98 Robert Parker
This wine has taken a beautiful turn, but sadly only 17 bottles still exist back at the winery. The 1996 Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta exhibits beautiful linearity and freshness that is almost unreal to behold considering the massive texture and weight of the fruit flavors on hand. The fruit is still plump and vibrant, and the 17.5% alcoholic content is magically downplayed. To be honest, in a blind tasting I might guess this wine is five to ten years younger than it really is. That freshness, both in terms of fruit and mouthfeel, is really quite extraordinary. This wine is going nowhere fast, but in a good way, because it is pretty much ageless. Delicate notes of exotic spice and fine licorice appear as pretty accents on the close. There is no doubt: This is one of the greatest Amarone wines ever made, and it is still holding strong.
97 James Suckling
Amarone might not be what you would expect to be drinking in Thailand, but I enjoyed this fabulous old wine from Romano Dal Forno the other day in Bangkok. In fact, this example showed how the wine ages and loses much of its sweetness. It was certainly full and tannic yet also fruit coated. Everything culminating in an extraordinary, mineral and flint finish.
93 Wine Spectator
Bright and fruity Amarone, with pepper, crushed berries and hints of new wood. Full-bodied and very velvety, with a long, long juicy finish. Gorgeous and decadent. The master of Amarone hits it again. Drink now through 2010. 720 cases made. ?JS
This wine has taken a beautiful turn, but sadly only 17 bottles still exist back at the winery. The 1996 Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta exhibits beautiful linearity and freshness that is almost unreal to behold considering the massive texture and weight of the fruit flavors on hand. The fruit is still plump and vibrant, and the 17.5% alcoholic content is magically downplayed. To be honest, in a blind tasting I might guess this wine is five to ten years younger than it really is. That freshness, both in terms of fruit and mouthfeel, is really quite extraordinary. This wine is going nowhere fast, but in a good way, because it is pretty much ageless. Delicate notes of exotic spice and fine licorice appear as pretty accents on the close. There is no doubt: This is one of the greatest Amarone wines ever made, and it is still holding strong.