Recioto della Valpolicella 'l'Armandorlato' DOCG

Recioto della Valpolicella 'l'Armandorlato' DOCG 2010 is a sweet red from Villa Canestrari in the Illasi Valley, Veneto. Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella are dried for months before pressing, then the wine ages long in oak and bottle. Deep ruby with garnet glints, it brings jammy red and dark fruit, spice, cocoa and tobacco, with a velvety, lingering palate at 15.5% alcohol. Made only in the best years. Delivered across Ontario.

The producer

Villa Canestrari is a family winery in the Illasi Valley, east of Verona. Its story starts in 1888, when Carlo Bonuzzi, who owned many vineyards in the valley, finished winemaking school at Conegliano and began bottling the family's wines. Francesco Bonuzzi and Adriana Franchi run the estate today.

The vineyards

Vines grow at about 300 metres in the Illasi Valley, on alluvial soils over layered marine limestone. Loose bunches of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella are picked by hand in early October into small crates, then left to dry for a long time in the fruttaio, the drying loft.

How it's made

The dried grapes are crushed and destemmed, then fermented in a small vat at low temperature with a very long maceration and gentle racking every other day. The wine ages for a long time in oak barrels and then in bottle, and is made only in the best vintages, in small quantities.

How it tastes

Deep ruby red with garnet highlights. The nose is full of red and dark fruit jam, spice, cocoa and pipe tobacco. The palate is velvety and long, with a layered, intriguing character.

How to serve it

Pour it with strong, well-aged cheeses topped with honey or mostarda, plain dry cakes or chocolate biscuits, or with game in a wild berry sauce. A wine to linger over; serve at 16 to 18°C.