wine review: Le Guaite di Noemi Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020 (Early Sample)

Matt’s review: Le Guaite di Noemi is one of Valpolicella’s most exciting new-generation wineries, led by the talented and visionary Noemi Pizzighella, who has quickly earned a reputation for crafting Amarone of precision, purity, and remarkable finesse. Working with high-altitude, terraced vineyards in the hills of Mezzane di Sotto, Noemi oversees every stage of production with an artisanal touch—from meticulous bunch selection to long, natural fermentations and careful élevage. Her wines are admired for their tension, aromatic lift, and quiet power, delivering both complexity and elegance without excess.

The 2020 Amarone from Le Guaite di Noemi may be the finest vintage expression I’ve tasted from this talented up-and-coming winemaker. Still years away from bottling and release, it already shows exceptional promise as a top-of-class interpretation of Amarone. The nose opens with a fresh breeze of fig trees, dried figs, plum, dark cherries, and layered dried dark fruit. Complex accents of cypress, graphite minerality, and a touch of orange rind add remarkable depth and sophistication.

On the palate, the wine is harmonious, soft, and beautifully textured, with tannins that are already finely integrated despite its youth. The structure is outstanding—firm yet elegant—and the complexity unfolding at this early stage speaks to Noemi’s craftsmanship and the strength of the 2020 vintage. This is an extraordinary early showing of what will undoubtedly become a profound, age-worthy Amarone. Tasted February 2025. 97+ points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca