Allegrini, Veronese IGT (Veneto, Italy) 2011

This unique wine is consistently one of the stars of the Allegrini lineup. A single-vineyard estate wine from Verona, Palazzo della Torre is a blend of two indigenous grapes, corvina and rondinella, which are the workhorse grapes of Valpolicella and Amarone. A small portion of the blend is made from grapes that have been dried, which concentrates the sugars and intensifies body and flavor. The powerful, regal Amarone, for example, is made from dried grapes. The result here is a rich, layered red that exhibits both power and elegance. It is beautifully balanced at 13.5 percent alcohol by volume. The flavor profile shows dark cherry and black currant aromas. The tannins are smooth. The finish is long. The price is exceptional given the quality.