The Vaona 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Pegrandi is really quite pretty and nicely defined. It shows lifted aromas of dark plum and candied cherry with plenty of balanced smoke, licorice and tar at the back to flesh it out. The wine is densely concentrated and powerful but not in a heavy or overdone fashion. It maintains that lifted and bright character on the long finish. This is a breakout vintage for Vaona, made with 35% Corvina, 30% Corvinone, 30% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. Production is 6,000 bottles.