Tedeschi Maternigo Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2016

Tedeschi Maternigo Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2016 is a powerhouse red from one of Valpolicella’s most respected family estates, bottled only in outstanding vintages. The 2016 ranks among the finest years of the new millennium for Amarone, and Tedeschi has used it to craft a deeply concentrated, ageworthy wine that borders on the mythical “wine of the century” status. Sourced from the Barila vineyard on the historic Maternigo estate, this Riserva captures the essence of Amarone: intensity, elegance, and a remarkable sense of place.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Amarone Riserva shows a dense, garnet-ruby core with subtle brick-red reflections at the rim, hinting at both extraction and early complexity. The nose is expansive and layered: think ripe black cherries and dark plums, joined by dried figs, dates and morello cherries, all wrapped in notes of cocoa, sweet spices, tobacco leaf, and a touch of licorice and balsamic. Hints of dried herbs, cedar and crushed stone add further depth and refinement. On the palate, Maternigo Amarone Riserva 2016 is full-bodied and opulent, yet surprisingly poised. The appassimento process delivers rich, almost liqueur-like fruit—black cherry, blackberry compote, and dried cranberries—balanced by a vibrant, well-defined acidity (around 6.1 g/l) that keeps the wine from ever feeling heavy. Tannins are firm, fine-grained and velvety, providing structure to the 17% alcohol, which is seamlessly integrated rather than aggressive. Flavors of dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean, vanilla, and warm spices unfold slowly, leading into a long, warming, savory finish with a subtle bitter-cherry echo typical of classic Amarone. With its concentration and balance, this wine has excellent aging potential; properly cellared, it should evolve gracefully for 15–20 years or more from the vintage, gaining further tertiary notes of leather, forest floor and dried flowers.

Production
The grapes for this Amarone Riserva come from the Barila vineyard within the historic Maternigo estate in eastern Valpolicella, an area characterized by calcareous, well-drained soils that lend structure, minerality, and aromatic precision. The blend is traditional: 40% Corvina Veronese, 40% Corvinone and 20% Rondinella, all carefully selected and hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. As is customary for Amarone, a portion of the whole clusters is laid out in well-ventilated drying rooms for about 100 days, during which the berries partially desiccate, concentrating sugars, acids, and flavor compounds into near-raisined fruit. After gentle pressing, fermentation proceeds slowly, allowing the must to fully ferment nearly all of the sugar (leaving about 5 g/l residual sugar) despite the high potential alcohol. The wine is then aged for an extended period—traditionally in large oak casks and/or well-chosen barrels—to polish the tannins, integrate the 17% alcohol, and build the complex bouquet that defines a top Amarone Riserva.

Food & Serving
This is a contemplative Amarone that shines with rich, deeply flavored dishes: think braised beef cheeks, ossobuco, slow-cooked lamb shanks, game stews, or venison with a dark berry reduction. It also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Monte Veronese or mature pecorino, and can be an indulgent partner to dark chocolate desserts with minimal sweetness. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight its aromatic complexity without emphasizing the alcohol. Decanting is strongly recommended: give it at least 1–2 hours in a decanter when young to let the wine open and relax; older bottles may need a gentler, shorter decant primarily to remove sediment.

Producer
Agricola F.lli Tedeschi is one of the historic family estates of Valpolicella, with roots in the region dating back several centuries and a documented winemaking tradition since the 17th century. Based in the heart of Verona’s hills, Tedeschi has long been considered a benchmark for structured, terroir-driven Amarone and Valpolicella wines. The family has been a pioneer in single-vineyard bottlings and meticulous vineyard management, emphasizing low yields, careful site selection and the expressive potential of native varieties such as Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella. Over the decades, their wines have garnered international acclaim and helped cement Valpolicella’s reputation as one of Italy’s premier red wine regions, with cuvées like Maternigo Amarone Riserva representing the pinnacle of the estate’s craftsmanship.

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