Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2019 750ml

Product Info

Terroir
Zenato’s Amarone 2019 hails from vineyards nestled in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica zone, where rolling hills and eastern-facing slopes create an ideal microclimate for Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara. The soils are predominantly limestone, clay, and gravel, providing excellent drainage while contributing mineral structure and naturally limiting vine vigor.

The region’s continental climate—warm, sun-filled days tempered by cool, gentle nights—allows grapes to ripen fully before harvest, concentrating sugars and flavor. The 2019 vintage benefited from a near-perfect growing season, producing grapes with intense aromatics and balanced acidity, key to Zenato’s signature Amarone style: generous, yet elegant and age-worthy.

Winemaking
True to Amarone tradition, Zenato employs the appassimento process, carefully drying harvested grapes on bamboo racks or in temperature- and humidity-controlled drying rooms for several months. This slow dehydration concentrates sugars, acids, and flavor compounds, giving Amarone its trademark richness and depth.

Fermentation is slow and controlled, preserving varietal purity while gradually integrating concentrated sugars. The wine is aged in large Slavonian oak casks for an extended period, allowing tannins to soften and aromatic complexity to develop without imposing overt oak flavor. Minimal intervention and meticulous blending ensure the final wine expresses both vineyard and vintage with balance and finesse.

Tasting Notes
The 2019 Amarone Classico pours a deep garnet with ruby highlights, hinting at both power and elegance. The nose is intense and layered, revealing ripe black cherry, plum, and fig, interwoven with notes of dried rose, cocoa, and baking spice. Hints of leather, tobacco, and Mediterranean herbs add depth, while subtle balsamic and mineral nuances lend a sense of sophistication.

On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and structured, yet remarkably balanced. Concentrated dark fruit flavors are framed by firm, velvety tannins and a backbone of bright acidity, preventing heaviness. The mid-palate displays notes of dried cherries, cassis, and a touch of espresso, with savory undertones of black olive and spice emerging on the finish. Length is extraordinary, leaving lingering impressions of fruit, earth, and subtle smoky nuance.

The overall impression is one of refined power: Amarone’s characteristic richness is tempered by elegance, energy, and harmony.

Food Pairings
Zenato Amarone 2019 pairs beautifully with rich and flavorful cuisine. Ideal matches include braised short ribs, osso buco, game birds, and aged cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino. It also complements mushroom risottos, truffle-infused dishes, and dark chocolate desserts.

Serve at approximately 64–66°F, ideally decanted for an hour or more to allow the wine’s full aromatic and textural depth to emerge.

Cellaring & Longevity
This Amarone is built for both immediate enjoyment and long-term aging. In youth, it offers concentrated fruit, layered aromatics, and smooth tannins. Over time, it will develop greater complexity, revealing notes of dried fruit, leather, tobacco, and earthy spice.

Properly cellared, the 2019 Zenato Amarone Classico DOCG will evolve gracefully over 15–20 years, rewarding patience while maintaining its balance and elegance. It stands as a benchmark of Valpolicella Classico Amarone: powerful yet refined, deeply expressive of terroir and vintage, and unmistakably Zenato in style.