Allegrini Corvina Blend Veronese IGT la Poja 2005

Allegrini's Palazzo della Torre (70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese) has long been one of my favorite ripasso-style wines and the 2004 is another winner. It reveals a plump, juicy personality loaded with perfumed, jammy fruit, roasted coffee beans and new leather. Although it is absolutely irresistible today, a few additional months of bottle age should help soften the wine further. It is a gorgeous effort at this level and a terrific value. Allegrini employs a unique variation of the ripasso technique for its Palazzo della Torre. The traditional method calls for the wine to undergo a second fermentation on the skins that are leftover from the vinification of the Amarone. The estate believes that this method leads to oxidized wines. Instead Allegrini dries a portion of the grapes (around 30%) and ferments them separately in the same style as an Amarone, then adds that wine to the larger portion of the wine, which is fermented in the conventional manner.

A blend of grapes including traditional Corvina and Rondinella undergoes air-drying for extra-rich concentration and intensity. That, with careful oak aging, has shaped a richly textured, dense wine that would pair with game meat or bean soup with smoked bacon. It shows raw, slightly chewy tannins on the close.

The Allegrini family has been in agriculture since before the 16th century. Palazzo della Torre is one of their most beautiful estates in all of Valpolicella. The grapes grown here reach their full potential with little disturbance. The Palazzo della Torre is a blend of Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Sangiovese. It is a smooth, full-bodied wine that is made in an interesting ripasso stylehellip; 75% of the grapes are vinified normally while the other 25% is set aside to dry out until December. Then the two are reintroduced and fermented together, creating a gorgeous, deep ruby red wine with a berry and distinct raisin perfume. Upon mouth entry, it is bursting at the seams with intense cherry, plums and raisins. It pairs beautifully with smoked pork, portobello mushroom risotto or a mixed grill. This wine can be drunk now or aged for the next 10 years. I just couldnrsquo;t wait that long!

Enticing scents of chocolate, espresso, dark fruit, licorice and new leather emerge from the boisterous 2007 Palazzo della Torre. The fruit is sumptuous as always, but in 2007 Palazzo della Torre is not quite as approachable upon release as it usually is. Another year or two in bottle should help smooth some of the slightly rough edges that are present today. There is enough balance and elegance in the finish to suggest this will drink well for a number of years. Palazzo della Torre is made from 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese, all traditional Veneto grapes. Approximately 30% of the fruit is air-dried, Amarone-style. The fermenting juice from those grapes is added to the rest of the juice to give the wine an extra dimension of richness and body. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017.

Allegrinirsquo;s Palazzo della Torre is often an irresistibly stylish wine, as it is again in 2005. This opulent, generous red is loaded with jammy dark cherries, chocolate, spices and sweet toasted oak. Palazzo delle Torre is a blend of 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese. A portion of the fruit for this wine (30%) is left to air-dry on racks (Amarone-style) until December, when it is fermented and subsequently added to the rest of the wine, which is fermented normally. The addition of the wine from the dried fruit gives Palazzo della Torre an uncommon level of richness, density and complexity. Anticipated maturity: 2008ndash;2011.

The 2006 Palazzo della Torre comes across as somewhat restrained for this wine. This is a very polished, elegant Palazzo della Torre with pretty layers of mocha, spices and new leather that add complexity to the fresh, vibrant fruit. Palazzo della Torre is 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese. The addition of 30% dried fruit (Amarone style) adds an extra dimension of complexity. The retro 1970's label is also quite attractive. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016.

Aromas of currant and forest fruits blend with chocolaty notes, which follow through to a full-bodied palate, with ripe, chocolate-coated tannins, giving a long, tasty finish. Best after 2010.