'Plenum' Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva

'Plenum' Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2017 is a red from Villa Canestrari in the Illasi Valley hills east of Verona. Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Croatina are picked, and the loosest bunches dry on racks until a winter crush. The wine spends more than 40 days on the skins, several years in oak and at least 12 months in bottle. Rich and structured at 15.9% alcohol, it is one to sip slowly with hearty meat, game or mature 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 up to 200 m, on tuff and alluvial soils over layered marine limestone. The vines are trained on pergola and Guyot, and 10 to 30% of the bunches, the loosest ones, are picked by hand and dried on racks.

How it's made

The dried grapes are crushed between January and the end of February and fermented in small vats, starting at 10°C then 15°C, with over 40 days of maceration. After two rackings, 20% goes into new small oak barrels and the rest into 2,000-litre casks for several years, followed by at least 12 months in bottle.

How it tastes

A rich, structured red shaped by dried grapes and long years in oak. It has just 6 g/l of sugar and is made to be sipped slowly.

How to serve it

Serve it with hearty meat dishes, game and very mature, strongly flavoured cheeses, and take your time over each glass.