Te Mata Estate Gamay Hawkes Bay 2022 750ml
Description
Roccolo Grassi represents one of Valpolicella’s most exciting small producers, crafting Amarone and other wines that challenge conventions while respecting tradition. This estate, with its commitment to biodynamic farming and minimal intervention, produces wines of unusual purity and expression. Their Amarone showcases the potential of traditional appassimento methods combined with modern understanding. The wine opens with the classic dried fruit intensity expected from Amarone—fig, date, and raisin—but delivered with unusual freshness and vitality. Notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and exotic spices add layers, while a surprising minerality speaks to the limestone-rich soils.
The palate delivers the concentration and complexity that defines great Amarone while maintaining remarkable elegance. The sweetness from the dried grapes is perfectly balanced by fresh acidity, creating a wine that’s rich without being cloying. Dark fruit flavors—dried cherry, plum, and fig—are interwoven with notes of tobacco, leather, and herbs. The texture is luxurious yet never heavy, with fine-grained tannins providing structure. What distinguishes Roccolo Grassi is the life and energy in their wines—despite the concentration, there’s a vitality that speaks to biodynamic farming and careful winemaking. The alcohol, while substantial, is perfectly integrated.
The traditional appassimento process, where grapes dry for months before fermentation, creates layers of complexity impossible to achieve any other way. As this Amarone opens in the glass, it reveals why small producers like Roccolo Grassi are so important—notes of dried flowers, balsamic, and mineral complexity emerge. The finish is extraordinarily long and complex, with alternating waves of fruit, spice, and savory notes. This is Amarone that transcends the category’s reputation for power alone, offering genuine complexity and elegance. Perfect with aged cheeses, game dishes, or contemplated on its own, Roccolo Grassi produces Amarone that honors tradition while pointing toward the appellation’s quality potential.
- Producer
- Te Mata Estate
