2019 Speri Monte Sant'Urbano Amarone, Pedemonte Veneto

A single Amarone here, from one vineyard. If there was the legislation to promote single vineyard wine, the estate would likely make more of them. But as it stands, there is not. A large-framed wine with a coil of tannins, operating like a spring of expansion, tension and promotion, sashaying notes of coffee grind, camphor, bitter chocolate, mocha, clove, olive, Fernet Branca, balsamic and pithy cherry notes long across the palate on one hand, while tightening the structural latticework to keep them contained, poised and eminently drinkable, on the other. The more I go back to this, the more I like it. A sophisticated Amarone, with a wonderful skein of acidity towing length. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

95 points jamessuckling.com

Elegant shimmering ruby with dark nuances. Opulent nose, sweet and spicy, strawberry confit, cinnamon, leather, a touch of iodine in the aftertaste, exciting. Baroque on the palate, stretches wide, lots of concentrated fruit, finest tannin, very long lasting, punchy.

95 points falstaff.com

From the historic heart of Valpolicella Classica in Pedemonte comes one of the most respected expressions of traditional Amarone. The Speri family have been rooted in this village since the nineteenth century, and today they are regarded as custodians of classic Valpolicella style, farming estate vineyards organically and focusing on indigenous varieties. Monte Sant Urbano is their flagship single vineyard Amarone, sourced from hillside parcels planted predominantly to Corvina and Rondinella on limestone rich soils. The site’s elevation and exposure are ideal for producing grapes with concentration and structure before the traditional appassimento drying process begins.

Deep garnet with ruby reflections, the bouquet is layered and complex. Dried cherry, black plum and fig unfold alongside notes of cocoa, tobacco and sweet spice. There is a distinctive balsamic lift with hints of leather and dried herbs that reflect both vineyard character and extended ageing.

On the palate it is full bodied, powerful and beautifully structured. Concentrated dark fruit forms the core, supported by firm yet polished tannins and balanced acidity that keeps the wine poised rather than heavy. Layers of dark chocolate, espresso and dried fruit build through the mid palate, leading to a long, warming finish marked by spice, savoury depth and lingering cherry richness. It combines opulence with clarity, a hallmark of great Amarone from Pedemonte.

Pair with braised beef cheeks, venison stew, aged Parmigiano Reggiano or rich porcini risotto. While impressive now with careful decanting, this Amarone will cellar confidently for twenty years or more, developing profound tertiary notes of leather, dried fruit and earthy complexity.