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2017 'Calcarole' Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva DOCG, Guerrieri Rizzardi Wine Republic

2019 'Calcarole' Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva DOCG, Guerrieri Rizzardi

Amarone della Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

Limestone Opulence

Darkly fragrant and richly layered, Calcarole offers the generosity of great Amarone with a beautifully judged sense of restraint. Black cherry, dried plum and crushed raspberry unfold alongside dried violets, cedar and warm spice. With air, tobacco, leather and woodland earth emerge, threaded with Mediterranean herbs that bring a savoury lift to the concentrated fruit. The aromas develop gradually, revealing a wine whose complexity is every bit as compelling as its richness.

The palate is full-bodied and enveloping, with deep fruit flavours supported by substantial, finely textured tannins. Fresh acidity gives definition to the wine’s natural warmth, carrying layers of cherry, plum and spice towards a long, savoury finish. Despite its concentration, this remains a dry, poised Amarone with remarkable clarity. Decant it for an unhurried dinner now, or allow it to develop further in the cellar, where its fruit, oak and earthy complexity will continue to come together.

For when: The fire is lit, dinner is lingering and the evening belongs to nobody else.

Pairs with: Serve with roast venison and juniper jus, slow-braised beef cheeks, duck with a cherry reduction, porcini and chestnut Wellington, aged Monte Veronese or mature Grana Padano.

Calcarole takes its name from a steep, terraced vineyard in Negrar, within the historic Valpolicella Classico zone. Limestone-rich soils, a warm microclimate and south to south-west exposure provide the setting for this single-vineyard Riserva, made only in selected vintages. Just 6,666 bottles were produced in 2019, making it a particularly distinctive expression of the estate.

Whats in the bottle
80% Corvina, 10% Barbera, 5% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese

Notable Awards
96 points, Wine Enthusiast

£79.95 - £79.95
£79.95
£79.95 - £79.95
£79.95
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Guerrieri Rizzardi is a renowned winery located in the Veneto region of northern Italy, specifically in the Valpolicella area. The winery has a rich history and is well-known for producing high-quality wines that highlight the traditional and modern winemaking techniques of the region.
Guerrieri Rizzardi’s vineyards are situated in some of the finest wine-growing areas in Veneto, primarily in the Soave and Valpolicella regions. These regions are famous for their volcanic soils, which provide ideal conditions for growing the region’s signature grape varieties. The terroir, combined with the winery’s commitment to sustainable farming practices, contributes to the distinctive characteristics of its wines.
The winery’s vineyards are located at varying altitudes, which helps to create a balance between the ripeness of the fruit and the freshness in the wines. The combination of different climates and soils enhances the complexity of the wines and allows for a broad range of wine styles.

The 2019 blend comprises 80% Corvina, 10% Barbera, 5% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese. Fruit comes from the five-hectare Calcarole vineyard, where vines aged between seven and twenty-five years grow in shallow, limestone-rich clay and sandy soils above limestone bedrock. Ripe, loosely packed bunches were selected by hand.

The grapes underwent three months of drying in dedicated drying rooms, concentrating their flavours before crushing on 3 and 4 December 2019. Fermentation lasted approximately one month in stainless-steel vats at 20–25°C, followed by malolactic fermentation in oak.

Maturation comprised approximately twelve months in 225-litre oak barriques, followed by twenty-four months in 2,500-litre oak barrels. The wine was first bottled on 21 November 2023, with further bottle development before release. This extended maturation helps bring together the concentrated fruit and firm structure while preserving freshness.

Alcohol: 17%. Residual sugar: 2.7g/L. Total acidity: 6.15g/L. pH: 3.50. Recommended drinking window: now–2050.


Country
Italy
Alcohol by Volume
17%
Producer
Guerrieri Rizzardi
Types
Red Wine
Vintage
2016
Size
750ml
Grape
Barbera, Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Sangiovese
Region
Veneto
Sub-Region
Valpolicella

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