A dark display of musky black cherries, mocha, brown sugar, cinnamon and sweet violet florals wafts up effortlessly from the 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigneto Alto TB. There is a viscosity here that is more like molten chocolate than wine, as this contrasts savory, bitter and sweet, creamy yet full of energy, and it washes across the palate with ease. Its ripe red fruits and exotic spices are penetrating and persistent, yet zesty acids maintain vibrancy and leave you completely refreshed for another indulgent sip. The word “wow” does not do this justice, as it goes down way too easy. This is a rock-star wine already, yet it has the potential to evolve for many years in the cellar. The Vigneto Alto is sourced from 80-year-old vines. The wine is matured for 36 months in new barriques, after which only the best 11 barrels are picked and blended together into a 25-hectoliter barrel, where it refines for another 40 months. - Vinous