Le Tobele Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016 COUNTRY Italy REGION Veneto PRODUCER Le Tobele ABV 13.5 GRAPE VARIETY Molinara TASTING NOTE Amarone della Valpolicella is an intense, deep garnet in colour with aromas of spicy plum and cherry with hints of raspberry. The palate is soft, velvety and full-bodied with a slightly aromatic lingering finish BACKGROUND Amarone della Valpolicella is an intensely flavoured dry red wine made from dried (passito) grapes. Made in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy, and is arguably the region's most prestigious red wine. The Amarone style developed as Veneto's winemakers searched for a way to increase the body, complexity and alcohol content of their wines. The grapes used to make modern Amarone wines are of the local Corvina variety and its sub-variety Corvinone, and Molinara or Rondinella may also be blended. They are picked in whole bunches and kept in drying rooms (with warm temperatures and low humidity) where they stay for anywhere from three weeks to three months. Traditionally the grapes were dried on straw mats (they are a member of the 'straw wine' family) in the warmest part of the house or winery, but modern technology has replaced straw with steel and lofts with pallets. When the drying process (known as appassimento in Italian) is complete, the grapes are gently pressed and the must (grape juice) is fermented to dry. The grapes' high sugar content means a higher potential alcohol, so a complete fermentation results in a strong wine of 15% or 16% alcohol by volume. This is then aged in barrels (traditional large botti are now being replaced by smaller Slavonian oak barriques) for at least two years before commercial release. Rather than discard the dried grape skins (or use them for distillation into grappa), our winemakers use them to add depth and complexity to their standard Valpolicella wines. The wine and grape skins go through a second fermentation together, during which tannins and phenolic compounds are leached out into the wine, creating Valpolicella Ripasso, often seen as a cheaper way to enjoy some of the benefits of Amarone, or provide a better quality than standard Valpolicella. VINEYARD The vineyards are situated in the area of Marano Fumare, Tregnago and Illasi. Great attention is given to the drying of the grapes destined for the wonderfully produced Amarone, Recioto and Valpolicella Superiore. The winery is situated at the heart of the Valpolicella Classica in the village area of https://www.winecellarclub.co.uk/browse-wines/le-tobele-amarone-della- Updated date: 10 June 2021 valpolicella-docg-2016 Marano. The uniqueness of the Valpolicella wine is based on the uniqueness of the territory, rich and various and on the typical characteristics of the red wine grape varieties. https://www.winecellarclub.co.uk/browse-wines/le-tobele-amarone-della- Updated date: 10 June 2021 valpolicella-docg-2016 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org).