2018 | Corte Sant'Alda Amarone "Valmezzane" | Valpolicella | Italy

A biodynamic Amarone from a Valpolicella visionary — Marinella Camerani's flagship, aged four years in oak.

Corte Sant'Alda is one of Valpolicella's most soulful estates, farmed biodynamically by Marinella Camerani in the Val di Mezzane at 200–350 meters on limestone-rich soils. "Valmezzane" is her flagship Amarone — Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes dried in the traditional appassimento method, then aged at least 48 months in French oak. A rich, complex expression of "the big bitter one."

Biodynamic, four-years-aged Amarone from a benchmark grower is a connoisseur's pour. Complex, elegant, cellar-aged → marquee Amarone names cost more → at $142.99 you're drinking one of Valpolicella's most characterful estates.

• Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella (appassimento-dried)
• Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG — Val di Mezzane
• Corte Sant'Alda — Marinella Camerani, biodynamic
• Aged 48+ months in French oak

Jammy dark berries, coffee, milk chocolate and spice over black pepper, graphite and eucalyptus; full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins and integrated acidity. Translation: rich, warming, complex Amarone — dried-cherry decadence with a savory, mineral backbone and a long, spiced finish.

A soulful, biodynamic Amarone built to impress. Exactly the bottle for braised short ribs, aged cheese, or a cold night by the fire.