Source: The Wine Advocate; Published: Oct 05, 2023, (RP-93)

Moved up the ranks to Riserva status, the Le Ragose 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva takes us back to a hot vintage that saw dry winds blow in from Africa for much of the summer. This helped to dry the grapes, naturally, and of course later in the special appassimento process used to make Amarone. This wine is richly saturated and concentrated with candied fruit, dried cherry and blackberry confit. The fruit elements run strong in this powerful wine (with a 16% alcohol content), and it also shows tertiary notes of spice, tobacco and a savory or earthy character. This is a bold, full-bodied wine from a hot and sunny vintage. Some 16,000 bottles were produced.

Drink Date: 2022 – 2035

Source: jamessuckling.com. Issue Date: Sunday, December 5, 2021 (JS-92)

The oaky nuances have outlasted the fruit a little on this still full-bodied 10-year-old. But there’s no denying the long-lasting, focused flavors on the palate. Spicy dried fruit drives through the finish and there’s still some tannin presence that maintains the structure for now. The mid-palate is less engaging. Drink now.