Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium deep ruby with quite a thin lightly garnet rim. Spiced dark cherry , with some sweet blackberry , raspberry , vanilla , cocoa , earthy leather and grafite . Quite young , dense and compacted on the nose. On the palate this quite intense with quite high acidity , slightly strict with lightly gritty tannins , cherry , blackberry , spiced raspberry , some touches of grafite , dried spices and leather . This is quite young , needs a little more time but is promising with good density , freshness and balance . Come back in 3-4 years and will drink well over the next 10-15 — 7 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Sant’Urbano, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2020, Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Produced by Speri in the historic hills of Valpolicella Classico, the Sant’Urbano Amarone is one of the estate’s flagship wines and a benchmark expression of the style. Crafted from the traditional Amarone blend, primarily Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella, the grapes undergo the classic appassimento drying process for several months before fermentation, concentrating flavors and structure. The 2020 vintage shows remarkable balance between richness and freshness, delivering depth while maintaining precision and lift.

Aromas & Flavors
Subtle yet expressive layers of dried raisin, marmalade, and dark fruit compote emerge alongside notes of ripe cherry, fig, and delicate spice. The aromatic profile reveals the classic Amarone character without becoming overly heavy, allowing fruit purity and complexity to remain in focus.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet remarkably lively, the wine moves across the palate with impressive energy. Structured tannins and vibrant acidity provide a firm backbone, giving the wine lift and elegance. The texture is rich but polished, and the finish is long, layered, and persistent, suggesting a wine that will continue to evolve and climb with further aging.

Food Pairings
This Amarone pairs beautifully with slow-braised meats, roasted lamb, venison, and rich game dishes where its concentration and acidity complement savory depth. It also shines alongside aged cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino, where the wine’s structure and lingering finish enhance the richness of the pairing.

Verdict
A beautifully balanced Amarone that combines power with finesse. Structured, energetic, and elegant, it delivers both immediate pleasure and strong aging potential.

Did You Know?
The Sant’Urbano vineyard from which this wine takes its name is one of Speri’s historic crus in Valpolicella Classico and is considered among the estate’s most important sites for producing Amarone with both structure and longevity.

🍷 Personal Pick
An Amarone that truly danced across the palate, rich yet vibrant, with subtle dried fruit, marmalade, and compote supported by strong structure and acidity. Delicious now, but clearly a wine that still has room to climb. — 2 months ago

Vinny Brooklyn

9.4

Second & last of my bottles. Wonderful, while ready to drink still has plenty of years ahead of it. — 21 days ago

Oscar Chen

9.0

I remembering enjoying it a lot! — a month ago

Andrea Watt

9.4

Oak, chocolate, and leather. Big, rich, and full. — 3 months ago

Lance E. Farman

9.1

Massive wine, huge flavor, judicious oak. Usually wines like this would be goopy but this is not. — 3 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.5

1000th wine by delectable 🥳. Controlled power...deep flavours that are starting to integrate nicely. Have wanted to try this for a long time and wasnt let down. Heres to the next 1000 🥂 — a month ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

One of my absolute favorite California wines. The California Latour. ‘97 is superb—vividly detailed and complex with both power and elegance. A masterful balance of fruit, tertiary character and cooling acidity with a silky palate and melting tannins. Hard to beat for a Wagyu pairing. — 2 months ago

Victor Charcan

9.4

Under the radar to many, yet supreme winemaking here. Mostly dark fruit, picota cherries, plums, blackberries, ample bodied and length in a difficult year. Ageing gracefully. A star — 3 months ago

Stephen Mucha

9.0

Delicious! Red fruits and earthy, lovely Grenache — 3 months ago