Oh boy, what an INSANE HALLOWEEN that was… trick or treating past midnight! And wine-wise, how do you follow up on all that devilish goodness?

With Amarone Tuesday of course!

Aah, Amarone… the Italian essence of bittersweet (amaro) love (amore) in one big, beautiful word.

Trouble is, it can get pricey as you go up the quality ladder. On any other day, spending $75 per bottle on an Amarone you can count on – by the house that PIONEERED it – may hurt, but is worth it as what goes into making it is crazy amounts of love, labor, and patience.

BUT $27???! 93 POINTS?! Someone pinch me, please.

The Wine Economist has the story: “Take the cooperative winery in Negrar - Cantina di Negrar. This is where Amarone was born in 1936 when the cellarmaster lost track of a tank of Recioto, which fermented dry by accident instead of the yeasts being stopped with some residual sugar remaining. A catastrophe - except that it was really good. Not bitter ‘Amaro’ but smooth and dry Amarone.”

Add macerated cherries with cloves, and a kiss of bittersweet chocolate. With rum-raisin cake, dried herbs, smoky charcuterie, crema di balsamico, and other crazy nuances accentuating the minute plus clinging finale.

Wine Advocate adds “Cooperative wineries are often seen as the ugly ducklings of Italian wine. But the dynamic Cantina di Negrar with 220 members who farm a total of 600 hectares is maturing into a graceful swan. The co-op is very active when it comes to experimentation with sustainable farming methods and innovative winemaking. I was absolutely captivated…”

If Wine Advocate knew we’d be giving this away at $27 (gulp) today, how much more “absolutely captivated” would they be?

Going, going…

93 Points – Luca Maroni

“With great power and majestic concentration, this Amarone stands out for the harmonious and great pleasantness of its taste as well as for its abundant mass. Nothing held back in the winemaking process: a vivid and spiced wine.”