Monte Del Fra Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Opened this at Gary’s Italian Restaurant over dinner with a very close ex-colleague to celebrate a birthday. We had Pan Seared Hokkaido Scallop, Pan Seared Foie Gras, Cream Based Cheese-Wheel Pasta with Winter Black Truffle, John Stone Beef Tomahawk, and a serving of Nougat Parfait. Deep purple in colour. Decanted for an hour before consumption. Full bodied with great elegance and balance. Complex flavours on the nose and palate: ripe black fruits, herbaceous, tobacco, dried herbs, sun-dried raisins, oak, aged …

Fabulous fruit driven amarone. Black cherry, earthy, jam, sulpher, asphalt. All of the players show up here. Tannin and acidic bug balanced without overwhelming the fruit. This is a winner which needs many years to settle.