Romano Dal Forno
Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore Corvina Blend
Valpolicella, Verona, Veneto, Italy
Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.
Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…
So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039.
Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.
Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…
So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039.
Very dense and black in colour. These wines always remind me of Fruit and Nut milk chocolate. The colour makes you think full bodied but it’s actually light to medium bodied. A luscious mouth filling palate with the savoury milk chocolate together with notes of raisin and date. Supple yet persistent tannins. Reminiscent of a Priorat Garnacha in some respects.
Very dense and black in colour. These wines always remind me of Fruit and Nut milk chocolate. The colour makes you think full bodied but it’s actually light to medium bodied. A luscious mouth filling palate with the savoury milk chocolate together with notes of raisin and date. Supple yet persistent tannins. Reminiscent of a Priorat Garnacha in some respects.
Sep 15th, 2024
Young still.
Bombastic, oaky and rich. Beautiful with steak Florentine. Needed every bit of the hour decent
Young still.
Bombastic, oaky and rich. Beautiful with steak Florentine. Needed every bit of the hour decent
The best Valpolicella I’ve ever tasted? Prolly. Dill, wonderful oak notes on nose & palate.
The best Valpolicella I’ve ever tasted? Prolly. Dill, wonderful oak notes on nose & palate.
Nov 23rd, 2020
Medicinal, young, and explosive out of the glass. Plums, licorice, and a port like concentration. Ethereal
Medicinal, young, and explosive out of the glass. Plums, licorice, and a port like concentration. Ethereal
Jul 21st, 2019
Rich but precise. Definitive valpolicella.
Rich but precise. Definitive valpolicella.
May 12th, 2018
New world modern style baby Amarone. Quite oaky but I really loved it. Beautiful dried black cherry, dried black plum, mocha coffee, black chocolate, tobacco leaves, raisins and graphite on the nose. The high acidity is the key factor holding this wine. Dusty tannin and ultra long finish. Pure joy. 14% abv. Warning: Burgundy lovers, you need to leave right now 😆
New world modern style baby Amarone. Quite oaky but I really loved it. Beautiful dried black cherry, dried black plum, mocha coffee, black chocolate, tobacco leaves, raisins and graphite on the nose. The high acidity is the key factor holding this wine. Dusty tannin and ultra long finish. Pure joy. 14% abv. Warning: Burgundy lovers, you need to leave right now 😆
May 3rd, 2018
Black tea soft tannins and stewed prunes dried strawberry lovely acidity. So lovely
Black tea soft tannins and stewed prunes dried strawberry lovely acidity. So lovely
Feb 24th, 2018Wow! Really great. So much character for a "village" wine
Wow! Really great. So much character for a "village" wine
1 person found it helpfulOct 16th, 2015
For a hot vintage. Good acidity. Great structure
For a hot vintage. Good acidity. Great structure
1 person found it helpfulJul 13th, 2015