Santa Sofia – Gioé 2007 – Amarone della Valpolicella

Quite deep colour, still with a dense ruby red core, but the rim is indicating some age; it’s more towards the tawny. It certainly has a development in a traditional style, marked by a certain oxidation, with dried fruit notes like walnut, leather, dry wood; far beyond the primary fruit, some dried cherry notes. Palate is quite full; it’s warm in terms of alcohol and ripeness. At this stage it’s appearing more with nutty and leathery notes. There’s a hint of oxidation, but that’s part of I would say a traditional style. The fruit character is more on those dried cherry notes. There is a slight hint of oak as well, but more like old and used oak. So in terms of texture it’s rounded now, with finely dissolved tannins, quite warm and long on the finish. Not a wine for everyone probably, as it has this mature traditional style marked by oxidation, but I think it’s really well balanced for that traditional style, so I kind of like it.

Tasted by the Best Sommelier of the World, Andreas Larsson.