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Wine90’s Wine of the Year

This “Wine of the Year” choice is a very personal matter. For some, their wine of the year will be connected to a special memory, an anniversary, a birth, a date with a new love or the wine they celebrated their first birdie (or in my case even making par) with. My choice for wine of the year is similarly sentimental but unconnected to events in my personal life.

When this happens, you have a truly great wine and for me there was only one contender in my tasting year – Romano Del Forno’s Amarone della Valpolicella 1996.
Not even inside the traditional Classico area, Dal Forno is still unquestionably the King of Amarone. No other Amarone producer manages to pull off such mouthwatering ripeness of fruit. The new oak employed, the ripe fruit and the skill in creating balance by the winemakers allows Dal Forno to stand alone at the top of Amarone production and, as you can imagine, such attention to detail does not come cheap for the consumer. Dal Forno’s Amarone della Valpolicella estate is minuscule, at 8 hectares there are only around 1000 cases produced annually meaning even the most recent vintage will set you back £200 a bottle.
1996 isn’t really considered one of the top years for Amarone yet this wine, just about coming into it’s drinking window, shows fantastically well. The colour just starting to tinge lighter at the rim and the complex bouquet beginning to show telltale signs of maturity the Amarone hasn’t even reached your lips and you’re on tenterhooks, grinning and looking around for a friend to say “hey, hey, just put your nose in this”.
As an aside, I also did this last week when (wine that shall remain nameless) had a nose exactly, and I mean bang on the money exactly, like Cif (Jif for everyone over 30).
Although the wine doesn’t actually have a 350 day finish, I sampled this wine in January of 2009 and despite countless competitors it is a wine I can recount with pinpoint clarity, an experience I will always remember and my 2009 wine of the year. If anyone wishes to test that theory I am available for more Dal Forno tastings any time any place.
Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Vapolicella 1996 – BUY – £350
A thick lush dark purple and only just fading lighter on the rim. This nose is killer. Rushing notes of blueberry, blackcurrant, vanilla and a creamy coffee. If you’ve experienced the Italian confectionary “pocket coffee” there are a few packets of these mixed into the blend it would seem. The palate is the real joy, full bodied, huge structure, fruit forward, perfect balance, tannins caressing and the real showmanship in this wine? 17.5% alcohol resting perfectly within the structure and never overtaking or leaving a hot finish. 98 Points

Where can I buy this Wine?
Europeans – Arvi – €396
Americans – Vinfolio – $599
Brits – Arvi – £350
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G’wan then, what is your wine of the year?
G’wan then, what is your wine of the year?
Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1983
$599.00 a bottle? It better tuck me in at night after drinking it. Just the nose alone makes me want to try this wine, I love the sound of a mixture of blueberry, vanilla and coffee. Thanks for the post!
I love Amarone and think I may just treat myself to one at Christmas.
Latour 1990. Still too juvenile but the best I've had this year.