Le Salette Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2010

Le Salette Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2010 is a full-bodied Italian red wine from the Valpolicella Classica zone, produced using the traditional appassimento method in a 750ml bottle. This vintage from the Scamperle family estate in Fumane represents a mature expression of Amarone, having had over a decade to develop complexity in bottle after extended cask aging in Slovenian oak.

Quick Facts: Origin: Fumane, Valpolicella Classica, Veneto, Italy  |  Vintage: 2010  |  Style: Amarone DOCG  |  Winery: Azienda Agricola Le Salette (Scamperle Family)

Production & Heritage

Azienda Agricola Le Salette is a family-run estate located in Fumane, in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica zone. The Scamperle family has cultivated vineyards across twenty hectares in some of the zone's most prized hillside sites for generations. The Amarone Classico is built on indigenous grape varieties — primarily Corvina, with contributions from Corvinone, Rondinella, and other permitted local varieties including Molinara, Oseleta, and Croatina. Following harvest, the grapes undergo appassimento, a centuries-old drying process where bunches are laid out on traditional bamboo racks called arele in the local dialect. Over several months, the fruit shrivels and concentrates its sugars, acids, and phenolic compounds. After a long, slow fermentation, the resulting wine is aged first in large Slovenian oak casks, which impart subtle tannin structure without overpowering the fruit, and then further refined in bottle before release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated dried dark fruit — black cherry preserves, fig, and prune — characteristic of the appassimento process. Secondary layers of dried herbs, cocoa, and leather emerge with time in the glass, along with warm spice notes from extended oak maturation.

Taste: On the palate, the wine enters rich and full, with dense dark fruit and a velvety texture. The mid-palate reveals bittersweet chocolate, roasted coffee, and dried Mediterranean herbs. With over a decade of aging, the tannins have softened considerably, lending a smooth, integrated structure. The natural residual richness from the dried grapes gives the wine notable weight without crossing into cloying sweetness, balanced by Amarone's signature bitter almond edge.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, with lingering notes of dark cherry, tobacco, and a faint mineral bitterness. A subtle spice and dried fruit resonance persists well after the final sip.

How to Drink Le Salette Amarone 2010

A wine of this age and concentration rewards patient, unhurried drinking. Serve at 16–18°C (61–64°F) in a large-bowled glass, and consider decanting for 30–60 minutes to let the mature aromatics fully unfold. This is best appreciated on its own or alongside food — its bold structure and dried-fruit richness stand up to hearty, savory dishes without losing definition.

Best For

• Pairing with a formal Italian dinner featuring braised or roasted meats
• Gifting to a collector or wine enthusiast who appreciates aged Italian reds
• Marking a milestone anniversary or celebration with a library vintage
• Adding depth to a Valpolicella vertical tasting or Amarone comparison lineup

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Le Salette Amarone 2010 taste like? This Amarone delivers rich, concentrated flavors of dried black cherry, fig, dark chocolate, and roasted coffee, with well-integrated tannins from over a decade of bottle aging and a signature bitter almond finish typical of the style.

How does Le Salette Amarone compare to Allegrini Amarone? Both are respected Classica-zone producers, but Le Salette tends toward a more traditional, structured profile aged in large Slovenian oak, while Allegrini often uses a mix of French and Slovenian oak and can lean slightly more modern in texture. The house styles reflect differing philosophies within the same appellation.

Is Le Salette Amarone 2010 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — Amarone is one of Italy's great contemplative wines, and a 2010 vintage has had ample time for its tannins to resolve and its aromatics to deepen, making it ideal for slow, meditative sipping.

Where is Le Salette Amarone made? Le Salette Amarone is produced at Azienda Agricola Le Salette in Fumane, a commune in the province of Verona, Veneto, Italy, situated within the historic Valpolicella Classica subzone — the original heart of the Amarone appellation.

What foods pair well with Le Salette Amarone 2010? Ossobuco or braised short ribs complement the wine's weight and dried-fruit richness. Aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano or Piave Vecchio echo its savory depth. Wild mushroom risotto bridges earthy and umami notes. Dark chocolate desserts with 70%+ cacao mirror the wine's bittersweet character. Venison or wild boar ragu matches its robust structure.

What sizes does Le Salette Amarone come in? The standard bottling is 750ml, which is the most widely available format for this wine.

Is Le Salette Amarone 2010 worth the price? Le Salette Amarone positions in the mid-premium tier for Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, offering estate-grown fruit and traditional production at a level below the appellation's most expensive cult bottlings but well above entry-level Amarone. As a 2010 vintage with significant bottle age, it carries additional value for those seeking a mature, ready-to-drink expression without the premium commanded by top-tier producers.

Why Le Salette Amarone 2010?

What distinguishes this bottling is the convergence of traditional Valpolicella winemaking and genuine bottle maturity. The Scamperle family's use of appassimento on bamboo arele followed by aging in large-format Slovenian oak reflects a deliberately classic approach, resisting the shift toward French barriques that has divided the appellation. The 2010 vintage now offers the rare opportunity to experience Amarone in a fully evolved state — the tannins resolved, the primary fruit shifted toward tertiary complexity, and the wine's structure working in harmony rather than tension. For anyone who values the austere, contemplative side of Amarone over youthful power, this bottling makes a compelling case for patience.