Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta 2016

Cellar for 20 years or more. Decant for an hour or more before serving. This is a full-bodied, ripe wine with thick scents of prune, dark chocolate, blackberry jam, spiced fruit cake, and earth. It is made from the holy trinity of Valpolicella grapes - Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella, all plucked from the vicinity of Val D`Illasi in the region of Veneto in Northern Italy. The winery was founded in the 1980s by Romano Dal Forno, a student of the great Giuseppe Quintarelli, who has become a legend of Italian winemaking in his own right. The estate places a focus on low-yield vines, growing 8 hectares of native Veneto grapes in the alluvial soils of Val D`Illasi. This approach of “quality over quantity” allows for a deeply personal touch - Romano tends to the needs of every individual plant in his vineyards. The Valpolicella Superiore is remarkably balanced on the palate, walking a tightrope between intensity and drinkability. It is filled with classic Italian notes of tomato leaf, balsamic, plum, strawberry, and wet stone, with a savoury base of newly turned earth and leather. With its strong, silky tannins and pulsating, medium-plus acidity, it is a red wine to savour. Consider pairing it with tender beef, roast chicken, or vegetarian tomato pasta.

Price: £97.55 from 8wines UK