Masi 1997 Costasera Amarone 750ml

This is the first edition in the Costasera series. The wine represents a very important and, in my view, positive departure for the storied Masi estate in Italy's Veneto region. When considering the 1997 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera, you notice the wine's well-maintained appearance that is dark and intact with hints of ruby and garnet. Second, you notice the bouquet that remains fresh and lifted with rosemary oils and a hint of lavender. This wine is one of the standouts in this retrospective. Masi Chairman Sandro Boscaini notes that the 1997 vintage embraces a new chapter of Amarone with international appeal: "We made Amarone designed to taste like Amarone. I was lucky enough to be able to explain a special wine like this on a world stage."

Score: 95 points -- Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate