San Rustico's 2009 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico benefits from the softly rolling hills of Marano in Valpolicella for good sun exposure and balanced ripening. This polished and refined Amarone delivers bright fruit quality with tangible notes of black cherry and wild berry that are sometimes difficult to decipher with appassimento (air-dryed fruit). The finish is embellished by spicy notes of clove and cardamom. The wine shows moderate complexity that should develop with a few more years of bottle aging.