Fattori, 'Col de la Bastia' Amarone della Valpolicella

€42.99

Made from the classic grape varieties in Valpolicella and grown in very specific sites, this is a stunning, powerful and rich wine that has immense intensity and structure, alcohol and body. Remarkably balanced, it is a wine for a special occasions and worth savouring every drop.

Amarone is made by harvesting fully ripened grapes and leaving them to dry in (traditionally bamboo) wooden crates called Fruttaio for up to five months over the winter after harvest. The semi-dried grapes are then vinified and the knock-on effect of this drying is simply mind-blowing. The alcohol, colour, flavour, structure and acid in the wine all increase in proportion because of the removal of water from the grapes (grapes are about 85% water content); and, because these other components increase together, they retain balance in the resultant wine. Now, balance is a loose enough concept because the wines that come out of this process are immensely full-bodied and rich, but they are absolutely delicious.

Antonio Fattori is a fascinating character who built a very fine reputation for producing elegant and terroir-focused white wines. We had the privilege of visiting him in 2011 and tasted through wonderful expressions of the vineyards and soil structures around his winery, right in the heart of the Soave DOC. Glad of the attention to his craft, he took us to the basement of the cellars under his house whereupon there is an immense stone wall - to remind him of the soil, perhaps? No, it was actually the actual mountain... they couldn't build any further. So rooted in the soils and context is he, that it was no real surprise that when, after dinner, he produced some experimental red wines, he named them after their vineyard areas rather than the names we expected (Amarone and Ripasso).

Now, the vineyard name and area is still on the label, but so too the legal designation. what really impresses however, is the intensity which is balanced by freshness. This particular site is really interesting in the Valpolicella/Soave zone as it has absolutely no volcanic soil, just limestone, clay and shale.

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Grape(s): Corvina

Style: Smooth, Silky, Rich, Powerful, Full, Complex

Best food matches: Venison, Red Meats, Grills, Game, Cheeses, Charcuterie, Casseroles

Alcohol: 15%

Why buy from us?

When you buy wine from The Allotment Wine Co. you're helping a small Irish company that in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers who grow the grapes and make amazing wines. We only work with partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.

Delivery & Returns

You'll get free delivery when you buy 12 x 75cl bottles of wine online from The Allotment, saving you €7.99.

We charge €7.99 per delivery for quantities less than that.

Our hours for processing orders are between 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

We pack your online wine order along the following timelines:

Wine orders for delivery in Dublin, received before 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected the next working day.

Wine orders for nationwide delivery, received by 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected two working days later.

Customer reviews

★★★★★
Great choice and excellent service. Received my delivery the next day.
Paul H.
★★★★★
Amazing service from the get go!
I emailed Chris looking for wine recommendations for a birthday gift. Got a really speedy, helpful reply and not only that but he hand delivered it on time to the birthday girl wishing her a happy birthday. Absolutely bowled over by the service. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Michelle McM.
★★★★★
Could not recommend The Allotment enough. The selection is fantastic and each wine that I've drank from them has been utterly phenomenal. Delivery was no hassle and I had the wine at my door in 2 days. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Luke B.
★★★★★
Good range of interesting wines. Good personal attention to their orders. Very customer focused. I would be happy to recommend this company to any prospective customer.
Jim D.
★★★★★
A great experience ordering from The Allotment Wine Company. A wide variety of wines to try something new and at good prices with super quick delivery! Really convenient too as opposed to trying to find parking!
N. Dowling
★★★★★
Delicious and interesting range of wines delivered promptly to my door. Not far off that lovely feeling of coming back laden from a good wine store but without any of the traffic or the worry of breaking the wine en route (very impressive travel wrap).
M. Dorman
★★★★★
Chris fields a fine range of excellent, keenly-priced wines. Orders are safely packaged and dispatched efficiently and promptly. Strongly recommended.
David M.
★★★★★
Great selection of wines, hassle free ordering, payment and delivery. Highly recommended.
Patrick H.
Hi, I'm Chris Gifford.

And you're very welcome to The Allotment Wine Co.

When you wine from me, you're supporting a small Irish business which in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers, as well as other small, dedicated Irish wine importers.

When selecting wines, I look for partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.