OHMS CONNOISSEURS CHOICE – SINGLE SELLER AUCTION EXCLUSIVE ITALIAN WINE BIG BOTTLE NO RESERVE PRICE 2011 BRUNELLI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO DOCG MAGNUM 1.5 L ORIGINAL WOODEN CASE MUNDUS VINI 2014 GOLD MEDAL VALPOLICELLA CLASSICA – VENETO – ITALY DIRECT PRODUCER PROVENANCE PROFESSIONAL OHMS CELLAR STORAGE 2011 BRUNELLI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO DOCG – MAGNUM IN ORIGINAL WOODEN CASE An impressive collector-format Magnum of 2011 Brunelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG, presented in its original wooden case and offered from the professional OHMS Connoisseurs Choice cellar. This is a 1.5 litre large-format expression of one of Italy’s most internationally recognised wine styles. Amarone combines concentration, dried-fruit richness and considerable structure with the ability to develop extraordinary secondary and tertiary complexity over time. The 2011 vintage is particularly attractive today because it combines the generosity of a warm growing season with more than a decade of bottle development. This exact 2011 Brunelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG received a Gold Medal at Mundus Vini 2014, providing important independent recognition of the wine itself rather than simply of the producer or vintage. ([Vinie Vino][1]) The combination offered here is especially appealing: 2011 vintage Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Brunelli family estate 1.5 litre Magnum Original wooden presentation case Mundus Vini Gold Medal Direct producer provenance Professional OHMS cellar storage No Reserve Price BRUNELLI – A VALPOLICELLA FAMILY SINCE THE 18TH CENTURY The Brunelli family has deep roots in San Pietro in Cariano, in the historic heart of Valpolicella Classica. The family’s connection with agriculture in the area reaches back to the eighteenth century. The modern wine estate was formally established in 1936, when Angelo Brunelli decided to dedicate the family business fully to wine production. After the Second World War, the next generation expanded production and began bottling the wines of the estate at a time when much of the region still sold wine in bulk. Brunelli was therefore involved in the development of Amarone during the period in which this once-local Veronese style began its transformation into one of Italy’s great internationally recognised red wines. Today the family continues to work in San Pietro in Cariano, combining respect for traditional Valpolicella methods with modern vineyard and cellar practices. ([Brunelli Amarone][2]) VALPOLICELLA CLASSICA The Classico designation is important. Valpolicella Classica represents the historic core of the appellation west and northwest of Verona. It includes the traditional communes associated with the development of Amarone and Recioto, including San Pietro in Cariano. The Brunelli family is based precisely in this historic zone. The landscape sits between Verona and Lake Garda, where limestone-rich soils, local breezes, Mediterranean influences and favourable south to southwest exposures create ideal conditions for the indigenous red varieties of Valpolicella. For Amarone, origin is particularly important because the wine depends not only on ripeness at harvest but also on the quality and integrity of grapes selected for the long drying process. Brunelli itself describes its Amarone as coming from the Classico zone around San Pietro in Cariano, San Floriano and Pedemonte, principally on limestone-rich, stony soils. ([Brunelli Amarone][3]) AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO DOCG Amarone is one of the most distinctive red wines in Italy. Unlike conventional red wine, Amarone is produced using the traditional appassimento method. The grapes are harvested carefully and then dried for an extended period before fermentation. During appassimento, the berries lose water. The ratio of skin to juice increases. Sugars become concentrated. Aromatic compounds become concentrated. Extract increases. The resulting wine develops far greater density and intensity than would normally be possible from freshly harvested fruit alone. Yet the finest Amarone is not simply powerful. Its quality depends upon preserving acidity, tannin structure and freshness beneath that enormous concentration. THE INDIGENOUS GRAPE VARIETIES Brunelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is produced from the traditional local varieties: Corvina Veronese Rondinella Corvinone The estate selects these grapes carefully by hand for Amarone production. ([Brunelli Amarone][4]) Corvina is central to the classical aromatic identity of Valpolicella. It provides cherry character, freshness and structure. Corvinone can contribute darker fruit, body and complexity. Rondinella is particularly well suited to appassimento and contributes colour, perfume and additional structure. Together they create the distinctive balance of fruit, spice, acidity and concentration associated with traditional Amarone. APPASSIMENTO – THE HEART OF AMARONE The appassimento process is fundamental to the identity of this wine. Only suitable bunches can be used successfully. The fruit must remain healthy throughout drying. Over time, water evaporates naturally from the grapes and the berries become increasingly concentrated. This changes not merely sweetness but the entire structure of the future wine. Cherry becomes dried cherry. Fresh plum becomes more concentrated and balsamic. Spice becomes more pronounced. Texture becomes richer. Tannins become more substantial. The finished Amarone is technically dry, but the concentration created through appassimento gives the wine an extraordinary impression of richness and depth. This ancient method is one of the reasons Amarone is unlike almost any other major dry red wine in the world. THE 2011 VINTAGE 2011 was a warm and generous year in Veneto. The vintage produced ripe fruit and substantial concentration, characteristics particularly suited to Amarone. The wines generally developed generous fruit profiles, broad texture and approachable tannins while retaining the structure required for bottle development. For mature Amarone today, this has an important advantage. The wine has already had sufficient time to integrate its youthful fruit, tannin and oak influences. Yet a professionally stored Magnum should still possess meaningful further development potential. At this stage, the wine can begin moving from primary ripe fruit toward increasingly complex mature characteristics. Dried cherry. Plum. Fig. Cocoa. Tobacco. Leather. Balsamic herbs. Spice. Coffee. These are among the characteristics that make mature Amarone particularly compelling. MUNDUS VINI 2014 GOLD MEDAL A particularly important feature of this wine is its documented international recognition. The exact 2011 Brunelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG was awarded a Gold Medal at Mundus Vini in 2014. The published results of the 2014 competition list Brunelli’s 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG among the Gold Medal wines. ([Vinie Vino][1]) Mundus Vini is one of Europe’s major international wine competitions. The 2014 edition involved more than 6,000 submitted wines, with the judging divided into Grand Gold, Gold and Silver Medal levels. ([Vinie Vino][1]) For this reason, the Gold Medal is not simply a general reference to the quality of Brunelli. It belongs to this specific vintage and wine. A NOTE ON CRITIC SCORES There are strong numerical reviews for other 2011 Brunelli Amarone bottlings, including the estate’s single-vineyard Riservas. However, those wines are not identical to the Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG offered here. For example, Wine Enthusiast awarded 92 points to the 2011 Campo dei Titari Riserva and 90 points to the 2011 Campo Inferi Riserva. ([Wine Enthusiast][5]) Those scores demonstrate the overall quality achieved by Brunelli in the 2011 vintage but should not be represented as ratings of this specific bottle. For the exact wine in this auction, OHMS therefore emphasises the independently documented Mundus Vini 2014 Gold Medal rather than attaching unrelated critic scores. Accuracy matters more than inflating a listing with inappropriate ratings. BRUNELLI AMARONE STYLE Brunelli describes its Amarone Classico as intensely ruby in colour, with redcurrant, blueberry and cherry fruit, complemented by vanilla from oak maturation. On the palate, the estate emphasises warmth and softness balanced by good acidity and refined tannins, creating an elegant yet substantial wine. ([Brunelli Amarone][3]) With the additional bottle age of the 2011 vintage, the profile can evolve toward greater complexity. Dried cherry. Black cherry. Plum. Blackberry. Redcurrant. Cocoa. Vanilla. Sweet spice. Tobacco. Coffee. Leather. Balsamic herbs. Dried flowers. The hallmark of mature Amarone is the gradual integration of these elements into a long, warming and persistent finish. THE MAGNUM FORMAT The 1.5 litre Magnum is one of the most desirable formats for ageing serious red wine. It contains the equivalent of two standard 750 ml bottles. The larger volume changes the relationship between wine and the small amount of oxygen under the closure. As a result, maturation generally proceeds more slowly and gradually than in a standard bottle. For an age-worthy wine such as Amarone, this can be particularly valuable. Fruit can remain fresher for longer. Tannins can integrate more gradually. Secondary and tertiary complexity can develop more slowly. The ageing curve can become broader. For a 2011 Amarone, the Magnum format is therefore not merely visually impressive. It is part of the collector appeal of the wine. BIG BOTTLE COLLECTOR APPEAL Large-format bottles occupy a special place in fine-wine collections. They are produced in smaller quantities than standard bottles. They mature differently. They create substantially greater visual impact. And they are particularly well suited to important dinners, celebrations and long-term cellar collections. A 1.5 litre Amarone in original wooden presentation case brings these elements together particularly well. It can serve as a serious cellar bottle. A centrepiece for a major dinner. A luxury gift. Or an impressive mature Italian wine for a collector of large formats. ORIGINAL WOODEN CASE This Magnum is presented in its original Brunelli wooden case. The original case significantly strengthens both the presentation and collector character of the lot. For a large-format wine, the wooden case serves two purposes. Protection. Presentation. It also helps preserve the wine as a complete collector package rather than simply as a loose Magnum. The combination of wine, large format and original wooden case makes this lot particularly attractive for collectors of mature Italian wine. Please examine the auction photographs carefully. The actual bottle and original wooden case shown are the items offered. THE ACTUAL LOT OFFERED This OHMS Connoisseurs Choice Single Seller Auction lot consists of: 1 Magnum 2011 Brunelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Valpolicella Classica Veneto Italy Corvina Veronese Rondinella Corvinone 1.5 litres Original Brunelli wooden case Mundus Vini 2014 Gold Medal Direct producer provenance Professional OHMS cellar storage No Reserve Price Please examine all auction photographs carefully. The photographs form an integral part of the lot description. Bottle, capsule, label, fill level, wooden case and all visible indications of storage and age should be assessed from the actual photographs. DRINK NOW OR CONTINUE CELLARING The 2011 vintage is now at a particularly interesting point in its evolution. The wine has had more than a decade to develop. Youthful fruit concentration should be integrating with mature Amarone characteristics. The Magnum format may have helped slow that development compared with standard bottles. For this reason, the wine offers two equally attractive possibilities. Open it now for a mature Amarone experience. Or continue cellaring and allow further tertiary development. Depending upon individual bottle evolution and storage after purchase, continued maturation well into the 2030s is entirely plausible for a sound Magnum of this type. SERVING AND FOOD PAIRING Brunelli recommends serving its Amarone at approximately 18 degrees Celsius and opening it around two hours before drinking. ([Brunelli Amarone][3]) For a mature Magnum, careful opening and allowing the wine sufficient time to unfold is particularly appropriate. Excellent food pairings include: Grilled red meat Braised beef Beef cheeks Game Venison Wild boar Goulash Slow-cooked meat dishes Mature Parmigiano Reggiano Aged Monte Veronese Strong mature cheeses Amarone can also be enjoyed entirely on its own as a traditional vino da meditazione. DIRECT PRODUCER PROVENANCE For mature Italian wine, provenance is fundamental. This Magnum was sourced through the direct producer relationships that form the basis of the OHMS Connoisseurs Choice philosophy. It was not acquired anonymously from an uncertain secondary-market source shortly before auction. Following acquisition, the wine entered professional OHMS cellar storage. The provenance chain is therefore straightforward. Brunelli estate. OHMS professional wine cellar. Auction buyer. For a mature 2011 Magnum, that transparent history represents an important part of the value of the lot. PROFESSIONAL OHMS CELLAR STORAGE OHMS places particular emphasis on the long-term professional storage of collectible wine. Large formats require especially careful handling because of their additional weight and the importance of protecting original presentation materials. Our storage philosophy focuses on: Stable cellar conditions Appropriate humidity Protection from light Minimal unnecessary movement Careful handling Preservation of labels, capsules and original packaging The objective is not simply to possess an older bottle. It is to allow fine wine to develop gradually and naturally. PROFESSIONAL PACKAGING AND SHIPPING All collector wines are carefully prepared for transport using a multi-layer OHMS protection system. The label and capsule are first protected with transparent film. The Magnum is then wrapped in original OHMS Connoisseurs Choice paper. Additional protective wrapping is applied. The bottle is immobilised using an appropriate Styrofoam, AirCover or equivalent protective solution suitable for the dimensions and weight of the Magnum. The complete package is then placed inside a strong outer shipping carton. The original wooden presentation case is protected separately within the shipping arrangement so that both the bottle and collector packaging receive appropriate protection. Particular attention is given to large-format wines because a 1.5 litre glass bottle carries significantly more mass than a standard bottle. Professional immobilisation during shipment is therefore essential. Shipping is performed via DPD throughout continental Europe. Česká pošta or EMS is used for selected international destinations. We do not ship to the Canary Islands. OHMS CONNOISSEURS CHOICE SINCE 1998 OHMS s.r.o. was established in 1998. The original Connoisseurs Choice philosophy was built around premium and luxury collecting, including fine wine, collector automobiles, watches and other carefully selected objects. Over time, fine wine became the central specialist field. Since 2003, OHMS has developed particular experience with mature German Riesling, prestigious Mosel estates, Super Tuscans, vintage Champagne, Amarone and collectible large-format bottles. Direct relationships with estates and producers are central to this approach. OHMS has worked particularly closely with leading German producers including Fritz Haag, Schloss Lieser, Grans-Fassian and Reinhold Haart, as well as the historic Rheingau estate Schloss Johannisberg. In Italy, the OHMS focus includes collectible Tuscan wines and important mature bottles. In Champagne, vintage wines and rare large formats form an important part of the cellar. Across every category, the philosophy remains the same. Know the origin. Respect the producer. Understand the terroir. Store the wine professionally. Describe it transparently. Pack it carefully. Ship it professionally. OHMS AND THE INTERNATIONAL WINE COMMUNITY OHMS has developed a long history within the professional wine community. This includes involvement with Prague Wine Trophy and long-term relationships with leading European wine estates, sommeliers and professional buyers. OHMS has repeatedly represented highly regarded German estates and mature Riesling collections in Central Europe and has participated in specialist tastings, educational activities and international wine events. This professional background is particularly relevant when purchasing mature wine online. The value of an older bottle does not depend solely upon the name on the label. It also depends upon the knowledge, storage and provenance behind it. OHMS ON CATAWIKI OHMS has established a substantial publicly visible sales history on Catawiki. Thousands of objects have been sold through the platform, supported by hundreds of buyer reviews and a positive feedback level above 99 percent. Professional tracking, careful dispatch and transparent lot documentation are central to the OHMS auction approach. For buyers of mature and collectible wine, this established public transaction history provides an additional level of confidence. FROM FINE WINE TO HIGH-ALTITUDE GEISHA COFFEE The OHMS philosophy of provenance and terroir today extends beyond fine wine. OHMS is also connected with Finca Dindoš, our own high-altitude specialty coffee farm in Alto Quiel, Boquete, Panama. Boquete is internationally recognised as one of the world’s great origins for specialty coffee, particularly for the celebrated Geisha variety. Finca Dindoš lies in the mountains of Alto Quiel, where elevation, volcanic soils, mountain rainfall, cool nights and pronounced day-to-night temperature differences provide exceptional conditions for slow coffee-cherry maturation and aromatic complexity. At Finca Dindoš we cultivate high-altitude Geisha coffee using organic and environmentally sensitive farming practices with respect for the surrounding mountain ecosystem. The farm also produces cascara from carefully dried ripe coffee cherries. ITALIAN TERROIR, MOSEL SLATE AND PANAMA VOLCANIC SOIL For OHMS, the relationship between fine wine and specialty coffee is natural. All begin with agriculture. All are shaped by place. Limestone and stony soils in Valpolicella Classica. Devonian slate on the Mosel. Volcanic mountain soils in Alto Quiel. Climate. Elevation. Plant genetics. Selective harvesting. Careful processing. Patience. Terroir. Different products. Different continents. The same principle. Origin matters. WHY THIS 2011 BRUNELLI AMARONE MAGNUM LOT STANDS OUT Brunelli family estate. Valpolicella Classica. Family roots in the region since the eighteenth century. Winery formally established in 1936. 2011 vintage. Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG. Traditional appassimento. Corvina Veronese. Rondinella. Corvinone. Mundus Vini 2014 Gold Medal for this exact wine. Large-format Magnum. 1.5 litres. Original wooden presentation case. More than a decade of bottle development. Slower large-format maturation. Direct producer provenance. Professional OHMS cellar storage. Collector-grade presentation. Professional multi-layer shipping preparation. No Reserve Price. For collectors searching for Brunelli Amarone, 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG, Amarone Magnum, 1.5 litre Amarone, Italian wine Magnum, Brunelli Magnum, Amarone in original wooden case, mature Amarone, Valpolicella Classico, appassimento wine, collectible Italian wine, large-format Italian wine, Mundus Vini Gold Medal wine or professionally stored Amarone with direct provenance, this represents a particularly attractive Single Seller Auction lot. 2011 BRUNELLI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO DOCG Valpolicella Classica Veneto Italy Corvina Veronese Rondinella Corvinone One Magnum 1.5 L Original Wooden Case Mundus Vini 2014 Gold Medal Direct Producer Provenance Professional OHMS Cellar Storage No Reserve Price OHMS CONNOISSEURS CHOICE Since 1998 FINCA DINDOŠ Alto Quiel Boquete Panama High-Altitude Geisha Coffee and Cascara