Winery / Producer: Tenuta Sant'Antonio (Castagnedi Brothers).

Region of Origin: D.O.C.G. Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva, Mezzane di Sotto, Verona, Italy.

Vineyard and Soil: Strict selection of old vines at over 350 meters altitude, with extremely calcareous and white soils.

Grape Varieties: Corvina and Corvinone (70%), Rondinella (20%), Croatina and Oseleta (10%).

Wine Type: Still Red Wine, Gran Reserva / Cult Icon.

Sweetness Classification: Dry.

Winemaking (Appassimento Riserva Method): Surgical manual harvesting in small individual boxes. Grapes undergo an ultra-slow natural drying in the fruttaio for a period of up to 120 days, prodigiously concentrating all components of the grape. Pressing is done in winter. Extremely slow fermentation in open fine wood barrels with indigenous yeasts and prolonged maceration exceeding 30 days.

Prestige Aging: Impeccable maturation for 36 months in new, fine-grained French oak barrels, followed by prolonged refinement and rest in the bottle in the winery's cellars before release.

Alcohol Content: 16.0% Vol.

Serving Temperature: 18°C.

SKU / MPN: IT-TSA-AMARONE-LILIUM-EST-750ML

Appearance: Presents an impenetrable ruby red color, extremely dense, dark, and deep, with majestic and intense garnet and coppery flashes that denote its glorious tannic evolution.

Nose: A celestial, deep, hypnotic, and infinitely changing bouquet in the glass. It unfolds majestic layers of black plum compote, dried figs, black cherries in liqueur, and truffle. As it opens, it reveals sublime notes of pipe tobacco, noble leather, Belgian dark chocolate, espresso coffee, followed by flashes of fine oriental woods, incense, menthol, licorice, and a mineral background of limestone.

Palate: Monumental, colossal entry of absolute sumptuous volume. On the palate, it expresses itself as strictly dry, enveloping the taste buds with a liquid velvet texture and noble tannins of indescribable silkiness, perfectly integrated with the wood. It possesses an aristocratic and vibrant acidity that masterfully balances the opulence of the alcohol. The finish is eternal, infinite, and solemn, leaving an indelible aftertaste of exotic sweet spices, balsamics, and baked dark fruits.

Precision Gourmet Pairing: A wine of the stratospheric scale and dry profile of Lilium Est Riserva demands accompaniments of the highest international culinary sophistication. It harmonizes gloriously with stewed big game meats (venison, wild boar with dark chocolate), braised oxtail in Verona wine, lacquered duck with spiced sauces, and ultra-premium red meat cuts (such as Wagyu A5 or Kobe) grilled over fine wood fires. It is the perfect ally for gourmet risottos with white Alba truffles or collection cheeses of very long maturation (such as Parmigiano Reggiano over 48 months, aged Pecorino buried underground, or excellent blue cheeses like artisanal Roquefort or Stilton). As a meditation wine, it is excellent on its own with a premium medium-to-full-bodied Habano cigar.

Suggested Moments:

• Maximum Level Special Celebration: The definitive red to commemorate unrepeatable life events, such as a 50th anniversary, historical corporate milestones, gala tributes, or the acquisition of a major patrimonial achievement.
• Business (High Diplomacy or Executive Dinners): Opening a Lilium Est represents the highest honor and respect for guests, being the perfect key to seal international agreements of great importance with presidents or high-level investors.
• The Perfect Gift (For Cult Connoisseurs): A gift that transcends generations. A jewel for sommeliers, enological orchestra conductors, and collectors who treasure the most exclusive bottles from the world's wine regions.
• Romantic Dinner in a Luxury Setting: Its warmth, aromatic majesty, and silky texture create a mystical, luxurious, and deeply intimate atmosphere, perfect for an unforgettable toast.
• Gourmet Barbecue (Legendary Pairing): The ultimate accompaniment for an afternoon of private barbecues with the world's most exclusive cuts, where noble tannins majestically cleanse the palate.
• Select Family Meal: Designed to grace historical family banquets (such as intimate weddings or memorable reunions), transforming the meal into an unforgettable memory.
• Summer (Summer Meditation Nights): Enjoyed slowly during warm summer evenings outdoors on a private terrace, it serves as the supreme meditation wine to conclude exclusive evenings of intellectual and profound conversations.

What is the specific origin and winery of this red wine?

This legendary red is produced by the prestigious Tenuta Sant'Antonio winery, owned by the Castagnedi brothers. Its specific origin is strictly located in the oldest vineyard plots on the high hills of Mezzane di Sotto, in the province of Verona, Veneto region, Italy, under the highest appellation of origin D.O.C.G. Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva.

Is this wine dry, semi-dry, or sweet?

The Lilium Est Amarone Riserva is a strictly dry wine. Although the rigorous appassimento process gives it an exuberant mature fruitiness and an enveloping glyceric density that evokes liqueurs and raisins, its fermentation is complete, resulting in a clean, opulent, and completely free of residual sugar taste.

What makes the 'Lilium Est' label so special compared to other Amarones?

Lilium Est represents the qualitative pinnacle of the winery. It is only produced in exceptional vintages using grapes from the oldest vines in the vineyard. Furthermore, it undergoes extended aging of 36 months in new French oak barrels and many additional years of rest in the bottle, making it an ultra-premium collection wine with unparalleled aromatic complexity.

Does it require decanting, and what is its aging potential in a private cellar?

As a colossal wine of enormous concentration and tertiary richness, it is mandatory to decant it for at least 90 to 120 minutes before serving to allow it to oxygenate and unfold its full three-dimensional potential. Its aging potential under optimal storage conditions is legendary, capable of aging, evolving, and improving in the bottle sublimely for the next 20 to 40 years.