Marion Amarone della Valpolicella 2012

I’m finally back to full faculties now post manflu, and why not launch into one of the best Amarone I’ve had in some time.

Crucially, this has no VA and is perfectly balanced without excess. All the Amarone richness, none of the weaknesses, from a producer with a fast-rising reputation.

Indeed, this is a deep and decadent style that offer coffee grained oak fullness, the waves of dark, molten flavours continuing through the back end and with a perfectly seamless flow throughout.

In Amarone terms this is only medium weight, but all the better for it, the alcohol surprisingly well integrated into the folds of coffeed berry flavour. Excellent balance and superb persistence.

Top tier wine that, importantly, is actually drinkable. Outstanding given the alcohol. Best drinking: 2019-2035. 16%, $170ish. 18.7/20, 95/100. Would I buy it? Gee I’d be tempted. So good.