Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC Capitel Monte Olmi

Wine information: Tedeschi can trace their roots back to 1824 when Nicolo Tedeschi purchased several vineyards (although the family have records of owning vineyards back to 1630). A descendant, Riccardo Tedeschi, purchased vineyards in 1918 which included Monte Fontana and their famous Amarone vineyard, Monte Olmi. Today Tedeschi remains a family business and, through a combination of tradition and innovation, is one of the foremost wineries, and one of the top producers of Amarone and Recioto wines, in the Veneto region. The family manages 74 hectares of vineyards, of which 29 are family owned. Amarone della Valpolicella is considered to be the most prestigious wine of the Veneto region. Monte Olmi is the name of this vineyard, located at Pedemonte di Valpolicella in the heart of the Classic Valpolicella zone. The vineyard has a south-western exposure and is 2.5 hectares in size. It is terraced to ensure water removal in case of heavy rainfall. At the same time the depth and the clay-ey structure of the terrain help to retain water during dry periods. Monte Olmi is a blend of 30% Corvina, 30% Corvinone, 30% Rondinella and 10% other varieties (Molinara, Rossignola, Oseleta, Negrara, Dindarella, Croatina and Forselina). Grapes are harvested by hand at the end of September / beginning of October, and are placed in wooden or plastic trays for drying. Drying is done in fruit storage structures at controlled humidity and temperature. This prevents the occurrence of Botrytis cinerea (Noble Rot). Bunches, during the drying process, lose 30% of their weight and sugar concentration reaches 25% by weight. Bunches must be in good health at the end of the drying process (after about 4 months). To ensure this they must be periodically inspected during the drying period and particularly during the first month. In January the grapes are gently pressed by a roller press. Fermentation takes place in steel vessels at a temperature of 15°C and with slow 40-day steeping and the the wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation. The wine is then transferred to Slavonina oak barrels for aging for 2 to 3 years. During this period the wine rests on the grape pomace, cleaned of yeasts, to give complexity to its structure and maintain its fresh and fruity aroma. Micro-oxygenation through the wooden staves helps create enduring colour stability. Because of the minimal presence of malic acid at the end of fermentation and because of the high concentration of alcohol that partly inhibits lactic bacteria activities, this wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation.

Tasting Notes: Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC Capitel Monte Olmi is a strong ruby red with a light amber sheen. On the nose there are notes of oaky cherry, rapsberry, redcurrant, pepper and fruitcake. It is robust, yet elegant, with good acidity. A fine, rich and opulent, long lasting finish.

Reviews: "Remarkably floral and a little cedary. Sweet fine dark fruit but perhaps a tiny bit herbaceous. More marked herbaceous note on the palate - fresh rather than green. Dry and firm. Fresh acidity but just not quite enough flesh to bring it all into balance at the moment but I think it will fill out in the next couple of years. Very very different from the sweetness of their 2004." 17.5 Points, Jancis Robinson

 
     

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