Marion Amarone della Valpolicella 2018

The Marion Farm, located in the unspoilt Marcellise valley east of Verona, is a small family run property managed by Stefano Campedelli, his wife Nicoletta and her brother Marco and their two sons. Acquired in the late 80’s, the first task the Campedeli family set about to change was the overall vineyard health and lower yields all with the goal of improving overall fruit quality. During this period, fruit was sold to local co-ops until 1993 when Stefano met Celestino Gaspari. Under the guidance of the ex-cellar master at Guiseppe Quintarelli and current adviser to Romano dal Forno, Marion was born.

Starting with the 1996 vintage producing a mere 5 barrels, Stefano & Celestino set about creating a unique expression that paid tribute to the massive potential of the region that was being explored by Marion’s contemporaries at the time. Marion only works with the fruit of their own vineyards, hand picking each parcel of vineyard and vinifying individually to allow each varietal to develop its own unique character before blending. 

This wine is constructed of predominately Corvina and Corvinone with Rondinella however 100% of the wine is made using the apppassimento method. The bunches are and sorted into small bespoke trays and dried for 4 to 8 weeks. These components are fermented together in stainless steel then transferred into barrel for 36 months or so. Only 10% now sees small barrel (500ltr) with the rest in 3000ltr, all Slovenian oak.

Masses of black cherry, woodland herbs, crushed rocks, mocha and hints of ground ginger create an enthralling bouquet as the 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella opens in the glass. There are depths of dark textural fruits and spices, yet what is most impressive are the vibrant acids and saline-mineral tones that create seductive contrast, as this comes across as amazingly juicy and fresh. There’s not a hard edge in sight, as it tapers off long and lightly structured, yet impossibly finessed. Wow. The 2017 is an Amarone that dreams of being a Pinot Noir.