2018 Musella Amarone della Valpolicella

Musella's 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella is a full-bodied red wine from the storied Valpolicella region in Veneto, built from corvina, rondinella, and corvinone grapes dried on bamboo racks for several months before fermentation. The appassimento method concentrates sugars and phenolics, yielding the hallmark intensity and structure that define Amarone as one of Italy's most age-worthy styles. This vintage shows the balance Musella seeks between power and elegance, a result of the estate's organic farming and careful barrel selection. The Musella family has farmed their hillside vineyards in the Valpolicella Classica zone since the 1960s, where volcanic soils and steady breezes from Lake Garda shape the fruit. After the drying period, fermentation is slow and deliberate, followed by aging in medium and large Slavonian oak casks that allow the wine to develop complexity without overwhelming the fruit. The estate follows organic principles throughout, a commitment that shows in the clarity and purity of the finished wine. The 2018 vintage opens with aromas of black cherry, dried fig, and baking spice, leading into a palate marked by ripe red fruit, cocoa, and a thread of sweet spice that integrates smoothly into a structured, elegant finish. This is a wine for braised short ribs, aged parmigiano, or rich mushroom risotto—dishes that match its weight and depth. Decant for an hour if you're opening it now, or cellar it for another five to ten years. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.