Happy Amarone Monday Dear Operatives!

Fore you dive into this one, you should know we also slipped a 93-point Amarone Riserva 2008 into the store, along with magnums of their 93-point 2007…

Know what does NOT pair with a Trinidad Scorpion pepper (1.5m Scoville heat units for you pepper nerds) that we tried during an office pepper eating contest last week? This wine.

Luckily, we tasted this lovely “baby Amarone” BEFORE the peppers obliterated our palate and gut. And what a bolt of fresh, piquant, bright fruit it delivered! And that price - just… incredible really to find a 92-point Valpolicella Ripasso well under $20. But that is just how we do things around here.

Amarone is made from partially dried grapes, which impart a terrifically rich and sweet flavor to the wine. Valpolicella Ripasso, aka “Amarone Bambino” is made by adding the leftover Amarone grape skins to fermenting wine for the “re-pass” and left to ferment before barreled in oak casks for 18 months. This second pass of skins infuses a similar complexity and ripeness, resulting in a lighter styled Amarone while delivering the famous aromatics and flavors that make its big brother so legendary.

So, what’s it like? Think Zinfandel x Pinot. A core of raspberry and quince is surrounded by some Asian spices and a drop of vanilla. It’s light to medium-bodied, with a superb balance of ripe fruit and bright acidity. Terrific stuff, that we could drink by the case any time of year. And you better believe we loaded up a few on our end. Because at this price and with such accolades… well, we just don’t get enough.

We’ve had some great variety in our offers recently, and like Pokemon you gotta catch em all! Throw a couple, or even better half a case in your locker - promise you won’t regret it at all!

92 Points – James Suckling

“A very pretty nose of dried lavender, rose petals and sweet morello cherries. Medium to full body, lots of tension, fine acidity and a minerally, driven finish. Drink now.”

90 Points – Wine Spectator

“Generous crushed black cherry and raspberry fruit is laced with ground ginger, orange zest and licorice notes in this elegant, medium-bodied red framed by light, taut tannins and fresh acidity. Drink now through 2023.”