The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico wafts up from the glass with a dark and inviting bouquet that blends rich cherry and plum sauces and hints of cinnamon and mocha. This washes across the palate with silky elegance, well balanced by tart red and hints of blue fruit, along with zesty acidity and tactile minerality. There’s admirable balance and poise here, especially considering the vintage, as it tapers off to notes of bitter coffee and inner purple florals. This palatable effort can excel on its own or at the dinner table, a trait not often associated with Amarone.