The 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella is one of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted. This is an especially silky, elegant Amarone from Dal Forno that avoids the heaviness that some previous vintages have shown. The 2004 is an amazingly approachable young Amarone from Dal Forno. Blackberry jam, crushed rocks, minerals, violets, new leather and bittersweet chocolate are some of the nuances that emerge over time. This is every bit as majestic as it was every time I tasted it from barrel over the last few years. The silky, exceptionally polished tannins make the 2004 approachable today, but the wine will be even better in a few years.

The pureness of fruit here is incredible with a blackberry and blueberry character. Minerals and flowers too. Wow. Full and chewy with wonderful tension and intensity. It goes on for minutes. Racy with light sexy austerity. Great.

A delayed flowering in 2004 was followed by a warm, sunny summer with cool nights, perfect for preserving the balance of sugars and acidity. There was some hail in July, but the surviving grapes proved to be of excellent quality. This has a brooding nose of macerated cherries and medicinal notes. The fullest and tightest of his Amarones so far, it has huge tannins with tons of wood - a super-young and vibrant take that's yet to develop any tertiary characteristics. This is my standout wine from the tasting, not so much for what it is now, as for what it will become. There's so much potential here! Drinking Window 2023 - 2050
Tasted by James Button (at The Clove Club, London, 07 Mar 2018)
Part of Romano Dal Forno Amarone: 1988-2010

The 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella is one of the most monumental young wines I have ever tasted. This is an especially silky, elegant Amarone from Dal Forno that avoids the heaviness of some previous vintages. Blackberry jam, crushed rocks, minerals, violets, new leather and bittersweet chocolate are some of the nuances that emerge over time. This is every bit as majestic as it was every time I tasted it from barrel over the last few years. The silky, exceptionally polished tannins make the 2004 approachable today, but the wine will be even better in a few years. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. (Antonio Galloni)

This is dusty and lifted, as masses of rosy florals, incense, dried cherries, spiced orange and hints of candle wax create a thrilling bouquet on the 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella. Each time I come back to the glass, there’s something new, as this seems to grow in volume, yet remains amazingly finessed. While silky and round at this stage in its life, there are depths of fleshy red berries that give way to hints of cocoa and pretty inner florals. There remains a coating of fine adolescent tannins that frames the expression well, yet doesn't slow its momentum, as this tapers off incredibly long and classic in feel. It’s crazy to think that the 2004 finished at around six to seven grams of residual sugar; however, through its acid balance, is completely imperceptible. Due to hail, production was down 35% in 2004.

This is my favorite of the five vintages (2019, 2018, 2016, 2004 and 2002) of Dal Forno's Amarone tasted at the winery in 2024. The Dal Forno Romano 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta has benefitted from two decades of cellar and bottle age to show softer polymerize tannins (to a much larger extent). The wine presents dark fruit, dried rose, church incense, dusty oak sensations and flinty mineral essences. You get pretty complexity in this vintage, and many of those added layers come thanks to careful tertiary tones. The mouthfeel is rich, but there is a moment of brightness on the mid-palate that breaks up the heaviness, and the tannins are chalky dry.

Offers an amazing brilliant color of dark ruby red that's almost black. The nose shows subtle tar, black chocolate and crushed raspberry, and this is full and opulent on the palate, with fabulously polished tannins and a long, long finish. To be released and price to be determined. Drink now through 2020. — JS

Good fully saturated inky-ruby. Wild, dark aromas of black fruits, roasted coffee bean, minerals and spices. Very rich, dense and creamy, but with excellent energy giving shape and grip to the intense raspberry, cocoa, ginger, underbrush, coffee and smoked meat flavors. A step up in concentration from every other Amarone of the vintage, but with no loss of clarity or precision in spite of its massive size. Finishes with big, fine tannins and superb palate-staining persistence. This huge wine will smother your taste buds in layers and layers of velvety creamy fruit. Although his wines are now cult objects among international collectors, Romano Dal Forno remains easy to talk to and willing to answer questions from wine lovers, something that cannot be said for all of the world's winemaking stars.

Impenetrable purple ruby. Brooding power on the nose. Rich and generous mouthful of cherry fruit on the attack but then draws back and closes up. Gorgeous, linear acidity, and richly fruity on the finish with bags of big tannins. Almost a little overwhelming and the rich, tannic impression lasts forever. (WS)