Amarone Collection, Dal Forno Romano Mixed Vintage

***1994 - 97 points, Robert Parker***
The spectacular 1994 Amarone exhibits amazing freshness for a wine of such mass, size, and concentration. It oozes across the palate, but never comes close to being heavy. There are amazing quantities of truffles, smoke, black fruits, and licorice present in this exquisite wine. This is the product of a true genius. It should drink well for a minimum of two decades.

***1995 - 98 points, Robert Parker***
The opaque purple-colored 1995 Amarone is nearly perfect. It is reminiscent of super-concentrated blackberry liqueur infused with incense, smoke, and minerals. Full-bodied, dense, and chewy, this huge offering possesses remarkable purity and liveliness for its size and intensity.

***1996 - 99 points, Robert Parker***
Dal Forno's virtually perfect 1996 is undoubtedly the finest Amarone I have ever tasted. Its inky black/purple color is accompanied by extraordinarily pure, graphite-infused, blackberry, plum, mineral, licorice, and espresso flavors. Despite its monumental intensity and richness, this wine is not heavy, somehow managing to conceal its 17.5% alcohol! As compelling an Italian wine as I have ever tasted, it should prove to be unbelievably long-lived. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2030.

***1997 - 99 points, Robert Parker***
The outrageous 1997 Amarone (17.5% alcohol) was aged 28 months in 100% new French oak. An inky/purple color is followed by sumptuous aromas of blueberry liqueur intermixed with truffle, graphite, camphor, and vanilla scents. This remarkable offering is immensely full-bodied and super-concentrated, with great purity, symmetry, and length. It is the stuff of legends! How long will it last? Who knows? Certainly this wine is capable of evolving for 15-20 years.

***1998, 1999***
No scores.

***2000 - 95 points, Ian d'Agata***
Nearly black color. Extremely youthful, unforthcoming nose hints at black cherry, plum, violet, bitter chocolate, quinine and bell pepper. This is almost too concentrated and tannic to describe. Palate- and toothstaining flavors of black plum, coffee liqueur, spices, tobacco, vanilla and herbs abound. Alcoholic, heady wine, with a much denser and more tannic finish than the Amarones of Giuseppe Quintarelli. Not for those who believe that less can be more. This cult producer's 2000s are clearly superior to his 1999s, a lesser year for Amarone.

***2001 - 97 points, Antonio Galloni***
The 2001 Amarone is on another level entirely. It exudes notable warmth and ripeness, with profound layers of Venezuelan bitter chocolate, herbs, licorice, smoke, dark fruit and toasted oak. Made in an explosive style, this palate-staining Amarone possesses remarkable detail and nuance for such a big wine. It has been phenomenal on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021.

***2004 - 98 points, Antonio Galloni***
The 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella is one of the most monumental young wines I have ever tasted. This is an especially silky, elegant Amarone from Dal Forno that avoids the heaviness of some previous vintages. Blackberry jam, crushed rocks, minerals, violets, new leather and bittersweet chocolate are some of the nuances that emerge over time. This is every bit as majestic as it was every time I tasted it from barrel over the last few years. The silky, exceptionally polished tannins make the 2004 approachable today, but the wine will be even better in a few years. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.