"1888" Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva

'1888' Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2014 is a red from Villa Canestrari, made from low-yield vines in the Illasi Valley hills near Verona. Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Croatina are dried in small crates, crushed in winter and left more than 40 days on the skins. It spends at least 3 years in oak barrels, then at least a year in bottle. Full, warm and velvety at 16.15% alcohol, with a lightly toasted finish, it suits game, hearty meat and aged cheese. Delivered across Ontario.

The producer

Villa Canestrari has made wine since 1888 at Colognola ai Colli, near Verona, and grows its grapes on the Illasi Valley hills.

The vineyards

Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Croatina from south-west facing hills at about 250 m, on tuff and alluvial soils over layered marine limestone. Yields are low, about 7,000 kg of grapes per hectare, and trained pickers choose the loosest bunches from late September to dry in small crates in the fruit loft.

How it's made

The dried grapes are crushed between late December and the end of February and fermented in 2,600-litre vats, with more than 40 days on the skins. After two rackings the wine goes into 225 to 500-litre oak barrels, 20% new, and a tasting after one year decides if it becomes Riserva. It then spends more years in barrel, six months in steel and at least a year in bottle.

How it tastes

A full, warm and velvety red. The finish carries a light toasted note.

How to serve it

Pair it with hearty meat, game and very mature, strong cheeses, perhaps with mostarda, an Italian fruit chutney. It also works on its own after a meal; pour it into large glasses.