Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore 2018

This structured and 'muscular' red wine originates from Italy, within the Valpolicella D.O.C. appellation of the northern Veneto region. Dal Forno Romano is a legendary, world-renowned estate situated in the Illasi Valley, an area outside the historical classical zone that founder Romano Dal Forno completely elevated to global icon status. Operating under an uncompromising winemaking philosophy of radical low yields and extreme technological precision, the family fundamentally redefines what Valpolicella Superiore can be. While legal standards treat Valpolicella Superiore as a casual, everyday red, Dal Forno treats it with the same majestic reverence as their legendary Amarone. The fruit is sourced from the estate's high-density Monte Lodoletta vineyard, where vines are rooted in deep alluvial soils of clay, silt, and limestone gravel, producing a wine of unmatched concentration, density, and monumental structural longevity.

Wine Description

The 2018 Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore presents an opaque, ink-like ruby-purple color in the glass, showing virtually no light penetration at its dense core. Its sensory profile is exceptionally deep, complex, and high-toned, offering a monumental explosion of aromas that blur the line between a traditional dry red and an opulent Amarone. The bouquet opens with a captivating, multi-faceted display of macerated black cherries, wild blackberries, and blueberry compote, seamlessly layered with complex undertones of dark chocolate, roasted espresso bean, exotic baking spices, sweet pipe tobacco, and a faint hint of asphalt and resinous smoke. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, incredibly dense, and beautifully focused, showcasing a powerful, concentrated core of black fruits, licorice, and dark plum reduction. It is characterized by its outstanding inner energy and a surprisingly vibrant, mouthwatering backbone of natural acidity that cuts cleanly through its massive extract. The mouthfeel is broad, viscous, and texturally epic, driven by a firm, muscular framework of fine-grained, grippy tannins that glide into an exceptionally long, savory finish highlighted by lingering notes of bittersweet cocoa, graphite, and toasted cedar wood.