Ca' Florian Amarone Classico Riserva

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Dec/2023

2015 -

"The 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Ca' Florian is a total pleasure on the nose, as a rush of sweet cinnamon, clove and vanilla bean embellishes dried black cherries and hints of cocoa powder. Deeply textural and dense, this excels with a silken wave of decadent red fruits offset by a bitter twang of dark chocolate. Brisk acidity maintains an energetic feel as the 2015 finishes structured and classically dry, with hints of spiced citrus and violet inner florals that linger on and on. This is a Riserva Ca' Florian for the ages. Of note, there was no 2014 produced."

James Suckling, Apr/2023

2015 -

"French barriques are used for the single vineyards here, but only for the maximum of one year, 'to fix the colour'. Thereafter, there is a transition to Slavonian oak to complete the mandatory four years. Yet one cannot escape the cinnamon-cedar-nutmeg tannin profile of the barriques. Lovely material behind. Sweet cherry, mint, amaro and sassafras, amidst a swirl of glycerol that coats the mouth. The drive is long, firm and powerful, without extraneous sweetness or obvious excess. A style that defines the philosophy here. A very good wine."

Wine Spectator, Nov/2024

2015 -

"Fragrant hints of leather and dried flowers offer an enticing entry point for this expressive, long and harmonious red, which layers its silky texture and fine-grained tannins atop a range of warm cherry and plum fruit, orange peel, baking spices and medicinal herbs. Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella. Drink now through 2035." - Alison Napjus

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Jan/2022

2013 -

"Masses of crushed cherries, dried florals, cinnamon, clove and stone dust creates a seductive bouquet as the 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Ca' Florian blossoms in the glass. It’s velvety and elegant with masses of dark red fruits and inner spice complicated by intense minerality and fine tannins that slowly saturate. It leaves lavender, licorice and dark, dark chocolate through the finale. This is structured and cool-toned. Wow, the 2013 is an intense Ca' Florian for the cellar."

James Suckling, Sep/2022

2013 -

"A spicy, peppery accent jumps out first, followed by dried dark cherries, blackberries, raisins, dark olives and cedar wood. Really smooth and composed, with a medium to full body that’s coated with melting, chocolatey tannins. Still tight. Classic Amarone. Unfiltered. Drink or hold."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Oct/2023

2013 -

"This is one of the most elegant and complete bottles in the Tommasi family portfolio. The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Ca' Florian shows lots of dark concentration, air-dried fruit, tar, sweet spice and hints of red cedar or barbecue smoke. There is a lot of power in the glass fueled by an evident 15.5% alcohol content. However, like the other wines in the portfolio, the overall approach is open-knit and immediate."

Gambero Rosso 2021

2012 -

Tre Bicchieri

James Suckling, Dec/2020

2012 -

"This is really showing lots of dried fruit with sultana, white-pepper and fig flavors. It's full and very tight with a long, intense finish. Chewy and gorgeous now. Very classic with a light touch of bitterness at the finish. Drink now."

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Feb/2021

2012 -

"The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Ca' Florian holds nothing back, exploding from the glass with a massive wave of medicinal blackberries and cherries dipped in dark chocolate, complemented by autumnal and balsamic spices. It’s weighty and dense in the mouth, showing amazing concentration and persistence, as a more savory display of tart wild berries mixes with sour citrus. Throughout this heady display, a core of zesty acids maintains balance. You don’t feel it until the very end, but there’s a coating of fine wood tannin that is only revealed as the Ca' Florian's glycerol-textured fruits slowly fade. Open the 2012 now for all of its upfront appeal, or cellar it to explore its unseen depths  -- either way, it's quite a wine."

Decanter, May/2021

2012 -

"After a relatively mild winter, the 2012 season was one of the driest of the past few years. Rains at the end of August and a good September balanced the vintage, which was relatively low in terms of yields. Ca’ Florian shows a relatively modern style, focused on filigree precision and displaying great definition of cherry fruit combined with bay leaf, myrtle and chocolate. The elegant finish arrives after almost-silky tannins and well-integrated zesty acidity."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Dec/2021

2012 -

"The Tommasi 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Ca' Florian offers an interesting perspective tasted now just shy of the 10-year mark since the harvest. This special late-release blend of 75% Corvina, 20% Corvinone and 5% Rondinella (with only 9,000 bottles made) shows the sweetness of the hot vintage and the appassimento process on the one hand and the spiciness of bottle age on the other. The bouquet is rooted in tertiary aromas of dried plum, prune, campfire ember and powdered licorice. In other words, the wine is sweet and savory at the same time, and that is really something only Amarone can pull off. Ca' Florian draws its fruit from a five-hectare site planted in the traditional overhead pergola training system that helps to shade the fruit during ripening."

Meiningers ProWein Sample 2020

2012 -

James Suckling, Nov/2018

2011 -

“A rich and very polished Amarone with dark-berry, dark-chocolate and black-tea aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with integrated tannins that are sweet and polished. Drink now.”

Wine & Spirits, Feb/2020

2011 -

"This wine rested in tonneaux for one year, followed by three years in large Slavonian casks. Now the tannins are rounded, and the flavors are dark and savory, notes of black plum and prune moving toward cured meat, licorice and dark chocolate. Bold and spicy, this is a match for hard salty cheeses."

Wine Enthusiast, Mar/2019

2011 -

"Aromas of raisin, leafy underbrush and leather emerge from the glass. The dense palate delivers prune, licorice and vanilla alongside big chewy tannins."

James Suckling, Oct/2017

2010 -

James Suckling, Nov/2016

2009 -

"A solid Amarone with blueberry, chocolate and light nut aromas and favours. Medium to full body, velvety tannins and a long, flavourful finish. Drink now."

Wine Spectator Oct/2016

2009 -

"This medium-bodied version shows Amarone's savory side, with abundant ground spice and cured tobacco flavors, layered with notes of dried cherry and raspberry fruit. Supple and balanced, with a lasting, chewy finish of smoke and herb. Drink now through 2024. 750 cases made."

Wine & Spirits Magazine, Oct/2016

2008 -

"This wine buzzes with notes of black pepper, anise, and cardamom that accent flavours of black plum and apricot. It has a cool greenness that balances the otherwise black flavours, notes of plum, espresso and dark chocolate carried by tannins both firm and polished after four years in casks. Decant it this winter for braised beef-cheek agnolotti. Vintus, Pleasantville, NY"