Origin: Trentino Alto Adige (Italy)
Type: Italian Mountain Single Malt Whisky
Strength: 44.2%ABV
Ageing casks: New oak and ex-wine
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Villa de Varda
Average price: € 63.00
Official website: www.villadevarda.com/whiskyinquota
Vote: 81/100
I return to Villa del Varda’s mountain whisky with the first of the two bottlings from the ex-wine casks finishing, starting with the one that probably creates the most attention among enthusiasts, especially abroad, where Amarone wine enjoys great fame.
A strengthening of that bond with the territory sought by the Dolzan family, expressed in a synergy between Italian excellence, which we will also see in the fourth and last (for now) bottling of the series.
Initial maturation in new casks with a brief refinement in ex-Amarone casks for a total of around three and a half years.
Tasting notes
The nose evokes fragrant berry cereal biscuits (blackberries, blueberries) with cinnamon, combined with almonds, sugar paste and gingerbread. Very Christmassy (or wintry) in its evocations, over time it evolves into hints of salted caramel and a slight coffee note. Cosy.
The palate becomes more spicy, black pepper, cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg pave the way for copious nuts (almonds, walnuts, peanuts) over notes of dehydrated coconut, (light) red fruits, liquorice, cereal bread, chocolate and vegetal impressions that lengthen, turning balsamic.
Not very long finish with balsamic brushstrokes on red fruits, cereals, chocolate, coffee.
What is imparted by the finishing casks is elegant and incisive especially on the nose, a little less so in the mouth where they struggle to marry with the initial maturation. All is forgiven in youth, we are only at the beginning and even in this bottling the excellent start of a whisky with personality is confirmed.