1974 Bertani Amarone Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOCG [97pts]

Ratings & Tasting Notes: 97 points CellarTracker (Community Consensus) An astonishing, spellbinding expression of perfectly cellared Corvina that shows immense resilience at over fifty years of age. The bouquet is deeply captivating, throwing off heavy, Port-like characteristics of sweet dried figs, dark caramel, sultana raisins, and crème brûlée. On the palate, however, it delivers a fascinating twist—tasting bone-dry and remarkably elegant with clean, oxidative dimensions of candied citrus, toffee, and caramel popcorn trailing into a long, graceful finish. CellarTracker, August 2019 94 points Wine-Searcher (Critic Consensus) Immensely structural, complex, and standing out as a brilliant historical testament to old-school winemaking. The nose is highly intense, leaping from the glass with complex scents of spicy dried fruit, toasted almonds, and smoked meats. The mouthfeel is beautifully full, balanced, and elegant, retaining a fine core of noble tannins and an aroma reminiscent of ripe medlars. Wine-Searcher, May 2022 Cult Wines International Notes: Casa Vinicola Bertani stands as an absolute, towering monument in the history of Italian viticulture, originally founded in 1857 by brothers Giovanni Battista and Gaetano Bertani. The estate is globally revered for playing a defining role in the conceptualization and commercial birth of modern Amarone, crafting legendary, structural red wines engineered to endure for half a century. Important Label Clarification: Buyers should note that this historic 1974 release features the vintage-correct legal designation “Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Superiore” across the top of the label, with “Amarone” printed lower down. In 1974, Italian wine laws did not yet recognize Amarone as a standalone category, forcing it to be labeled under the official “Recioto” umbrella of the era. Despite the word Recioto on the label, this wine is completely bone-dry. Unlike a sweet Recioto dessert wine, this cuvée underwent a total fermentation where all natural sugars were completely converted, resulting in a classic, savory, and powerfully dry Amarone. The 1974 growing season in the Valpolicella Classica zone was a beautifully balanced, textbook vintage, characterized by highly temperate summer months and perfectly spaced rainfall that yielded an abundant, exceptionally healthy crop. Following a precise manual harvest of 80% Corvina and 20% Rondinella from the Tenuta Novare estate, the pristine clusters underwent a slow, 120-day appassimento (air-drying) process on traditional bamboo racks. The raisined grapes were crushed in early 1975 and subjected to a monumental maturation regime: a staggering seven years in massive, 60-hectoliter Slavonian oak barrels. Today, this 1974 bottling is a magnificent, fully mature masterpiece. While the nose offers deceptive, highly complex aromas of molasses, dried figs, and warm spices, the palate is robustly dry, elegant, and intensely savory. It effortlessly balances tertiary waves of fine leather, pipe tobacco, and dark cocoa with a bright, life-giving acidity and a pleasantly bitter, clean finish that demands slow contemplation. Bottle Size: 750 mL Storage History: Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar. Condition: Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold. Outstanding condition for its age. https://cultwinesintl.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/03/CWI-LISTING-VID.mp4