93 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2021 Chardonnay Bentrock opens with striking, expansive aromatics. There's a bit more new oak here, and that also comes through. Orchard fruit, mint, white flowers, white pepper and pear all open with some coaxing. I especially admire the wine's inner sweetness. All the 2021 needs is a bit of time to emerge. <

90 Wine Spectator

"This shows good grip, derived from the burly tannins and snappy sun-dried fruitlike acidity, layering dark, ripe berry and black cherry fruit with hints of tobacco and cigar box. Drink now through 2023. 800 cases made." 90 Wine Spectator

WINE:
"From mid September to mid October-Withering for two months in the drying room at 450m height. De-stemming and soft pressing, maceration and fermentation for 15 days in vertical tanks. Delestage, followed by a Malolactic fermentation for 2/3 in Tonneaux of 500 liters and for 1/3 in Barrique." -Importer

ESTATE:
"The story of La Formica began in 1893 with the construction of a small shrine dedicated to St. Vincent Ferrer to protect his 26 ha of vineyards below. Today, over a century later, the vines continue to thrive in the Cellore d Illasi and neighboring terroitory of Tregnano, at the easternmost extremities of the Valpolicella appellation. The typical Scaglia Bianca soil, along with the average altitude of 320m asl, and the Eastern exposure define the style of these wines: vibrant fruit, powerful, and always elegant." -Importer

AMARONE PROCESS:
"Grapes are harvested ripe in the first two weeks of October, by carefully choosing bunches having fruits not too close to each other, to let the air flow. Grapes are allowed to dry, traditionally on straw mats. This process is called appassimento or rasinate (to dry and shrivel) in Italian. This concentrates the remaining sugars and flavours and is similar to the production of French Vin de Paille. The pomace left over from pressing off the Amarone is used in the production of Ripasso Valpolicellas."

"Modern Amarone is now produced in special drying chambers under controlled conditions. This new approach minimizes the amount of handling that the grapes go through and helps prevent the onset of Botrytis cinerea. In Amarone, the quality of the grape skin is a primary concern as that component brings the tannins, color and intensity of flavor to the wine. The process of desiccation not only concentrates the juices within the grape but also increases the skin contact of the grapes. The drying process further metabolizes the acids within the grape and creates a polymerization of the tannins in the skin which contribute to the overall balance of the finished wine."

"The length of the drying process is typically 120 days but varies according to producer and the quality of the harvest. The most evident consequence of this process is the loss of weight: 35 to 45% for Corvina grapes, 30 to 40% for Molinara and 27 to 40% for Rondinella. Following drying, end of January/beginning of February, the grapes are crushed and go through a dry low temperature fermentation process which can last up to 30/50 days. The reduced water content can slow down the fermentation process, increasing the risk of spoilage and potential wine faults such as high volatile acidity. After fermentation, the wine is then aged in barriques made from either French, Slovenian or Slavonian oak." -Jancis Robinson - Oxford Companion to Wine

91 Wine Enthusiast

This deep and earthy blend hits on the nose with aromas of spiced cherry compote, dark cocoa powder, coffee and flowers, while the palate brings massive tannin structure and flavors of black plum, coffee, mint and cinnamon. Great value is an understatement here for a wine with this aging potential. Best from 2030 on.

92 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"Ripe and juicy character with notes of dark fruit, cloves and star anise. Medium-bodied with fresh-fruit character, soft tannins and bright acidity. Succulent and vibrant. 65% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 7% cabernet franc. Drinkable now, but better after 2024."

92 Wine Enthusiast

"This full wine offers blackberry fruits and ripe tannins. Full of juicy flavors, the wine has been smoothed by the wood aging and given a lift by the final acidity. Drink from 2024."

90 Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous Media

Wild fermentation, a little bit of barrel-aging on lees and a 10% addition of Sémillon in the blend make the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc far from your stereotypical Marlborough style. This wine plays on its clarity, texture and freshness. It's aromatically subtle, with green notes meeting nectarine and blackcurrant. While the region's natural freshness abounds, the wine retains a round shape and natural curve before being sewn up by a thread of acidity. There are layers of interest here that will keep you coming back.

95 James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion

One of my favourite champagne houses. This entry point has one-third each of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay from 30 crus, 25% reserve wines, spending 4 years on tirage. It has a flowery bouquet, terrific mouthfeel thanks to a hint of honey, and Meyer lemon cleansing the finish and aftertaste.

91 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2024 Barbera d'Alba is another stellar entry-level wine from Burlotto. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, sage and mocha caress the palate. Fabio Alessandria did not bottle Aves, his top Barbera; instead, all of the fruit was used for this bottling. As a result, the 2024 is especially strong. Stylistically, there is a touch of new oak from the Aves lots that went into the blend.

93 Decanter

Complex nose of black fruits, minerals, coffee and spice. The palate is potent and full-bodied, with salted liquorice, bold black fruit and lingering acidity.

93 Wine Enthusiast

In its modern form, this estate is the creation of the late Philippe Raoux who populated the property with massive modern art installations. This wine is a fine testament to the proprietor, ripe, structured and dense. It is set for long-term aging. Drink from 2027.