Pieropan 'Vigna Garzon' Organic Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2018/19

The Pieropan family are part of the fabric of Italian wine. As the first producer to bottle wine with Soave on the bottle, it’s safe to say that they are true pioneers of the region. Fourth-generation winemaker Dario Pieropan and his brother Andrea are keen to push boundaries and continue their family’s reputation for innovation. They’ve produced a duo of red wines from their estate in Valpolicella – and this Amarone has already been turning critics’ heads. Grapes are carefully picked by hand before they’re left to dry naturally, concentrating sugars and flavours before they’re fermented. After three years ageing in barrel and a further year in bottle, the wine is finally ready for release. All this hard work results in some seriously complex flavours, so it’s no surprise that James Suckling awarded it 92 points in 2021. Complex and concentrated, it’s a benchmark example of one of Italy’s most renowned wine styles. Expect intense flavours of wild black cherry and summer fruits with notes of pepper, sweet baking spices and leather. Its full body and pronounced flavours make it a great pairing for hearty meat stews.