Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva 'Scajari'

Score

94

"This address excels with styles that respect tradition, while pondering better, fresher approaches. A longer drying period (still only three months to others' six). Menthol, cherry liqueur, saturated darker fruit allusions with dried porcini dashi to camphor. A meld of admirable freshness and power. Drink or hold."

Score

94

"The 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva Scajari is brooding and backward as a whiff of freshly shaved pine gives way to black currants, earth tones and a lifting hint of camphor. This floods the palate with silky textures and opulent red fruits, all nicely contrasted by brisk acidity and a core of salty minerality that adds tension. The Riserva Scajari leaves the mouth aching with youthful structure as grippy tannins saturate, and a primary staining of concentration is left lingering. This massive Amarone Riserva is built for the cellar."

Score

93

"Brothers Sandro and Claudio Gini make some of the very best Soave on the market but also own Tenuta Scajari at Campiano, high above Cazzano di Tramigna in the Valpolicella Orientale. Their Amarone is a singular wine with a restrained yet succulent nose; gentle, wafting dried fruit aromas combine with spice and tertiary notes on the breeze. The warm and soft palate shows good freshness of acidity; a gentle, relaxed style with exquisite balance."

Score

93

"A lovely, expressive red, with a fragrant nose of cured tobacco and forest floor transitioning to flavors of black cherry reduction, soft fig, anise hyssop and mineral on the silky palate. Reveals fine-grained tannins that are supple and well-meshed, with juicy acidity driving the long finish of sweet fruit and spiced orange peel. Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Oseleta. Drink now through 2031. ‡A.N."