Degani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico La Rosta 2018

Degani is simply one of the best Amarone producers. This is their “Cru” offering of La Rosta – the best fruit, from the most revered and oldest parcels, aged for another year in barrel, and only made in the best vintages… Amarone at its finest! Did you see the price?!

Seriously, the next best price on this wine in the U.S. is almost $30 more per bottle! We’ve had this wine for a few years running, and it just over-delivers in terms of quality, value, and utter deliciousness...simply exceptional stuff.

The single estate La Rosta (only made in the very best vintages) is made in the traditional style (the best parcels of grapes are air-dried on special wooden mats for three or four months before fermentation which increases the intensity and ripeness). 40% corvina grapes, 30% rondinella, 25% corvinone, and 5% altre grapes...aged for three years in barrel and will last virtually unchanged for DECADES!

This is definitely NOT FOR THE SHY! We’re talking hedonistically rich and unctuous yet somehow, magically, all in perfect balance with a freshness that seems impossible given its monstrous proportions and bubbling ebullience. Ripe, concentrated, intensely savory, and full of gusto, this is packed with sweet plums, fig jam, cola, dark black cherry, sarsaparilla, roasted almond, coffee liqueur, pastilles, mocha-covered coffee beans, rose water....simply goes on forever. Fantastic, rich mouthfeel, terrifically aromatic chai-like spice, and creme de cassis flavors. Definitely not for the “super light, elegant wine” crowd, but if you like ‘em ripe and affable, generous and lip-smacking, this is IT. So good! THE PRICE! Amazing wine, sure to please, but sadly, not a lot to go around. While it lasts..!