2008 Zýme "La Mattonara" Amarone della Valpocella Classico Riserva (Pre-Arrival)

The 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva La Mattonara keeps you at the edge of the glass, as it opens up in layers, showing dried cherries, currants and hints of pine. Further coaxing brings forward savory smoke followed by crushed blackberries, cinnamon, clove and candied citrus. The textures are like pure silk, slowly draped across the palate with a polished sheen, leaving ripe red and black fruits, mocha, sweet herbs and autumnal spice. You can feel the weight, yet the 2008 remains remarkably balanced, vibrant and flat-out delicious, with a finish that never seems to end. The Riserva La Mattonara is produced through strict selection in the vineyards, followed by three months of air-drying, two months of maceration and nine years maturing in large Slavonian oak. In a word—Wow! (EG) (2/2021)