Review: Famiglia Pasqua 2019 PassioneSentimento and 2012 Mai Dire Mai Amarone
Two new autumn releases from Italy’s Famiglia Pasqua — well known in these parts for its dazzling Amarone — have hit our desk. Let’s give ’em a try.
2019 Famiglia Pasqua PassioneSentimento Veneto Rosso IGT – A dense blend of corvina and croatina, with some merlot in the mix, this is a hearty wine thick with blackberry, spice cabinet, and some chocolate notes. Flamed orange peel informs a blueberry-enriched tartness and a vibrant finish. Wines in this price range don’t often carry with them this depth of richness. A- / $16
2012 Famiglia Pasqua Mai Dire Mai Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – This is the current vintage, and the wine that’s hit the bottle here has arguably still not hit its prime. An enveloping, licorice-infused richness paves the way to notes of intense blackberry, dark cherry, and some coffee. There’s a touch of oxidation emerging here, but the wine simultaneously feels young and slightly underdeveloped, a paradox that Amarone lovers exclusively will understand. Intense and lightly beefy, with overtones of clove and more licorice as the finish builds, this deep and rich wine needs ample time in glass — and probably another 5+ years in cellar — to really showcase its charms. I have faith in you on both counts. A- / $113
The post Review: Famiglia Pasqua 2019 PassioneSentimento and 2012 Mai Dire Mai Amarone appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.