The Musella 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva (a certified organic wine with 40,000 bottles made) is a full-bodied expression with thick layers of sweet fruit, dried cherry, barbecue smoke and perfumed cedar. The alcohol content clocks in at 16%, but the wine still shows lingering sweetness and savory spice, making this a good choice for spicy meat dishes like steak in marinade or fajitas. However, it definitely veers toward the sweeter side of the spectrum.

Musella's 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva is a little dry and tight, thanks to the vintage heat and the age of the wine. However, dark fruit aromas of dried cherry and black currant do still appear with intensity. The blend of grapes used here is 50% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 5% Rondinella and 10% Oseleta, all dehydrated for 90 days. This shorter appassimento time (instead of 120 days) is quite common in the hot 2012 vintage. This wine is large-scale and full-bodied in the mouth with lots of tar, spice and raisiny fruit. The alcohol content clocks in at 16%. Some 20,000 bottles were made.

This bright, medium-bodied red shows well-knit tannins and appealing flavors of juicy, sun-dried cherry, lavender, dried fig and spice. An accessible version, with a lightly chewy, citrusy finish. Drink now through 2022. 2,500 cases made, 120 cases imported.??–AN??Region: Italy / Amarone della Valpolicella Select to Add

Well-knit and lightly chewy, this balanced red features hints of cocoa powder and dried herb dusting the plumped cherry, fig cake, sweet smoke and licorice flavors. A crowd-pleasing version that's approachable now, but has the stuffing for the cellar. Drink now through 2025.??–AN??Region: Italy / Amarone della Valpolicella Select to Add

The 2009 Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva (from the non-classico half of the wine growing appellation) is an impressive wine. Musella's house style shows great exuberance but is slightly more subdued compared to some of the more outlandish wines from the Valpolicella appellation. The fruit clarity and the natural acidity is more pronounced in this classic 2009 edition. Red cherry is followed by cassis, dried prune and tobacco. The fine tannins lend solid support at the back and will help this wine age carefully over the next five to ten years.