Had a great time with a bottle of 2006 Allegrini La Grola IGT Veronese and a plate of vegetarian lasagna this evening. This single vineyard blend of 70% Corvina, 15% Rondinella, 10% Syrah and 5% Sangiovese shows a beautiful, clear ruby color in the glass. Amazing cherry compote, licorice and soy/beef broth notes on the nose and palate. Full-bodied palate coats the mouth in cherries and bittersweet baker's chocolate. Seamless balance of fruit, tannin and acidity. Some nice green tobacco notes and more bitter chocolate on the long, tannic finish. Other than a few older Amarones, I don't have any experience with drinking wine from the Veneto with any age. But I can't imagine this drinking any better than it is tonight. Really firing on all cylinders and a great value in the $25 range.
Allegrini has long been a favorite of mine from the region. Palazzo della Torre can't be beat for QPR at around $13. La Grola is a step up and of course, La Poja, is other worldly, though likely in the hundy range.
ReplyDeleteMany people dislike this house because of their use of oak and many stalwarts dismiss it because it has abandoned the DOC laws regarding with the exception of their Amarone.
J
Thanks for the info. I was wondering about the IGT designation and the Syrah and Sangiovese in the blend. Is that a recent thing for them or has it always been that way?
DeleteIt hasn't always been that way, but it's been that way for at least, off the top of my head, I'd say 10 vintages. Maybe more. Palazzo della Torre and La Grola used to be Valpolicellas.
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