wine review: Sabaini Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

Sabaini is a quality-driven family winery crafting expressive, terroir-focused wines from the Val d’Illasi, a celebrated valley northeast of Verona known for its limestone-rich hillsides and excellent natural ventilation ideal for appassimento. The estate sources its Amarone grapes from the Monte Castello d’Illasi and Monte Tomelon vineyards in the Val d’Illas, two elevated, well-exposed sites that provide fruit with freshness, depth, and signature balsamic-herbal lift. Working with careful bunch selection and traditional drying methods, Sabaini aims for balance and purity, producing Amarone that is both richly layered and elegantly structured.

The 2020 Amarone is inviting and delicious. Opening with plum, fig, mocha, dark chocolate, and sweet spices, all supported by the fresh, mineral-driven character of its hillside Val d’Illasi vineyards. Subtle balsamic and herbal notes add regional complexity and lift. The palate is textural and refined, with firm, well-built tannins that make it an excellent pairing for braised dishes or charcoal fire-grilled beef. Rich yet balanced, this is a beautifully crafted Amarone that will evolve gracefully over the next twenty years. Tasted February 2025. 94 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca