2018 Amarone Classico Costasera

Looking back at one of my first experiences with Masi Amarone shows just how ahead of the game this traditional producer has been for quite some time. The theme of my most recent tasting was pairing Amarone with food. Help with Amarone food pairings is the most frequently asked question I receive with regards to these wines. Today, many producers in the region are working hard to make their wines more gastronomic. Masi, on the other hand, was pushing the boundaries over a decade ago and was happy to place their wines next to a number of dishes. Today, Masi continues to make some of the most balanced wines in the region, all of them sourced from the Classico zone. The Amarone Costasera remains a benchmark, while the Riserva constantly vies for top positions in my reports. However, tasting through their single vineyard wines is also a thrilling experience. This year, the 2015 Campolongo di Torbe was revelatory. Also, I love how unique the 2016 Alighieri Vaio Armaron is from the rest of the portfolio (Masi acquired the Serego Alighieri estate and vineyards in 1973). The Vaio Armaron spends a period of its aging in traditional cherry wood casks, which adds a level of complexity not found in most wines in the region. It also ages at a glacial pace.