Bottle of Amarone Della Valpolicella Gioè 750 ml, 2011.

“In 1964 I decided to produce a truly superior wine that would combine a powerful texture with the most elegant aromas and pleasing roundness. Since then however, the perfect microclimate and seasonal conditions needed to produce our “Gioè” have only occurred seventeen times.” [Giancarlo Begnoni]

A dark, ruby red colour with garnet hues, this wine has a wide, complex and refined nose, with intriguingly soft and sensual notes of sour cherry jam, maraschino cherries, prunes and dried figs, forest floor, an infusion of red flowers and a strong touch of dark chocolate. A rich, powerful palate with lively tannins; its high alcohol is well balanced by an acid note, reminiscent of crunchy raspberries.

A few years of cellaring make it the ideal complement for the most luscious dishes of international cuisine, such as hare “à la Royale”, as well as recipes featuring white truffle. At a riper age, it becomes a more brooding, “meditation” wine, best savoured alone or with some ripe Castelmagno cheese.