Cesari Amarone 2007 | $35

[Michael Horne]

A youthful, full-bodied classic Amarone della Valpolicella that you can readily find in many wine shops, we gave this $32 gem a taste and were quite impressed. Amarone is one of my favorites, but they’re often out of reach for most Italian wine lovers because of the price. If you’re looking for an ‘everyday’ Amarone that won’t break the bank, check out this one.

What you’ll taste: Delightful violets and fennel on the nose, with classic Amarone notes of prune and raisin, and an interesting blend of baked red apple & blackberry jam that fills the mouth. Zinfandel lovers will enjoy this wine. The acidity is medium to high, which is a pleasant surprise given how hot the 2007 growing year was in northern Italy, with grapes maturing very early and harvests several weeks earlier than usual. The finish on this baby goes on and on. Alcohol level is at a modest 14% (ok, modest by Amarone standards).

What’s in the bottle: 70-75% Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella and 5% Molinara (classic Amarone blend)

What to eat with this: Amarone is notoriously BIG, so you’ll want something hearty to pair with it. Try game meats and grilled beef. I like a well marbled T-bone with my Amarone. It’s also fun as a “conversation wine” — bring it along to your next party and watch people marvel at Amarone’s bold personality.

How much & where to find it: A bottle of this tasty Amarone will run you about $32-37, and is avaialble in many retail shops across the US. You can find this wine online here

Visiting them: Gerardo Cesari is just off A22 north of Verona in Cavaion Veronese. With an appointment, you can drop in to taste and buy wines from Gerardo. Give him a call at +39.045.626.0928, or contact him here.

Cantina address: Località Sorsei #3, Cavaion Veronese 37010 Italia

Website: They have a pretty cool website with some stunning photos. Check them out at http://www.cesariverona.it

Michael Horne, CS
Los Gatos, CA USA

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