This is a dark a savory red wine with the power and intensity to pair with spicy foods or aged cheese. The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Campo del Titari makes its power and structure known from the start. Indeed, the alcohol clocks in at 16.5%. This is a deeply layered red wine made from air-dried fruit. The wine is reasonably textured and rich, yet the high alcohol helps it from feeling too heavy or thick. The power comes in the form of heat, not density. Only 5,000 bottles were produced.

The 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Campo dei Titari is 75% Corvina Veronese, 15% Rondinella and 10% Sangiovese. The Tuscan grape adds extra acidity (although Corvina is also known for its freshness) and aromas of pressed flower or dried violets. This is a monumental wine with thick and enduring density and long persistency. It ages 42 months in new and neutral Allier oak. Drink 2015-2028. I always enjoy the wines made by Luigi and Luciana Brunelli. The house style is fruit-forward and modern but never in an exaggerated or one-dimensional way. What I have consistently noticed over the years is the purity of the fruit obtained by this winemaking twosome: You rarely get the volatility or oxidation inherent to appassimento. A new tasting room and agriturismo have been opened. Importer: PW Wine Distributors, www.pwdistributors.com