The 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva is heady and sweet on the nose, as confectioners' spice and dusty cherries give way to hints of pipe tobacco. It's rich and velvety yet maintains admirable freshness, as minerals and sweet tannins add tension toward the close. I like the contrasts of salty and sweet here, as notes of dark chocolate and balsam herbs cascade across the palate. This tapers off lightly structured and staining, with primary concentration leaving pretty florals and hints of licorice. Color me impressed; the 2015 is a wildly successful Amarone Riserva. I tasted this in February 2021, yet today's performance is definitely a step up.