Each week I taste quite an array of standout wines, so picking just one to showcase is no easy feat. Quality is always of utmost consideration but I'm also drawn to wines that surprise me in the very best ways. New varietals, small producers, and lesser known-regions are always intriguing. But I also appreciate beautifully crafted classics and well-made wines that offer great value. The choices for Wanda's Wine of the Week will be hard to predict but that's part of the fun. Cheers!
Amarone in August? Absolutely, when the Amarone is as supple and elegant as this beauty from Sartori di Verona. Amarone has a reputation for being big and rich but the best producers know how to balance the wine's power so that grace and nuance are not lost. Amarone is produced via a unique process called appassimento where the grapes are dried for a few months prior to pressing and fermentation in order to intensify the flavors and sugars. This intensity can sometimes create wines that are too sweet, heavy, and jammy -- almost like a liquid fruit cake. But Sartori di Verona does Amarone right (after all, the Sartori family has been making wine since 1898) and their 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG is a robust, but not obnoxious, red that can be enjoyed year-round - even on a steamy August night in New York City. A blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Cabernet Sauvignon; luscious cherry & berry flavors with seductive hints of cocoa, spice, and dried fruit make this silky, smooth, and juicy vino a smart choice any time of year. (around $55)
