This is a broad, thick wine with big bones and an extremely full-bodied approach. The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio Zenato presents a thick wall of sweet plum and cherry syrup with more enticing notes of spice, tar and smoke at the back. The house blend at Zenato sees 80% Corvina and 10% Rondinella with 10% Oseleta and Croatina. The grapes are laid out to dry for 120 days. I like the wine very much on its own, but I imagine it might be difficult to pair with many foods. Aged cheese on crackers might just do the trick. This is the estate's top-shelf wine, made only in the best vintages, representing a selection of the best grapes from old vines. Some 20,000 bottles were made.

Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (94+)