Corvina Veronese, Corvinone, Rondinella and a little Croatina, from southeast-facing old vines on volcanic, basaltic soils in Mezzane, then aged for 26 months in French oak barriques and large oak casks, followed by 24 months in bottle, which helps explain both its depth and its refinement.
For when: the table is full, the lights are low, and something slow-cooked is on its way.
Pairs with: braised beef, venison, rich ragù, aged hard cheeses, or a decadent mushroom dish.
If this wine were a person: impeccably dressed, quietly intense, and impossible not to notice.
Roccolo Grassi is one of the most thoughtful names in the eastern side of Valpolicella, working with old Pergola Veronese vines at around 200 to 250 metres above sea level on volcanic and basaltic soils. For this Amarone, the estate dedicates its old vines only in the best years, with relatively modest production, and uses spontaneous fermentation, long maceration, and extended ageing in both small and large oak before further bottle maturation. The result is an Amarone that feels less about sheer weight and more about texture, poise and site, which is exactly what makes it so compelling.
Whats in the bottle
Corvina 60%, Rondinella 20%, Corvinone 15%, Croatina 5%
Notable Awards
98 Points, Vinous
“An exceptional modern Amarone, powerful yet lifted, from a truly stellar 2019 vintage.”