Nicolis Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2012

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast     Intense aromas of violet, black-skinned berry, leather with a whiff of cake spice lead the nose on this full-bodied wine. The luscious balanced palate offers blackberry, mature plum, licorice, clove and white pepper alongside fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2020–2029. 

92 Points - James Suckling      A spicy Amarone with blackberry bush, dried brambleberries, blueberry tart, dried herbs and vanilla. The palate shows layers of black cherries, which roll neatly over firm tannins through to a chewy finish. Good dryness and elegance, despite the intensity. Drink in 2021.

90 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate      The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a blend of 65% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Croatina and 5% Molinara that sees a shorter appassimento process than many of its peers. Shorter dehydration times were very common in the hot and dry 2012 growing season. It made little sense to continue drying fruit that had already lost some of its water mass on the vines. This wine is thick and darkly concentrated with spicy fruit flavors of red plum and prune.  The fruit is dry and raisiny, leaving a trace of bitterness in the mouth.