1 | Wine | Veneto, 86 or higher | Page 3

"The 2003 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a big, enveloping wine loaded with wild cherries, licorice, new leather and dried flowers, not to mention considerable personality. The tannins are just a touch rough around the edges, and I am not sure they will ever soften given the heat of the vintage, but the 2003 should continue to drink well for at least a handful of years. Ideally the wine is best paired with hearty dishes."

"A lovely wine, displaying overall style and elegance, as well as a core of intriguing spice flavors that are wrapped in layers of cherry compote, damson plum preserves, dark chocolate shavings and spicy tobacco notes. There's fine integration here, with an overall vibrancy. The long, spicy finish shows just a hint of tannins."

"Offers fine balance and texture, framing flavors of green melon, strawberry, cardamom and lemongrass. Well-knit and elegant, with a mouthwatering, mineral-tinged finish."

"The 1997 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico is a gorgeous, refined wine with layers of sweet, perfumed fruit that flow gracefully from its medium-bodied frame. The 1997 Recioto isn’t quite as extroverted as the profound 1995, but it does offer impeccable balance in a relatively understated, slender style for this house. Sweet spices, licorice, leather and incense linger on the long and immensely satisfying finish. I tasted the 1997 Recioto from both 375ml and 750ml bottles and found the wine consistently superb."

"Highly complex aromas of raspberry, red cherries macerated in alcohol, violet, balsamic vinegar, rose, and milk and bitter chocolate. Amazingly rich, superconcentrated wine, with flavors of chocolate-covered raspberry, cherries macerated in alcohol and fig jam. Refreshing acidity and very silky tannins make this an elegant blockbuster, a feat only the greatest wines manage to achieve."