2007 Corte Sant Alda Valpolicella Superiore Campi Magri

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1 91 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone Drink: Corte Sant Alda Valpolicella Superiore Campi Magri 91 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Valpolicella The estate s 2000 Amarone is sweet, rich and powerful. This beautifully proportioned Amarone offers plenty of fruit as well as volume in a somewhat restrained style. Anticipated maturity: The 2007 Valpolicella Superiore Campi Magri offers up sweet scents of dark cherries, tobacco, dried herbs, licorice and leather. The Campi Magri relies more on elegance and restraint rather than sheer power to make its case, which it does convincingly. This delicate, polished Valpolicella is best enjoyed while the fruit retains its vibrancy. Anticipated maturity: This is a sublime set of wines from Corte Sant Alda. The estate has made notable wines for some time, but this year I was especially struck by the elegance of the entire range. From a 2.3-hectare vineyard with predominately chalky soils, the 2006 Valpolicella Superiore is an opulent and powerful wine. Don t confuse it with your standard Valpolicella. Located 350 meters above sea level, the site is composed of 30% Corvina, 50% Corvina Grossa (Corvinone) and 20% Rondinella. Aged in French oak, the wine shows a super toasty and intense personality with bold aromas of barbecue smoke, mesquite, sandalwood, sweet cherry and church incense that set it apart. It is fast approaching integration, but still needs more time. Drink Corte Sant Alda is a flagship estate that makes some of the most opulent and age-worthy wines in Valpolicella. Marinella Camerani and her family farm according to biodynamic principles (they are Demeter-certified), and she likes to remind her visitors that olive and cherry groves are also a big part of the estate identity. Hers is a sustainable azienda agricola ( farming estate ), not just a vineyard, with a 360-degree perspective on all themes related to the land. The distinctive personality of the wines, and the consistent high quality make Corte Sant Alda an important addition to anyone who collects fine Amarone. Importer: Domaine Select Wine Estates, - Antonio Galloni (October, 2007) - Antonio Galloni (February, 2011) - Monica Larner (October, 2013)

2 93 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone 2003 Corte Sant Alda Recioto della Valpolicella Drink: Drink: Corte Sant Alda Valpolicella Superiore Campi Magri The 2009 Amarone della Valpolicella shows similar elegance that compares to 2006, one of my favorite editions of this beautiful wine. This is indeed an impressive effort with loads of Amarone intensity that is expertly offset by balanced acidity and integrated residual sugar. There s a touch of sweetness, but it s not out of place. The wine s broad mouthfeel is supported by tones of dark chocolate, spice, molasses and sun-dried dates. There s a firm edge to the tannic backbone that suggests it needs another few years of cellar aging. Drink Corte Sant Alda is a flagship estate that makes some of the most opulent and age-worthy wines in Valpolicella. Marinella Camerani and her family farm according to biodynamic principles (they are Demeter-certified), and she likes to remind her visitors that olive and cherry groves are also a big part of the estate identity. Hers is a sustainable azienda agricola ( farming estate ), not just a vineyard, with a 360-degree perspective on all themes related to the land. The distinctive personality of the wines, and the consistent high quality make Corte Sant Alda an important addition to anyone who collects fine Amarone. Importer: Domaine Select Wine Estates, The 2003 Recioto reveals a restrained personality. It possesses plenty of sweet, explosive fruit in a personality that manages to be opulent yet well-balanced at the same time. Today the tannins are big and building, suggesting further bottle age will be beneficial. Anticipated maturity: The 2006 Valpolicella Superiore Campi Magri is an utterly irresistible wine. A sweet, inviting bouquet leads to a gorgeous, expressive core of perfumed dark fruit. The wine shows exceptional length on the palate and a long, refined finish. This is a wonderful, joyous effort from Corte Sant Alda. Anticipated maturity: Corte Sant Alda and proprietor, Marinella Camerani excel with bold, powerful Valpolicellas and Amarones. Camerani was among the producers who decided against bottling an Amarone in 2005, but readers will find much to admire here, especially the 2006 Valpolicellas, which are beautiful. - Monica Larner (October, 2013) - Antonio Galloni (October, 2007) - Antonio Galloni (October, 2009)

3 93 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone 2000 Corte Sant Alda Recioto della Valpolicella 92 Drink: Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone The estate s top of the line 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella is another explosive, full-throttle wine. Still quite primary, this powerful Amarone exudes masses of dark fruit intermingled with mint, smoke and sweet French oak. Today the wine remains incredibly tightly wound, but there is notable opulence, and the only thing this Amarone needs is a few years in bottle which will allow its inner sweetness to emerge. Anticipated maturity: The 2000 Recioto della Valpolicella manages to balance a lush sweetness, important concentration, and much density with shape, freshness, and flair. A rich but stylish example of this wine, it will drink well between 2004 and Marinella Camerani, assisted in the winemaking by professor Roberto Ferrarini of the University of Verona, has made major strides in improving the quality of her wines in recent years, and the line is now in the top echelon of the Valpolicella. No known American importer The 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella is a sumptuous, richly-textured wine imbued with notable class in its layers of ripe dark fruit. Despite its depth and richness, the wine shows notable clarity. The style is quite concentrated but the level of sweetness is restrained. Pretty notes of cocoa, espresso and tobacco linger on the long finish. Anticipated maturity: Antonio Galloni (October, 2008) - Daniel Thomases (August, 2004) - Antonio Galloni (October, 2008)

4 93+ Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone 92 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone Drink: Corte Sant Alda Valpolicella The estate s 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella is a beautiful, if very inward, wine at this stage. Firm, sturdy tannins frame perfumed wild cherries, flowers, leather, licorice and spices. From time to time the wine s inner sweetness makes an appearance, but this remains a reticent Amarone in need of significant bottle age. Smoke, tar and ash add further complexity on the long, building finish. Readers will need to be patient with the estate s Amarone in 2006, but there is little doubt this will be a magnificent bottle in a few years time. Anticipated maturity: This is a sublime set of wines from Corte Sant Alda. The estate has made notable wines for some time, but this year I was especially struck by the elegance of the entire range. The 1997 Amarone della Valpolicella, powerful and expressive on the nose with jammy fruit, herbs, and tar, is very rich, broad, and sustained in flavor, dense and velvety but with an underlying strength and structure which guarantee a minimum of fifteen years of life ahead of it. Marinella Camerani, assisted in the winemaking by professor Roberto Ferrarini of the University of Verona, has made major strides in improving the quality of her wines in recent years, and the line is now in the top echelon of the Valpolicella. No known American importer In top years, Camerani produces a special cuvee called. The 1999 Valpolicella was aged in both small barrels and large foudres. It is a wine of tremendous ripeness as well as intensity, with a more international style as well as plenty of the local Corvina grape's typicity. Offering sweet vanilla, earthy blackberry fruit, medium to full body, and abundant density as well as ripeness, it should drink well for 5-6 years. Importer: A Christopher Cannan Selection, various American importers including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) and Diamond Wine Merchants, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) Antonio Galloni (February, 2011) - Daniel Thomases (August, 2004) - Robert M. Parker, Jr. (December, 2002)

5 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Valpolicella Superiore Campi Magri 94 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone 92 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone The 2008 Valpolicella Superiore Campi Magri comes across as a touch delicate in this vintage. Cherries, anise and sweet spices flow from this supple, beautifully balanced Valpolicella. I wouldn t wait too long on the Campi Magri as it is unlikely to ever be more delicious than it is today. The Campi Magri is made with the ripasso method, where the wine undergoes a secondary maceration on the skins left over from the vinification of the Amarone. The wine is aged in casks made from cherry instead of oak, which is quite unusual. Anticipated maturity: Proprietor Marinella Camerani can be counted on for wines of true character and personality. Organic farming and minimal handling in the cellar are some of the core principles that inform the house style at Corte Sant Alda. I ve had the opportunity to taste the 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella several times over the past three years and it always seems to young. I had that impression once again, although its drinking window is within sight. The hugeness of the wine - its general heft and power - is still unsettled. You are greeted with dark aromas of smoked barbecue or chipotle sauce, cured meat, raisin, prune, black pepper and Indian cardamom. Firm tannins hold the wine together and there s a distant spark of acidity to brighten the 1.7 grams per liter of residual sugar. Drink Corte Sant Alda is a flagship estate that makes some of the most opulent and age-worthy wines in Valpolicella. Marinella Camerani and her family farm according to biodynamic principles (they are Demeter-certified), and she likes to remind her visitors that olive and cherry groves are also a big part of the estate identity. Hers is a sustainable azienda agricola ( farming estate ), not just a vineyard, with a 360-degree perspective on all themes related to the land. The distinctive personality of the wines, and the consistent high quality make Corte Sant Alda an important addition to anyone who collects fine Amarone. Importer: Domaine Select Wine Estate... The 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella is an excellent choice for readers who are beginning to discover the reds of Veneto, as stylistically it shows only moderate influence of the drying process. Tar, smoke, licorice and dark cherries come together effortlessly in the glass. The 2008 is impeccable and classy from start to finish. It possesses lovely inner sweetness and fabulous overall balance. Anticipated maturity: Proprietor Marinella Camerani can be counted on for wines of true character and personality. Organic farming and minimal handling in the cellar are some of the core principles that inform the house style at Corte Sant Alda. - Antonio Galloni (February, 2012) - Monica Larner (October, 2013) - Antonio Galloni (February, 2012)

6 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Valpolicella 93 Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone Drink: Corte Sant Alda Amarone The 2004 Valpolicella Superiore is a massive, brooding wine loaded with ripe dark fruit, licorice, smoke and French oak. The wine possesses superior density and richness in a full-throttle yet harmonious style of Valpolicella. Anticipated maturity: The limited production (5,000-8,000 bottles) cuvee of 1995 Amarone boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a sweet perfume of black fruits, plums, and cherries intertwined with notions of fudge and new oak. Dense, chewy, powerful yet elegant and well-delineated, it should drink well for a decade. Importer: A Christopher Cannan Selection, various American importers including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) and Diamond Wine Merchants, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) The 1997 Amarone reveals tell-tale chocolate fudge-like notes in its fresh, pure flavors, in addition to a roasted prune character. Medium to full-bodied, lively, well-balanced, ripe, and vivacious, it will drink well for a decade. Importer: A Christopher Cannan Selection, various American importers including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) and Diamond Wine Merchants, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) Antonio Galloni (October, 2008) - Robert M. Parker, Jr. (December, 2002) - Robert M. Parker, Jr. (December, 2002)