The wines of Allegrini, Veneto, Italy
One of Valpolicella's leading producers reviewed

Website: www.allegrini.it

Tha Valpolicella region is in the eastern part of the Veneto in Italy’s north east. There are 6000 hectares of vines in the appellation, with reds the focus. Three grape varieties dominate production: Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone. However, other varieties are used in lesser quantities, such as Molinara and Oseleta (see my article on discovering ‘new’ old varieties in the region).

Much of what is produced here isn’t all that interesting, but there are some top producers, and Allegrini is one of them.  The family have been in the region since the 16th century, and currently make wines with real personality, bridging tradition and modernity with great success.

They have 90 hectares of vineyards in the heart of the region, trained using a mix of the classical pergola system (3000 vines/hectare) and more modern vertical shoot positioned canopies (5000 vines/hectare). 

THE WINES

Allegrini Soave 2010
80% Garganega, 20% Chardonnay, no oak. Focused, bright, fresh and fruity with good acidity and a pithy, citrussy core. Nice presence and acidity. 86/100

Allegrini Valpolicella 2010
Aged in stainless steel. Fresh, aromatic, bright cherry fruit nose. Lovely fruitiness. The palate shows pure cherry fruit with some nice grip on the finish. Very pure and fruity. 88/100

Allegrini Valpolicella Superiore 2008
Aged in oak. Nice fresh cherry and plum fruit framed by some savoury, spicy notes. Nice depth and structure, with a hint of tarry spiciness. Lively and fruity. 89/100

Allegrini Plazzo della Torre2008 IGT Veronese
30% air dried grapes, with 70% fresh, and contains 5% Sangiovese. Silky smooth, pure and fresh  with nice elegance. Lovely ripe, sweet cherry and plum fruit with a bit of grippy structure. Nice richness yet still shows finesse. 91/100

Allegrini La Grola 2008 IGT Veronese
80% Corvina, 20% Syrah, from a single vineyard. Silky smooth, ripe and pure with vivid, well defined bright cherry and berry fruit. Nice focus here with sweet fruit and good acidity, as well as some structure. Lovely wine. 92/100

Allegrini La Poja 2006 IGT Veronese
100% Corvina. Rich blackcurrant fruit nose with some notes of spice, cedar and balsamic vinegar. The palate has noticeable oak influence but also some elegance. Rich, spicy and a bit toasty. Almost like a Bordeaux take on Valpolicella. 90/100

Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2006
Lifted, warm, richly aromatic spice and ripe cherry fruit nose. The palate is ripe and bold with lovely richness and some spicy, tarry, cedary notes. Powerful and focused with sweet ripe fruit. 91/100

Wines tasted September 2011

Older report, from November 2000:

To most people, the name Valpolicella conjures up images of thin, bitter, acidic plonkish reds, and it wouldn't be entirely unfair to say that's what most of it is like. But not all. Some conscientious producers, such as Allegrini, make fascinating, delicious wines. And overall, I was delighted this excellent range from one of the leading lights of Valpolicella. The 1999 Classico is delicious and forward, and La Grola 1997 is a fine drop, but the three stand-outs were La Poja 1996 (a blockbuster, bursting with flavour), the Amarone Classico (fascinating, exotic wine) and the Recioto (a concentrated, characterful sweet red wine). I'm not sure of the availability or prices of these wines on the UK market, but they're definitely worth seeking out.

Valpolicella Classico 1999 DOC
60% Corvina Veronese, 35% Rondinella, 5% Molinara. Yield 69 hl/ha from pergola-trained vines. Deep red/purple colour, with a herby, leafy nose. Full, tannic and attractive palate with bitter red fruits -- a lovely, appealing wine for drinking young. Very good+

Palazzo Della Torre 1997 Veronese IGT
70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese. Yield 64 hl/ha from pergola-trained vines. 70% of the grapes are vinified immediately; 30% are left to dry until the end of December and are then refermented with the wine from the fresh grapes. Deep purple/red, with a cherry and herb nose. Full, rounded and balanced palate, with savoury cherry fruit. Smooth and deep. Very good.

La Grola 1997 Veronese IGT
70% Corvina, 15% Rondinella, 10% Syrah, 5% Sangiovese. Double Guyot trained vines of average age 18 years; grapes hand harvested; yield 55 hl/ha. Showing impressive concentration, this has nice bitter red fruits on the nose, with some sweet herbs. Bold, strong palate of herbs, cherries and some wood, with an attractive bitterness. Good balance and some complexity. Very good +

La Poja 1996 Veronese IGT
100% Corvina Veronese from a single vineyard of 2 ha. Double Guyot trained vines, yield of 40 hl/ha. Deep red/black colour. Pungent, spicy nose with complex medicinal notes. Rich, sweet fruit on the palate with firm, dry, spicy tannins. This is a real blockbuster -- utterly delicious. Excellent.

Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 1996 DOC
75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 5% Molinara. Pergola-trained vines, average age 25 years, yield of 37 hl/ha. Grapes dried naturally for 100 days with 45% loss of weight. This is exotic, wild stuff. Lovely, unusual bitter nose, with a bit of volatility. Full flavoured with a lovely sweet/sour palate of cherries, with an attractive bitterness, some tannins and a touch of sweetness. Very good/excellent.

Grovani Allegrini Recioto Della Valpolicella Classico 1997
75% Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella, 5% Molinara. Pergola training, average vine age 25 years, 28 hl/ha yields. Natural drying of grapes for 130 days with a loss of 50% loss of the original weight. A delicious red dessert wine. Lovely nose of sweet herbs, bitter cherries and with a touch of caramel. On the palate this is very sweet, but with wonderful exotic flavours and a nice bitterness countering the sweetness. Quite wonderful; gorgeous concentration. Excellent.

(Tasted November 2000)

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