Get ready for a lip smacking good time. Amarone is one bold, dark and chewy wine with so much flavor you'll go "wow!" Here's why:

It's from the Veneto region and made in a unique way. After the grapes are picked they aren't crushed right away like for most wines. Instead they're placed on slatted racks, laid out on straw mats or even hung from the rafters in bunches at drying lodges. Yep, they're allowed to dry out, or partially raisin, for about four months. This concentrates the sugars, acids and flavors. The Amarone wine made from these grapes is powerful stuff. A big red with hearty fruit, a bittersweet chocolate and a somewhat raisiny taste. Amarone is then oak aged for up to five years before bottling and release to us. The process is very unique and the yield is very low making this a very expensive wine (probably the most expensive Italian wine) found usually in the $150 - $200/bottle price range.

OUR FEATURE OF THE WEEK

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Le Ragose 2004

Bottle $66 (while our two cases last).

Wine Advocate: 92 Points

From the Veneto region, this wine is made of 65% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara and 5% local grapes. This is an extraordinarily powerful, intense wine of 14-16% alcohol with a concentrated black cherry jam fruit flavor, yet the wine is dry. Dense and super ripe, while still polished and harmonious, this Amarone finishes rich and dry with firm tannins allowing for long bottle aging. Pair with braised and grilled meats, duck and red sauce pasta dishes, or after dinner with chocolate or cheeses, especially from Italy.