Zenato Amarone Riserva Sergio 2016

Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio 2016 is the estate’s flagship wine and a benchmark for serious Amarone lovers. Dense, powerful and exquisitely detailed, it marries sheer richness with remarkable finesse and balance. Produced only in the finest vintages from the best parcels, this Riserva captures the soul of Valpolicella in a bottle that will evolve beautifully for decades.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2016 Sergio Zenato Riserva shows a deep, opaque ruby core with garnet reflections forming at the rim, signaling both concentration and early complexity. The nose is intense and layered: ripe black cherry, dark plum and dried fig unfold alongside notes of cocoa, espresso, pipe tobacco and sweet baking spices, with a subtle hint of balsamic herbs and smoke. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, enveloping Amarone with serious weight and texture. The 16.5% alcohol is seamlessly integrated, carried by rich, velvety fruit and finely grained, dusty tannins. Flavors of macerated blackberries, dried cherries and dates are interwoven with licorice, dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans and a savory, almost salty, smoky undertone that adds complexity and length. The finish is long, warm and persistent, with spice and dried fruit notes lingering. Built for the long haul, this 2016 has the structure and concentration to age gracefully for 20+ years in a good cellar, gradually gaining more tertiary notes of leather, truffle and forest floor.

Production
Sergio Zenato Amarone Riserva is crafted from carefully selected old-vine Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and a small portion of local varieties grown in the historic Classico zone of Valpolicella in Veneto. The vineyards sit on well-drained, limestone and clay-rich soils with good exposure, allowing for optimal ripening and intensity of flavor. Only the healthiest bunches are hand-harvested, then laid out in traditional fruttai (drying lofts) for several months of appassimento, during which the grapes slowly dehydrate and concentrate their sugars, acids and aromas. After a gentle pressing, the must undergoes a long, slow fermentation at controlled temperatures to extract deep color, complex aromatics and supple tannins. The wine is then aged for an extended period in oak—often a combination of large Slavonian casks and smaller French barriques—before further bottle aging, resulting in a richly textured yet harmonious Amarone with great depth and longevity.

Food & Serving
This Amarone Riserva shines alongside robust, richly flavored dishes: slow-braised beef short ribs, osso buco, roast venison or wild boar, aged Parmigiano Reggiano, mature pecorino and truffle-inflected dishes all make superb partners. It is also a contemplative wine to savor on its own at the end of a meal, perhaps with a plate of aged cheeses or dark chocolate. Serve at 17–18°C (around 62–64°F) in large Bordeaux or purpose-made Amarone glasses. Decanting for 2–3 hours before serving helps the wine open up its aromatic layers and smooth out the powerful structure.

Producer
Founded in 1960 on the shores of Lake Garda, Zenato has grown into one of Veneto’s most respected family estates, renowned for elevating both Lugana whites and Valpolicella reds on the world stage. The Sergio Zenato Amarone Riserva is named in honor of the estate’s visionary founder and represents the pinnacle of their work in the Valpolicella Classico area. With a philosophy that blends meticulous vineyard work and modern precision with deep respect for local traditions like appassimento, Zenato has become a reference point for Amarone, consistently earning top scores and international acclaim for the depth, balance and ageworthiness of its wines.

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