2015 Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato

The Zenato winery is located in Sant'Ambrogio at their Costalunga estate within the Valpolicella Classica zone, where they sustainably tend to 35 hectares. Zenato uses natural air drying for the grapes, indigenous yeasts and their own design of oval-shaped Slavonian oak casks, from 300 to 750 liters, for refinement of their Amarone, Amarone Riserva and Ripasso. These are traditionally styled wines that aren’t shy yet remain amazingly balanced and refined. Residual sugar levels range from 4 to 6.5 grams per liter, with alcohols around 16.5 - 17% for the Amarones. All of that said, there’s an inner harmony that must be experienced to be believed, along with zesty acidity that makes it very easy to forget just how powerful they really are. This year's tasting included the 2013 Riserva, which I hadn’t tasted previously. It’s a spectacular interpretation of the vintage. Also, the 2015 Lugana Riserva is a wine that ranks at the top in its category. I also had a chance to revisit the 2018 Amarone and 2017 Riserva; both were stunning.