Camporal Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva 2008/09, Corte San Benedetto

One bottle available. Seven years in wood before it was released.

Corte San Benedetto is an eighteen-hectare family estate at Arbizzano di Negrar, in the Valpolicella Classico hills. The family has been making wine there since 1956 under grandfather Angelo; the current estate was formally founded in 2006 and is run by brothers Angelo and Loris with their father Mariano in the vineyards. Camporal is their Amarone Riserva, and it is made to a schedule almost nobody else keeps.

About the Decanter accolade, precisely

In May 2019 Decanter ran a panel tasting of Amarone Riserva, single-vineyard and special-selection wines, judged by Michael Garner, Andrew Jefford and Monty Waldin. They picked three wines as Outstanding, and Camporal was one of them, described in the write-up as "the glorious Corte San Benedetto, Camporal 2009." The other two were Dal Forno's Monte Lodoletta 2012 and Brigaldara's Amarone Classico 2015. Camporal also made Decanter's year-end round-up of top panel-tasting wines, a list restricted to wines scoring 95 points and above out of 1,672 tasted.

Two honest caveats. That accolade is for the 2009; Decanter did not review the 2008. And the exact point score sits behind Decanter's paywall, so what we can stand behind is "Outstanding, 95 points or better," not a specific number. So we are quoting the verdict rather than a number.

How it is made

Grapes from Negrar, San Pietro in Cariano and Marano di Valpolicella, between 100 and 400 metres on clay and limestone. After the appassimento drying, the wine spends three years in tonneaux and then four years in 30-hectolitre Slavonian botti. Seven years in wood. Amarone Riserva law requires four years of total ageing; this nearly doubles it, in two different vessel sizes, which is why the wine has both the sweetness of oak and the resolved, dried-fruit character of a large-cask wine.

In the glass

Verona Wine Top's published note on the 2008 gives ruby garnet, a complex and powerful nose of black cherry, chocolate, sour cherries in syrup, spice, toast and balsamic hints, then an intense, soft, fresh palate with balanced structure and gentle tannins. At 16% alcohol this is a serious, warming wine and it drinks like one.

The details

• Producer: Corte San Benedetto, Arbizzano di Negrar, Valpolicella
• Appellation: Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG, Riserva
• Blend: 60% Corvina Veronese, 25% Corvinone, 15% Rondinella
• Alcohol: 16%
• Ageing: 3 years in tonneaux, then 4 years in 30hl Slavonian botti
• Format: 750ml
• Drinking window: drinking well now. No published window.

Serving and pairing

Decant two hours ahead and serve at 64°F. Braised beef, game, risotto all'Amarone, aged Parmigiano or Monte Veronese. It also holds its own after dinner with nothing at all.

One bottle, then it comes off the site. Ships from our Florida cellar. Browse more from the Veneto.