Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore 2017
The Dal Forno family has been making wine since 1983. Located in Val D’Illasi, the estate consists of 65 acres of vines planted to traditional indigenous varieties of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Croatina. The estate vineyards and farm are located where the slopes begin to rise toward the mountains and sit 1,000 feet above sea level. The loose, alluvial soils, meticulous pruning and scrupulous viticultural techniques ensure remarkable-quality grapes. The Dal Fornos use traditional methods to grow the finest fruit, and then employ modern techniques to produce the best wines - classic in expression and modern in purity. The varietal composition of the Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore 2017 is Corvina (70%), Rondinella (20%), Croatina (5%) and Oseleta (5%). Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled steel tanks equipped with a sophisticated computerised system that allows automatic punching-down over a period of around 15 days, including the final two days of maceration. After racking, the Valpolicella rests for a few days in stainless steel tanks, which thanks to their special shape, allow easy decanting, and is then matured in new barriques. For the 2017 vintage, the Valpolicella was aged for 36 months.
“Taking this in reminds me of all of the desserts, spices and confections experienced on Christmas day. An array of medicinal cherries, plum sauce, ginger cookies, cloves, cinnamon and dried roses captivate. There's tremendous depth here, but it maintains fantastic freshness. This is wildly spicy and intense, yet deep, with brilliant acidity, which enlivens the crunchy red fruits and pretty inner florals within.”
Eric Guido, Vinous - 95 Points