Tenuta Chevalier, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019
Name: Tenuta Chevalier, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019
Type: Amarone della Valpolicella
Grapes: Corvina, Rondinella
Where to Buy + How Much: Specialty Wine Shop + Well Stocked Groceries ($55 as of November 2025)
Wine Aisle Adventurer, if you have ever wondered what happens when grapes get the spa treatment before turning into wine, Amarone is your answer. After being carefully picked, these grapes are partially dried before fermentation, which concentrates everything they have to offer. Tenuta Chevalier’s 2019 bottling takes that tradition and turns it into a generous, slow unfolding experience. This is not a casual sip. It is a settle in and stay a while kind of wine which is something Amarone is known for.
Aroma: What am I smelling and why?
Start with rich notes of dried cherry, black fig, and plum. Drying the grapes is what deepens those aromas and brings in hints of raisin and date. You may also find warm spice, cocoa, or a touch of tobacco depending on your taste buds and comfort level with Amarone. These come from the combination of concentrated fruit and time spent aging in oak, which adds a savory, polished edge. The overall effect is like stepping into a kitchen where someone has been simmering fruit compote with cinnamon sticks.
Palate: What am I tasting and why?
On the palate, Amarone shows its full and wonderful personality. Expect bold flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, and chocolate. The drying process intensifies the fruit and gives the wine a plush, almost luxurious velvety texture that makes this wine feel oh so smooth. Tannins are present but well integrated, and the higher alcohol level adds warmth without becoming overwhelming. You might catch hints of espresso or sweet spice on the finish, all hallmarks of Amarone’s slow crafted style. Every sip stretches out just a little, inviting you to notice more than you did the moment before and makes it hard to not reach for just a little more. This adventurer had an awfully hard time sharing the bottle.
Enjoy: How and with what?
This is a wine for hearty dishes and unhurried evenings. Think braised short ribs, aged cheeses, or a rich mushroom risotto. Amarone loves depth and umami and it shines when paired with foods that offer the same. If you want to enjoy it on its own, try it after dinner when the pace naturally slows. It is a contemplative wine and it rewards you for giving it time.
Tenuta Chevalier’s Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019 is a warm, generous companion for nights when you want something powerful yet refined. It takes tradition and turns it into a deeply satisfying, distinctly memorable experience.
