The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a little uneven, with green aromas of garden herb and green olive on top of dark fruit and sour cherry. The results are a bit sharper than your standard Amarone (from a warmer vintage) that tends to be sweet and succulent instead. Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara grapes see 120 days of appassimento. Some 15,000 bottles were produced.

The 2009 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is 70% Covina, 25% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. This classic Amarone blend is carefully studied to bring optimal appassimento results, with bold intensity, good structure and characteristic aromas of dried fruit and spice. Velveteen texture marks the finish. Drink 2014-2020. Importer: Vinity Wine Company, www.vinitywinecompany.com

The 1998 Amarone is a full, fleshy, muscular, dense effort with a dark plum/ruby color as well as a sweet perfume of black fruits intermixed with earth, smoke, and loamy soil scents. Full-bodied and pure, it is delicious now yet should keep for a decade. Importer: Vinity Wine Co., (Dino Capriotti) Emeryville, CA; tel.(510) 601-6010