Le Ragose Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2009 750 ML

Amarone della Valpolicella is a rich, dry Italian red wine from the Veneto region. It is produced primarily from the Corvina grape. Amarone is characterized by ripe, bold flavors.\n \n Producer Information\n \n Le Ragose is an estate in the Veneto region of Italy. It is best known for its Amarone and Valpolicella Classico wines, produced from the region's classic grape varieties: Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone. The estate consists of 16 hectares (40 acres) of vines, split between the Le Ragose and Le Sassine vineyards. These are both situated on steep, southwest-facing slopes at altitudes that place them above the winter fogs. These sunny, low-humidity conditions are conducive to the production of Amarone, which requires the grapes to be dried prior to the vinification process. The vineyards are dry-farmed, and the steepness of the hillside means all processes must be undertaken by hand. Le Ragose's wines are mostly aged in large Slavonian oak casks, with some experimental use of French oak barriques. The Le Ragose portfolio is based around a trio of Amarone Classicos. The top Amarone and Valpolicella Classico Superiore wines are both dedicated to Marta Galli. The portfolio also includes the Raghos Ammandorlato, a wine that sits between Amarone and Recioto in terms of sweetness, amnoungst various others. The modern company was founded in 1969 when oenologists Arnaldo and Marta Galli bought the abandoned Le Ragose estate on a hillside overlooking the town of Negrar. Marta Galli helped establish Valpolicella as a quality wine-growing region and was regarded by her peers as one of the world's greatest winemakers. After her death, her sons Paolo and Marco took over control of Le Ragose.