Allegrini, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Allegrini, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Vintage: 2020

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2020AL202B206 x 75Natural CorkAvailable
Producer

The Allegrini family estate comprises 120 hectares of vineyard in the heart of Valpolicella Classico. Although the family has grown grapes here for several centuries, Giovanni Allegrini was the first to start bottling wines from the family’s vineyards. When he died in 1983, he passed his passion and commitment to quality winemaking onto his three children, Walter, Marilisa and Franco. Together, they worked to build on Giovanni’s quality ethos until Walter’s death in 2003. Franco looked after the vineyards and winemaking, while Marilisa continued to manage sales and marketing. From the 2007 vintage, Franco sacrificed the Valpolicella Classico classification by bottling the Allegrini wines under Stelvin to eliminate cork taint and reduce oxidation problems. Franco sadly passed away in 2022. He was an inspiring figure who led the way in Valpolicella’s quest for quality, forging a path many others have followed. In 2023, Franco’s sons Francesco, Giovanni and Matteo, alongside their cousin Silvia Allegrini (Walter’s daughter), became custodians of their family’s historic estate.

Allegrini’s Valpolicella has a lovely intensity of red cherry fruit, lifted perfumes and a ripe yet zesty character on the palate. ‘La Grola’, sleek and beguiling, sets the standard by which all other wines from Valpolicella are judged. The ‘Palazzo della Torre’, a ‘baby Amarone’ produced by Allegrini’s modern approach to the ripasso method, is plush and rounded. Their Amarone is outstanding, offering an expression that is intense yet balanced. The ‘Giovanni Allegrini’ Recioto Classico, named after the winery's famous founder, is bursting with fruit and notes of cherry intertwined with pepper and thyme.

In 2018, Allegrini purchased 40 hectares of land in the municipality of Pozzolengo after years of scouting the Lugana area around Lake Garda. They created a Lugana defined by lively acidity, which balances the natural richness of the Turbiana grape. The resulting wine is stylish and elegant, defined by classic floral aromas and hints of almonds.

Vineyards

The Allegrini family's south-east facing vineyards are located in the Valpolicella Classico hills at 450-520 metres above sea level. The varied soils are mostly chalk and clay of volcanic origin, which are well-draining. The vines are Guyot-trained and 37 years old on average, planted with about 5,000 vines per hectare.

Vintage

2020 was a challenging year, with the pandemic and adverse weather conditions in the region. Fortunately the Allegrini vineyards were spared from the violent weather that hit areas near to them in the province of Verona. There was some rain in summer that slowed the ripening process, however good weather in September favoured maturation. The harvest was extended, which made it possible to choose the best time to pick in every single plot, for every single variety. The 2020 fruit was of excellent quality.

Vinification

The grapes were hand harvested, and dried over three to four months using the traditional Appassimento process, during which they lost 40-45% of their original weight. The dried grapes were destemmed, crushed and fermented in stainless-steel tanks. Maceration lasted around 25 days, with daily pumping over. The wine was racked into new oak 225l barriques and then aged further in bottle.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

A classic expression of the appellation, with intense aromas of ripe, dark fruit and spice. The wine shows powerful structure and depth, superb balance with refined tannins and a long finish.

Alcohol (ABV)

16%

Acidity

6.2 g/l

Residual Sugar

3.4 g/l

pH

3.4