Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - Ca' Coato - Antolini

The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Ca' Coato by Antolini is born from one of the historic vineyards of the Marano di Valpolicella estate — the "Ca' Coato", a dialect term indicating an ancient landholding characterised by particularly deep clay soils that give the grapes a naturally superior concentration and a more imposing tannic structure compared to the Moròpio vineyard.

Antolini produces two distinct Classico Amarones — the Moròpio and the Ca' Coato — because it believes in the territory's capacity to express itself differently from vineyard to vineyard, even at close proximity. This cru philosophy is rare in the Valpolicella and speaks to a production vision of great refinement and respect for terroir. The Ca' Coato is generally more structured, more tannic and more austere in youth than the Moròpio — it demands greater patience but rewards with extraordinary complexity and longevity.

The Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes from the Ca' Coato vineyard are hand-harvested at full ripeness and dried in the traditional fruttaio for over 90 days, losing over 35% of their weight. Fermentation is slow and prolonged, and ageing takes place in large Slavonian oak barrels for an even longer period than the Moròpio, accentuating the wine's structure and complexity.

On the nose it is darker and more austere than its Moròpio sibling: dark fruit preserve (blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry), bitter dark chocolate, roasted coffee, pipe tobacco, fine leather, resin, oriental spice (cinnamon, cloves) and a ferrous and earthy minerality of great depth recalling the clay soils of the vineyard. On the palate it is powerful and massive — dense tannins that are still lively in younger vintages but evolve over time towards unparalleled complexity — with an enveloping glyceric sweetness, a precise fresh acidity and a monumental finish that lasts for minutes in successive waves of dark fruit, spice and minerality. An Amarone for those who love great austere wines and have the patience to wait: ideally consumed after at least 8 to 10 years from the harvest or decanted for 3 to 4 hours.