Amarone Della Valpolicella 2016 (10 Outstanding Bottles, Prices)

Amarone della Valpolicella is a prestigious dry red wine from Italy’s Veneto region made with dried Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone grapes.

The Amarone della Valpolicella 2016 vintage produced elegant wines with stellar ageability and striking flavors - all worthy additions to your cellar!  

Let’s discover what’s so special about the 2016 vintage, its top 10 bottles, serving tips, and food pairings. We’ll also look at the wine’s investment potential and some fascinating facts about Amarone della Valpolicella wines.

Was 2016 A Good Year For Amarone?

2016 was a great year for Amarone della Valpolicella wines.

The growing season of 2016 began with a temperature drop in March that slowed the vegetative cycle. Mild temperatures with heavy rainfall during spring and summer maintained this vegetative delay till September. 

The grapes ripened between August and September and matured fully before harvest in late September -  early October. The dry and windy weather in the later half of September was conducive for the concentration of phenolic components in the grapes.

Despite the slow progress in the early stages of the growing season, the 2016 vintage produced top-notch, flavorful, mature grapes by harvest time. 

10 Best Amarone della Valpolicella 2016 Bottles 

Here are the finest Amarone della Valpolicella 2016 wines to buy in 2023:

1. 2016 Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta ($380)
2. 2016 Masi Mazzano ($124)
3. 2016 Zenato 'Sergio Zenato' Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG ($82)
4. 2016 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($72)
5. 2016 Secondo Marco Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($66)
6. 2016 Fornaser Monte Faustino L'Amarone del Maestro Fornaser ($64)
7. 2016 Speri Vigneto Monte Sant'Urbano ($60)
8. 2016 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($57)
9. 2016 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($53)
10. 2016 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($45)

1. 2016 Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta ($380)

This exceptional wine has fine tannins, bright acidity, mature fruit, and autumnal spice aromas. It boasts a velvety palate of medicinal black cherries, dark chocolate, stewed prune, and a lingering finish.

2. 2016 Masi Mazzano ($124)

Here’s a magnificent Italian wine with refined tannins and opulent black cherry and truffle menthol aromas. The tantalizing palate reveals hints of currant and sweet red fruits.

3. 2016 Zenato 'Sergio Zenato' Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG ($82)

The Zenato wine offers velvety tannins and an aromatic bouquet of clove, licorice, and baked plum aromas balanced by an intense flavor profile of violet candies, dark fruit, and dark chocolate. 

4. 2016 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($72)

Here we have an exquisite Amarone della Valpolicella wine with mature fruit, cocoa powder, and autumnal spice aromas followed by red fruit and currant flavors. 

The wine’s tannin lingers pleasantly and transitions into a bright acidity and a smooth mouthfeel. 

5. 2016 Secondo Marco Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($66)

The beautiful Secondo Marco wine has an addictive bitter coffee, sweet smoke, and blue flower aroma offset by sumptuous hints of medicinal black cherries and sweet red fruits. 

Refined tannins and a long finish with sour citrus undertones define this vintage.

6. 2016 Fornaser Monte Faustino L'Amarone del Maestro Fornaser ($64)

Here’s a remarkable Italian red wine with stewed prune and ripe plum aromas. The velvety palate unravels with rich dried black cherries and blackberry compote notes. 

This spectacular vintage is characterized by its dominant dried fruit flavors, velvety tannins, and a lingering finish.

7. 2016 Speri Vigneto Monte Sant'Urbano ($60)

This brilliant 2016 vintage exudes an intense cocoa powder, blue flower, and truffle menthol aroma with powerful sour citrus and currant notes in its flavor profile. 

8. 2016 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($57)

Here we have an excellent wine with fine tannins, sweet smoke, and black cherry aromas in a delicious ripe plum and blackberry compote palate. 

9. 2016 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($53)

Notes of violet candies with seductive clove and dark fruit aromas define this delightful wine. Its rich texture feels addictive, and the wine’s tannin lingers after the finish. 

10. 2016 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ($45)

Here’s an incredible Valpolicella wine characterized by licorice, bitter coffee, and baked plum aromas with flavors of dried fruit, red fruit, and dried black cherries.   

Serving Tips and Food Pairing for Amarone della Valpolicella 2016

Serve Amarone della Valpolicella 2016 wines at 18 to 20 degrees Celsius to bring out their elegance and bold tasting notes.

The robust flavors of the 2016 vintage wines beautifully complement rich foods like grilled meat, game, pulled pork, beef, roast chicken, and bolognese dishes.

Investing in Amarone della Valpolicella 2016

If you wish to build a portfolio of investment-grade Amarone della Valpolicella vintage wines, check out the Vinovest website. It’s a reliable platform to order, store, and sell authentic fine wines from around the world.

The Amarone della Valpolicella 2016 wines have a long cellar life and most bottles can be aged till around 2035. 

These wines have also shown reasonably good price appreciation over the years and could be valuable, investment-worthy additions to your cellar. For instance, the 2016 Ca' Botta Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG increased by over 252% in value from $34 in 2020 to $120 in 2021.

Additionally, the Amarone della Valpolicella 2016 wines have secured enviable scores from celebrated wine critics: 

• James Suckling awarded a score of 94 to the impressive Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2016.
• The delightful Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2016 received a score of 93 from Wine Spectator for its outstanding flavor profile and smooth mouthfeel.

Interesting Facts About Amarone della Valpolicella Wines

Here are the answers to some questions you may have about Amarone della Valpolicella wines:

Why are Amarone wines so expensive?

Amarone wines are produced using the ‘appassimento’ method, which involves air-drying the finest Amarone grape varieties for 90 to 120 days. The sweet dried grapes are then fermented to completely convert the sugar in the berries to alcohol. 

The large quantity of grapes used in wine production and the prolonged vinification process make these wines expensive.

What are the Amarone della Valpolicella wine production regulations?

The Amarone wines are produced according to strict DOCG guidelines:

• Regulated time of harvest
• Use of local grape varieties 
• Precise grape quantities in winemaking
• Specialized vinification (appassimento) of dried grapes
• Aging in wooden barrique cases for at least two years

These Amarone DOCG wines are well-structured, balanced, and rank among the best red styles of Italy.

Amarone della Valpolicella 2016: Add a Bottle of Italy’s Finest Red to Your Cellar 

Amarone della Valpolicella 2016 are collectible dry reds with sumptuous flavors that appeal to discerning wine lovers. Stock a bottle of this fine vintage to woo friends and family at your next dinner party.

But if you’re looking to invest in Amarone della Valpolicella wines for the long-run, visit the Vinovest website and start building your successful wine portfolio today.