The 2013 Villa Rizzardi Amarone received the coveted Tre Bicchieri award from Italy's Gambero Rosso. That is the top award from Italy's most trusted wine publication, and it basically makes this one of the top Amarones produced that year.
Almost all of the other 2013 Amarones that received that ranking would run you $75+ per bottle. Not this one! There are just 84 bottles up for grabs. If you want some, you better act fast.
2013 Villa Rizzardi Amarone Della Valopolicella Classico
Tre Bicchieri -- Gambero Rosso, 93 points Vinous Media
ORDER NOW in our online store or stop by the store and pick some up.
Let's get right to that Vinous review, as I think it describes this wine perfectly. "The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Villa Rizzardi is a rich and decadent style, showing plum sauce and ripe black cherries with notes of milk chocolate and sweet tobacco. It’s velvety-smooth and glyceral in feel, mixing ripe red and black fruits with contrasting notes of cinnamon, bitter coffee, dark chocolate and licorice." Sounds pretty decent, wouldn't you say? Trust me, it's a lot better than decent!
Vintage 2013 proved to be a very successful one for the wines of the Valpolicella zone, and this is a glowing example. This 3rd generation, family owned and operated estate makes their wines the old fashioned way -- "low and slow." That means long aging of one year in French barrique, an additional two years in botti (larger oak vessels), followed by another two years in bottle before the wine is released. This extended maturation has resulted in a pure and highly polished Amarone.
I know Amarone is more of a cool weather red, but I have no control over when wines are released and come to market. The good news with the Villa Rizzardi Amarone is that you can drink it now or hold on to it for at least 10 years. If you want to drink now, no problem. Enjoy with a thick cut ribeye with blue cheese on top or just sip this one contemplatively over the course of an evening.
With just 84 bottles up for grabs and such a good price, I don't expect this one to last long, and I cannot get any more once those bottles are sold through. I think you know what to do next....
ORDER NOW in our online store or stop by the store and pick some up.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville