On Saturday, Futronic, DoktaP and Lady Cabernet came into town and the Chicago Wine Mafia put together a little Italian wine dinner for them at a small Italian BYO restaurant in Chicago.

I drank these Amarone with the Osso Bucco that was served and they were an excellent match.

1996 Allegrini Amarone delle Valpolicella Classico- From magnum. This was my contribution to the dinner. WA gave this 95 points. A fine wine but not up to the standards set by the Manara in my opinion. I decanted this for 4 hours. Notes of licorice and meaty black fruit. There was a hint of petrol as well. Despite being 8 years old this still needed some aging (ezpecially from magnum). Full bodied and a long finish. 92+ points.

2000 Manara Amarone delle Valpolicella Classico- This wine was much more open and giving than the Allegrini. I purchased 3 of these last week for $35 from Wine Exchange and shared 1 with Scubarex (he brought this bottle to the offline). Sadly they are already sold out. Gambero Rosso gave this their highest rating of Tre Bicchieri (it has not been reviewed by any US publication to my knowledge). This was fine and probably my wine of the night. Not too big or overpowering. Just perfect in my opinion. It was refined and elegant with wonderful aromas of vanilla and creamy fruit. Full bodied. Notes of black fruit, cocoa and tar that carry onto the long finish. 94+ points.

VM

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Vino Me,

The owner of an enoteca in Rome that I have been frequenting over the past year introduced me to the 2001 vintage of Manara Amarone. Your tasting notes for the 2000 fit the '01 vintage very well. Best of all, I've only been paying 22 Euros for it (~$27US).

hi friends ,

i have had a 1988 alzero last weekend ,

it was at it´s best after 12 hours decanting

hope you guys are doing well!

marry christmas and happy new year

2000 Manara Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (5/8/2007)

I took a bottle of this to Florida and opened it at dinner with JCocktosten, Emilio and our wives. 2nd time I have had this wine with consistent notes. Drinking wondefully now. Balanced and refined. Some typical bitterness on the finish mixed with sweet red fruit. Nice interplay. My red of the night. Worthy of the 3 glasses given to it by Gambero Rosso. 93-94 points.

VM

I think it was the unanimous red wine of the night - This was extremely tasty and a protoype almost for what I look for in Amarone.

To comment on your orginal notes - I have had the 96 Allegrini a few times and while it will obviously hold for many years, I do not believe it will improve. So, no rush to finish off a case if you have it, but if you want some now -drink it. No harm done and you won't miss anything with it in the future IMO.

I have also never had a 95 point bottle of this. 90-92 is probably a generous compilation of the bottles I have had.

My wife and I had a bottle of the 1996 Allegrini a few weeks ago. I recently found this in a local wine shop for $56. I thought it was good, but know where near as exciting as the '97.
Here are my notes:
1996 Allegrini Amarone della val policella Dark cranberry color with fair to poor clarity. Mild nose of rasins and dark fruits. A bit tart right up front followed by rasin, mocha, smokey somewhat meaty overtone with oak and spices. Chewy body. Mild tanins and spice weave into a lingering finish with a smokey - rasin based overtone with a lingering sweetness. A nice solid amarone just missing on the complexity but delivering on smooth pleasure. 90pts