2004 Amarone della Valpolicella, Corte Sant'Alda, Veneto

From this terrific vintage, Marinella's Amarone combines brilliant biodynamic pace and crunchy (certified) organic black, licorice fruit purity, all seamlessly woven together. Thanks to her breezily high vineyards and chalky soils, Marinella's wines are renowned for their minerally elegance. A blend of Corvina Veronese (40%), Corvina Grosso (30%) and Rondinella (30%), fermented and aged in large 40hl oak barrels, this excellent wine would benefit from further ageing till 2014 but would be great even now, with decanting, along with a haunch of venison.
(David Berry Green - BBR Buyer)