Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Amarone della Valpolicella 2021
Full-bodied dry red wine · Casa Vinicola S.p.A. (bottled for Sainsbury's Taste the Difference tier)
Vintage: 2021
Type
Full-bodied dry red wine
Producer
Casa Vinicola S.p.A. (bottled for Sainsbury's Taste the Difference tier)
Country
Italy
Vintage
2021
Region & Appellation
Veneto, Italy, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Grape Varieties
Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone blend
Color & Appearance
Deep ruby red with garnet reflections, high viscosity with slow-moving legs
Aroma Profile
Intense aromas of dried dark cherries, dark plums, raisins, sweet spices, cocoa, and a hint of tobacco
Tasting Notes
Rich and powerful on the entry with a velvety texture, developing layers of dried fruit and spice on the mid-palate, leading to a long, warming, and harmonious finish
Flavor Profile
Concentrated flavors of dried fig, prune, black cherry, dark chocolate, sweet tobacco, and a touch of sweet baking spices
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a rich, velvety, and luscious mouthfeel, balanced by a dense extract level
Acidity & Tannins
Medium-high acidity providing necessary freshness to balance the high alcohol and richness, with firm yet fine-grained, velvety tannins
Sweetness Level
Dry, despite the ripe fruit profile and rich mouthfeel, with minimal residual sugar
Alcohol Content
15.0% ABV
Aging & Oak
Aged in oak barrels for an extended period, imparting subtle notes of vanilla, cedar, and spice
Food Pairings
Ideal with rich braised meats, game, osso buco, roasted lamb, and mature hard cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 18-20°C in a large Bordeaux glass, decant for at least 1-2 hours before serving
Price Range
20.00 - 25.00 USD
Quality Assessment
90 points, premium tier private label offering great value for a classic Amarone style
Production Methods
Appassimento method: grapes are hand-harvested and dried on straw mats for several months before pressing and fermentation
Terroir
Hilly vineyards in the Valpolicella zone with calcareous, clay, and stony soils benefiting from good diurnal temperature variations
History & Heritage
Amarone evolved from the accidental over-fermentation of Recioto, becoming one of Italy's most prestigious and unique wine styles
Interesting Facts
The drying process (appassimento) reduces grape weight by up to 40%, concentrating sugars, flavors, and extract significantly
Cellaring Potential
Can be enjoyed now after decanting or cellared for 5 to 10 years to develop more tertiary complexity
Similar Wines
Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella, Masi Costasera Amarone, Allegrini Amarone