PRA Amarone della Valpolicella 2017, Veneto, Italy
SKU:
SGD 125.00
SGD 125.00
per item
Vintage: 2017
Producer: Graziano Pra
Varietal: Blend of traditional Valpolicella grapes Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta
Appellation: Amarone della Valpolicella
Type: Red
Alcohol Content: 16.5%
Drinking Window: 2023-2045
Scores (if you care about): 92/100 James Suckling
Amarone is a real celebration wine and one we found being appreciated the most from both regular and occasional wine drinkers.
This italian speciality obviously, is no ordinary wine; in many ways taking a lot more of the vintner's heart and soul. The grapes usually dry for two months in the drying racks, The grapes are destemmed, pressed and vinified with délestage followed by alcoholic and malolactic fermentation for 15 days in vertical stainless steel vats. 2 years aging in tonneaux and barriques and assembly for the last year in 20hl Allier oak casks. One year bottle aging before commercialization.
It was about four years ago when we were first introduced to PRA Amarone as part of a broader portfolio tasting of Graziano Pra. The bottle and its finesse left such a deep impression, it became a standard cellar recommendations from us. .
Not long after one such recommendation, a customer came back asking to replace this as it wasn't "premium". Considering how much we personally love it, it broke our heart. Thankfully, and to our great joy, three months later, the same customer tried it elsewhere and fell in love with the bottle, ordering an entire case; and, has been a regular ever since.
For Pra, one of the most well respected organic producers, it's a severe selection of the best the terroir has to offer.
2/3 of their wine rests in large oak barrels and 1/3 in barriques for three years.
The velvety wine and the organic farming show in this ethereal elegant beauty and is such hedonistic joy, that it will spoil you with it's lovely warm embrace. The joy is such, it won't let you go and when it does, you wouldn't want to.
Tasting Notes
2017 Vintage:
"A burly wine of considerable concentration. A twine of green pepper, stalky fennel and Alpine amaro, with some barrique cedar edges. Yet the mid-palate lacks the gusto necessary to mitigate and ameliorate the herbal patina. Made on a drier side, with the pursuit of freshness evident. This may turn a corner. Drink or hold." 92/100, Ned Goodwin, Jamesscukling.com, May 2023
2016 Vintage
"A savory and complex expression of Amarone with some dried cherries, red dates, stewed herbs, orange peel, tobacco and white pepper. Some bold green peppercorn, too. A svelte delivery of Amarone with a medium body, showing tobacco, cedar and chocolate on the palate. Long, cedary finish. Drink or hold." 94/100, James Suckling July 2022
2015 Vintage
The wine has a ruby red color. The aromas are intense and complex. On the palate cherries, plums mixed with bitter cocoa and licorice, Flavoursome and smooth structure balanced with tannins and freshness thanks to the altitude of vineyard and the high chalk composition in the marl soil. Power combined with elegance, as suggested by the horse breed T.P.R on the label.
"A very typical Amarone with lots of dried figs and sultanas. Full-bodied with layers of fruit and intense flavors of chocolate, walnuts and dried fruit. Lovely finish. Drink or hold." 96/100, James Suckling, Sept 2020"
"The 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Morandina does a wonderful job of delivering the intensity of Amarone, but in a savory and balanced style that I’m finding quite attractive. Crushed cherries and stone dust evolve into notes of plum sauce, cloves, sage and dark chocolate. It’s velvety in texture yet lifted in feel, coming across as juicy at times, with vibrant acids that excite the palate with mineral-tinged red fruits and sweet spices. This becomes darker and more intense through the finale, revealing tart black currants, herbal tones and a hint of bitter coffee. There’s simply so much going on here, with a structure that can carry the 2015 in the cellar for well over a decade. What's more, it shows no sign of its 16.5% abv." 95/100, Eric Guido, Vinous, Feb 2021
For ratings from prior years:
http://www.vinipra.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/premi_amarone.pdf