At a glance

Producer

Bertani

Region

Valpolicella Classica, Veneto, Italy

Grape variety

Corvina, Rondinella

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Bold

Sweetness

Off-Dry

Typical price

$130-$190 USD

Tasting profile

Dried cherry, black fig, prune, licorice, cocoa, sweet tobacco, balsam, dried rose; dense but harmonious palate, classic bitter almond finish.

Evolution: Primary fruit evolves toward dried/dark compote, truffle, forest floor, leather, and caramelized nut complexity. Acidity preserves freshness even as tannins soften.

At peak: Sweet-spot now for tertiary expression and supple tannins, but structure and balance allow further refinement and integration through 2035+.

Structure

Acidity

Moderate to high (a key to Amarone's longevity)

Tannins

High, but well-integrated and velvety with age

Alcohol

Typically 15-16% ABV

Aging potential

Outstanding; Bertani Amarone is renowned for its near unrivaled longevity among Amarones, reaching 30+ years in top vintages.

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2020 to 2020

Optimal window

2015 to 2020

Current status

Prime/Mature

Current condition

The 2006 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is in a prime drinking window as of 2024, with full maturity of tertiary notes, but will remain excellent over the next 10+ years, evolving further in bottle if well cellared.

Bertani Amarone Classico is famed for its ageworthiness due to traditional winemaking (extended ferment, large old oak, high natural acidity). 2006 was a high-quality, classically-styled vintage. The wine opened up after its first decade and will remain profound and nuanced for at least another decade, with the best bottles showing subtlety and tertiary character well past 30 years.

Food pairing

Venetian braised beef (pastissada de caval), aged Parmigiano Reggiano, wild boar ragu, roast lamb, or simply at the end of a meal with hard cheeses and walnuts.

Serving

Serving temperature

16-18°C / 61-64°F

Decant

Yes (1-2 hours) — To allow mature aromatics to open and any sediment to settle, enhancing nuance and complexity without losing freshness.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 6/10

Bertani is a traditional, historic producer: manual harvest, low chemical input, cover cropping, increasing emphasis on vineyard biodiversity, but not fully certified organic. Water managed sustainably in dry years. Packaging is traditional (heavy glass bottles), which impacts carbon footprint.

Bertani maintains responsible vineyard management with elements of sustainability (low-intervention, biodiversity, water management) but does not pursue full organic/biodynamic certification. Progress has been made toward sustainable practices. The use of heavy glass bottles (common in Amarone) weighs on their overall score. Their long-standing respect for terroir and minimal intervention in winemaking are positives. For buyers prioritizing sustainability, lighter packaging and formal certification would be improvements.