Amarone Classico Bertani There are two types of Amarone: an exceptional wine, with incredible concentration, power, alcohol, extract and longevity or a great red with more human characteristics, non-excessive alcohol, more freshness and easier to drink. The first has exceptional qualities that make it stand out on the international scene, but with one fault: you never know when to drink a wine like this. The second has less personality, it can be confused with other great reds. I think Bertani s Amarone has struck a balance between these two versions: it is an exaggerated wine. But without exaggerating. Ernesto Barbero (wine technician at the Bertani winery from 1959 to 1989)
The 50 Vintages of Amarone Classico Bertani 1958-2008 Fifty extraordinary Vintages, fifty years where Bertani has been investing in expertise and consistency not only in an excellent quality but also in an extraordinary harmony with his own terroir and his indigenous grapes. Amarone Classico Bertani is the winery s jewel in the crown, the wine that has made it famous all over the world. Bertani is Amarone, Amarone is Bertani. It is a wine which perfectly represents the Bertani style, where style is a consequence of believing in one s own decisions, in consistently following a vision and a way of thinking. This wine s history is a relatively recent one: it was created in the first half of the twentieth century. Right from the start, the wine s appeal has been linked to its great ageing potential, which makes its freshness, aromas and flavours immortal. The artisan s greatest ambition has always been to see his work come to fruition and to pass it on to future generations. The attraction is in the challenge: the search for the most suitable method to make this wine. Starting from an obsessive grape selection process, the quality can only be exploited with a winemaking system that is as non-invasive, delicate and slow as possible. The challenge was to find a process that combined the absolute accuracy of manual work, top-quality raw materials and respect for the environment. Therefore, it had to be a method where time, and not man, decided grape raisining, maceration and barrel ageing times. This slow ageing would have enabled the wine s aromas, fragrances and nuances to develop fully.
No shallow thoughts have managed to undermine a way of being that has seen fashions come and go, without ever losing its modernity. Just as technology has never been seen as a shortcut to reduce the slow passage of time that makes up the soul of Amarone Bertani: no trick can make this process quicker, safer or less expensive, because it is precisely this process that makes Amarone what it is. It is a wine that emerges from repeated, but always different moments, and the slow juxtaposition of these changes. It is this long wait that gives this unique wine its great longevity. 2017 represents an extraordinary occasion to live, once again after so many years, the Bertani experience, faithful custodian of tradition and to celebrate this wine, the only authoritative and recognizable icon that perfectly represents the essence of Bertani identity. This year Amarone Classico Bertani celebrates the Fifty Vintages : from 1958, the first vintage produced, to 2008, the current vintage released in January. An exceptional anniversary that not only attests its incredible longevity but make the Amarone Classico Bertani a benchmark and the most authentic expression of Valpolicella. This introduction was the only possible place we could start from to tell you about the 2008 vintage of the Amarone Classico Bertani, a wine that we like to talk about in four acts, like a sort of wine opera.
The place 1957: the year the Bertani family bought the Tenuta Novare, a totally unique and unusual place in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica area. The estate is located right in the middle of a green basin, like a kind of natural amphitheatre, where the vineyards alternate with woods and lush nature. It is an extraordinary land where constant water is guaranteed by seven natural springs. The Tenuta Novare is a continuous alternation of soils, from the clay on the valley floor to calcareous soils rich in iron and manganese, through to basalt-rich soils ideal for growing grapes destined to make great red wines like Amarone. A mild climate and the presence of olive trees define this rich and welcoming land.
Drying the grapes The process is absolutely natural, or, as we prefer to say, traditional. But it is a tradition that is the result of research, analysis and comparison in order to have a better understanding of what can guarantee maximum enhancement of the authentic identity of our grapes. The drying process has taken place in the same place and in the same way for over 50 years. The grapes from the 2008 vintage rested on the arèle (racks made from bamboo canes) for 107 days.
Fermentation This is another important demonstration of the role time plays in how we see and produce our wine. Fermentation is long (fifty days in concrete vats at a temperature of 18 C) because we know this is the only way that we can achieve those sensory profiles that are outside the most frequent standards, where the concentration of fruit often prevails to the detriment of finesse and elegance. It is a complex choice that forces us even more to ensure that the most healthy grapes are selected.
Ageing It is during this stage that Bertani time comes into its own and becomes the protagonist. The wine went into the wood with a certain profile and came out seven years later completely transformed. We can only guarantee this winning evolution through the absolute and natural respect of our vineyards and grapes. It is during this long period that we understand precisely the importance of our production choices, which are never invasive and always with respect for nature, even when it appears to be unfavourable.
Seasonal trends The 2008 vintage was characterized by a rainy and cool spring that led to a very rich vegetation. Later, flowering and veraison were regular. The end of summer has been characterized by high temperatures and a very dry climate which helped to reach a good acid balance with a enhancement of alcohol content. The harvest began during the second decade of September.
Time: 8 years of patient and expert care to obtain this Amarone: 10 th April 2008 Budding Flowering 2 nd June 2008 10 th June 2008 Bud-set: the buches started to grow Véraison: the grapes began to change colour 17 th August 2008 15 th September 2008 The harvest began and the grapes were laid out to rest The grapes rested for 107 days on racks. Crushing began 19 th January 2009 8 th April 2009 The Amarone began its long ageing period in oak barrels After seven years, barrel ageing came to an end and the wine was bottled 5 th April 2016 January 2017 The wine was ready to taste!
1958 First vintage produced
2008 Current vintage
The style Amarone Classico 2008 unleashes a beautifully-honed performance, composed of ultra-ripe red berry fruit shot through with aromatic herbs and black pepper, with just a hint, still reticent, of earthy mineral. The palate showcases an elegance and delicacy that only a lengthy maturation can supply, which privilege even more effectively savouriness over silkiness and elegance over power, right through to a lengthy, succulent finish. Nicola Frasson, Gambero Rosso Italian Wines 2017 Intense red color with ruby highlights Red fruits Dried prune Aromatic herbs Sweet spices Soft and elegant tannins Sapid aftertaste
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Bertani 2008: reviews and accolades Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso Italian Wines 2017 Grande Vino Slow Wine 2017 5 Grappoli Bibenda 2017 Faccino Doctorwine (Daniele Cernilli) The Ultimate Guide to Italian Wines 2017 Among the Top 100 Italian Wines Guida Vini d Italia 2017 L Espresso 91 points Wine Enthusiast
2.936 Days 20 days hand-harvesting 107 days drying grapes 50 days fermentation 2.759 days aging 2008 Vintage now ready to enjoy
Via Asiago, 1-37023 Grezzana (VR) - Italia Tel. +39 045 8658444 - Fax +39 045 8658400 www.bertani.net bertani@bertani.net