Description
The 2011 Monte Tondo Amarone Riserva is a rare, collector-grade expression that represents the pinnacle of the Magnabosco family’s red wine production.
While Monte Tondo is world-renowned for its Soave, this Riserva sporting its distinctive velvet label is a “contemplative” wine that showcases the family’s mastery of the traditional Appassimento (grape drying) method.
Crafted only in exceptional years from the best vines in the Campiano locality, the 2011 vintage benefited from a warm, dry autumn that allowed for perfect concentration during the four-month drying process.
The Craft: 5 Years in the Barrel
The “Riserva” designation for this wine signifies a commitment to extended aging far beyond standard DOCG requirements.
The Blend: A traditional composition of 70% Corvina and 30% Rondinella (some sources note the inclusion of Corvinone). Only the most structurally sound bunches are selected to withstand the long maturation.
Appassimento: The grapes are hand-harvested in early October and placed in well-ventilated fruttai (drying rooms) for roughly 120 days. This process reduces water content by 45%, concentrating sugars, acids, and tannins.
Aging: The wine is aged for a staggering 60 months (5 years) in 30-hectoliter Slavonian oak barrels. This long, slow oxygen exchange softens the wine’s massive structure and develops its signature “Riserva” bouquet of tobacco and spice.
Natural Power: Bottled at 16.5% ABV, this is a monumental wine with the structural integrity to age for two decades or more.
The Appearance: Deep, opaque ruby red verging on garnet at the rim.
The Nose: Intensely aromatic and complex. It opens with stewed blackberries, prunes, and dark cherries, layered with secondary notes of cocoa, coffee beans, leather, and a hint of alpine balsamic.
The Palate: Rich, unctuous, and full-bodied. The entry is a wave of dark fruit and vanilla, balanced by a surprising “soaring acidity” that keeps the high alcohol in check. The tannins are dense and tactile but refined by a decade of age.
The Finish: Exceptionally long and warm, leaving echoes of bitter chocolate, tar, and sweet spices.
Tasting Notes
James Suckling 97
"Density and dryness that really comes together here, after almost 10 years in bottle. It s very deep and vertical on the palate. Very pure and beautiful crushed cherries, dried flowers, carbon, and pumice. Wonderful all round." [James Suckling, 01/11/2019]
Producer Profile
The Soul of Soave Classico
Monte Tondo is a premier family estate located in the heart of the Soave Classico zone in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. For three generations, the Magnabosco family has cultivated their vines on the steep, volcanic slopes of the Monte Tondo hill, overlooking the medieval town of Soave.
Today, under the expert direction of Gino Magnabosco and his daughter Marta, the winery has become a global benchmark for Garganega, the noble grape of the region. Their mission is simple: to produce wines of profound mineral tension and aromatic purity that challenge the world’s finest whites.
The Terroir: Volcanic and Limestone Heights
The identity of Monte Tondo is defined by its extraordinary soils. While many Soave wines are produced on the flat plains, Monte Tondo’s vineyards are situated exclusively in the “Classico” zone, where the steep hillsides consist of ancient basalt and tuff.
- Mineral Character: This mineral-rich volcanic earth imparts the wine’s signature “smoky” or flinty character and its remarkable ability to age.
- Meticulous Farming: The family practices intensive canopy management and hand-harvesting, ensuring that only grapes rich in volcanic energy and natural acidity reach the cellar.
The Craft: Crystalline Precision
In the cellar, Monte Tondo strikes a balance between traditional wisdom and modern precision, focusing on the delicate, floral essence of the Garganega grape.
- Stainless Steel Fermentation: Most cuvées are fermented in temperature-controlled steel to maintain a “crystalline” freshness and vibrant citrus profile.
- “Sur Lie” Aging: A key hallmark of the Monte Tondo style is extended aging on the yeast (lees), which adds a sophisticated weight and savory complexity to the mid-palate.
- Prestige Selections: Top-tier wines like the Casette Foscarin undergo fermentation in large oak casks to develop a creamy, honeyed texture and notes of toasted almond.
A “Grand Cru” Caliber Producer
Today, Monte Tondo is celebrated by critics as a “Grand Cru” level producer of Italian white wine.
While famous for their white wines, the family also produces structured Valpolicella and Amarone reds from their vineyards in nearby Colognola ai Colli, reflecting a deep respect for the broader Veronese landscape.
