Masi - Amarone - Costasera - 2020

$82.00

Masi has been making wine in Valpolicella since 1772, and Costasera is the house's benchmark Amarone: Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes picked in late September, then dried on bamboo racks through winter until they lose about 40% of their weight. The 2020 comes in at 15% alcohol after 24 months in Slavonian oak and Allier barriques. This is the Amarone for the table when dinner runs long and the conversation gets good, built to sit with braised meat for hours.

Very dark ruby, with baked plum and cherry on the nose, plus coffee and cocoa. The palate is round and velvety, dark-fruited with orange peel and black tea, light chewy tannins carrying a long finish.

Braised short rib, wild boar ragu or aged Grana Padano. Costasera wants something rich enough to meet it halfway.

Grapes come from Valpolicella Classico hillsides and are dried in Masi's appassimento rooms through the winter before pressing, the traditional method the estate has used for generations to concentrate sugar and flavor.