Le Balze - Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva

VARIETY OF GRAPES: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and other indigenous grapes.
AREA AND SLOPE OF THE VINEYARD "Le Balze": 1,5 ha, 15%.
ORIGIN: From our vineyard "Le Balze". A hillside vineyard (300 m a.s.l.) in Valpolicella Classica, with prevailing south/south-east exposure, with clayey and calcareous soil.
AVERAGE AGE OF THE VINEYARDS: 20 years.
GROWING SYSTEM AND PLANTING DENSITY: Guyot with planting density of 5000 vines/ha.
PRODUCTION PER HECTARE: 9000 Kg/ha.
GRAPE HARVEST AND DRYING OF THE GRAPE: Third decade of September with manual harvesting of the grapes, carefully selected, destined for drying. Natural surmaturation in a traditional hilly fruit cellar (400 m above sea level) for about 100 days.
VINIFICATION: destemming and soft crushing of the grapes during the winter; fermentation at controlled temperature in oak conical vats for at least 30 days, of which 10 days of cold pre-fermentative maceration on the marc; daily pumping over and delestage; malolactic fermentation until completion in wood. Batonnage on own yeasts in oak barrels and micro-oxygenation.
AGING: 36 months in wooden barrels; 12 months in bottle.
AGEING AND STORAGE CAPACITY: Well stored, it can be aged for 15 years or more. We recommend bottle lying in the dark, in a cool place, with constant humidity and temperature.
SENSORY PROFILE: Deep garnet red in color, the nose has an intense aroma, with characteristic hints of red fruit and ripe, combined with the typical notes conferred by the drying; strong spicy nuances, the scent of coffee, bitter chocolate, tobacco and the appearance with the aging of notes godronate. On the palate with a sustained alcohol content, high extract, a generous body, velvety, savory, persistent, with notes of almond, black cherry jam, spice, tobacco.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Important dishes, red meats, grilled, roasted, braised, game, mature cheeses. Great meditation wine.

In one of the most evocative corners of the Alta Valpolicella Classica, on the top of a hill, among vineyards, olive groves, cherry trees and ancient dry stone walls, Azienda Agricola NOVAIA, since 1700, dominates the Marano Valley and the plain that separates it from the ancient Roman city of Verona. Here is handed down the ancient tradition of production of fine classic wines: Valpolicella, Ripasso, Recioto and Amarone, wines rich in fragrance, great structure, quality and longevity.

Between the end of the 1800's and the first years of the 1900's, under the guidance of Paolo Vaona, with a great love for the land and an innovative spirit, the company achieved a rapid and remarkable commercial success. 

Today the winery is run by Cesare and GiamPaolo, with their children Cristina and Marcello, winemakers for passion, who continue the family activity with the name NOVAIA, combining tradition to innovation, experience to a new knowledge and wine making technique.