Autumn 2025

by: Matt Steeves, Valpolicella Wine Specialist

A First Look at Amarone 2020: A Vintage of Elegance, Energy & Exceptional Balance

Nestled in the calcareous amphitheater of hills that surround Verona, Valpolicella is one of Italy’s most storied and geologically gifted wine regions. Its terraced slopes, carved by ancient waterways and cooled by mountain breezes, create a patchwork of microclimates that showcase the full potential of the region’s indigenous grape varieties—Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, and others. These native grapes, combined with Valpolicella’s centuries-old tradition of appassimento, the careful withering of grapes after harvest, give rise to one of the world’s most distinctive and celebrated wines: Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG.

The preview of the 2020 vintage at Anteprima Amarone in February 2025 underscored how this interplay of land, native varietals, and ancient technique continues to shape the soul of Valpolicella and the enduring allure of its wines.

The Allure of Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG stands among the world’s most distinctive and sought-after red wines. One of Amarone’s defining signatures is the traditional appassimento process, during which grapes are carefully withered after harvest. This ancient technique concentrates flavours, intensifies aromatics, and deepens texture, leading some to call Amarone a “technique wine.” Yet the real magic lies not just in the method, but in how the local grapes respond to it. The result is a wine with a flavour profile that is unmistakably, irresistibly Valpolicella: concentrated, layered, and expressive of its origins.

Single-vineyard Amarone expressions take this sense of place even further. These wines often reveal an unmistakable aromatic fingerprint, shaped by the vineyard’s specific soils, elevation, exposure, and microclimate. In such bottlings, Valpolicella’s identity becomes even more vivid: a site-specific imprint that speaks profoundly to both tradition and terroir. The enduring appeal of Amarone arises from this harmony of indigenous grapes, ancient technique, and extraordinary vineyards—a rare combination found nowhere else in the world.

Why Amarone Works: Grapes and Technique in Perfect Harmony

The 2020 Amarone wines highlight a fundamental truth about Valpolicella: the region’s grapes and techniques complement one another with remarkable natural synergy. Corvina dries slowly and resists botrytis, making it perfectly suited to appassimento in much the same way that Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are naturally suited to Champagne’s lees-aging traditions. Through the drying process, Corvina’s floral lift, cherry fruit, dried-herb nuance, and subtle spice become amplified and more intricately woven. Corvinone, meanwhile, plays a role reminiscent of Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux blends, providing structure, spice, and a firm backbone that appassimento further enriches. This natural compatibility between grape and technique is one of the reasons Valpolicella continues to produce the world’s most iconic and refined dried-grape wines.

Tasting 100 Amarone wines: A First Impression of the 2020 Vintage

At this year’s Anteprima Amarone Opera Prima events in Verona, I tasted nearly one hundred Amarone wines from the 2020 vintage. The stylistic diversity was striking, from pale, elegant expressions reminiscent of Burgundy to deep, intense, brooding examples with formidable structure. Despite these wide-ranging styles, a defining common thread emerged across the region: a remarkably high baseline of structural quality, balance, and finesse. The 2020 wines are immediately attractive yet clearly built for the long haul, a compelling combination that speaks to the inherent strength of the vintage.

A Modern Benchmark: What Defines Amarone 2020

The 2020 vintage is shaping up to be a modern benchmark for Amarone, combining aromatic precision with refined, integrated tannins, vibrant natural acidity, and a distinctive sense of balance and harmony. These wines offer concentrated yet elegant profiles, carrying expressive red and dark fruit, mineral tension, spice, and balsamic lift, all culminating in long, clean finishes. For collectors and those who gravitate toward classical, terroir-driven Amarone, 2020 holds enormous promise.

Despite the climatic fluctuations and global challenges of 2020, the resulting Amarone wines display remarkable poise and purity. They lean firmly toward finesse and aromatic clarity rather than sheer power. While they may not possess the muscular density of the warmest, most opulent vintages, their fine-grained tannins, linear drive, and vibrant acidity point to excellent longevity. Expect layered combinations of fresh and dried red and black fruits, notes of spice, tobacco, balsamic and herbal tones, and a polish that makes these wines both compelling now and exciting for the future.

From Power to Precision: A New Era for Amarone

Following the exceptional five-star 2019 vintage, 2020 continues Valpolicella’s evolution toward wines defined by elegance, transparency, and a clear sense of place. In the early 2000s, Amarone was often made in a heavily extracted, powerful style designed to make an immediate impression. Today, more producers, especially those who never abandoned their traditional, site-driven philosophies, are embracing a more terroir-focused approach, allowing the vineyards themselves to shape the wine rather than chasing trends or points. Amarone is increasingly characterized by authenticity, balance, and a heightened expression of its origins.

Even as climate change presents new challenges, Valpolicella’s producers continue to adapt with sophistication and skill. Recent vintages, including 2020, show that the region is capable of crafting beautifully balanced, expressive wines that honour the traditions of Valpolicella while evolving with the realities of the modern climate. This is an especially inspiring moment to follow the region’s wines, with Amarone remaining its unmistakable crown jewel, a wine of profound depth, individuality, and soul, shaped by grapes and techniques that exist in perfect harmony.

Standout Amarone wines from 2020

Below are the standout wines from my tastings. Bottles that distinguished themselves through precision, personality, and potential. As they become available in markets around the world over the coming months and years, keep an eye out; they will make outstanding additions to any serious cellar.

Fasoli Gino “Alteo” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020 (17.5%)

Fasoli Gino Alteo Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020 – 17.5% – Founded in 1925 and known for its commitment to organic and artisanal production, Fasoli Gino is one of Valpolicella’s most respected family wineries. Their flagship Amarone, Alteo, is crafted exclusively from vineyards planted on the highest slopes of Valpolicella, where a mix of clay and limestone soils contributes natural minerality, tension, and structural depth. These elevated, well-ventilated sites allow the grapes to ripen gradually, developing intense concentration while preserving freshness.

The fruit for Alteo is manually harvested in early fall, then undergoes approximately four months of appassimento—the traditional withering process that intensifies sugars, aromatics, and structure. After a slow, patient fermentation, the wine matures in barriques for a minimum of three years before an additional year of bottle aging, ensuring complexity, integration, and longevity. This meticulous, time-honored approach yields a powerful yet detailed Amarone of great character and aging potential.

The 2020 Alteo Amarone immediately captured my attention for its rich, rustic, and layered personality. The nose is expressive and evocative, delivering savory dark fruit, dried fruit, fig, potpourri, and forest floor, all unfolding in beautifully interwoven layers. On the palate, the wine is deep, concentrated, and texturally impressive, with flavours of cassis, dried cherry, spice, and warm, earthy undertones. The length is exceptional, carrying its richness with confidence and balance. Despite its power (17.5%), the wine remains poised, driven by the minerality and structure imparted by its high-elevation clay-limestone vineyards. This is a robust, complex, and beautifully crafted Amarone—showing wonderfully now, with the depth and stamina to evolve gracefully over the next two decades. Tasted February 2025. 96+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Albino Armani Cuslanus Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva 2020 (estimated release 2028)

Albino Armani’s long history in the Veneto, documented over four centuries, continues to flourish through a deep commitment to traditional techniques, high-altitude viticulture, and site-driven expressions of Valpolicella. Their Riserva-tier Amarone, Cuslanus, is sourced from some of the region’s most elevated vineyards, including parcels reaching 500 metres above sea level, where cooler temperatures and steady mountain breezes preserve freshness and shape the wine’s trademark lift and aromatic precision.

Cuslanus Riserva 2020 is the finest vintage of this wine I’ve tasted to date. It opens with an impressive array of rich dark fruit, layered with a beautiful medley of sweet spice, brandied cherry, and chocolate, creating an elegant yet gently opulent aromatic profile. The palate is both refined and refreshing, a hallmark of the high-altitude vineyards from which the wine is sourced. There is a clarity and vibrancy to the fruit, remarkably balanced by a subtle richness that speaks to the harmony achieved in this vintage. The structure is poised, the tannins polished, and the overall impression one of finesse and quiet depth. With its combination of freshness, elegance, and concentrated flavour, this is a superb Amarone Riserva that will reward cellaring and will stand out as one of the estate’s great vintages. Tasted February 2025. 95 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Fattori Col de la Bastia Amarone della Valpolicella 2020

A blend of Corvina and Rondinella sourced from vineyards on the ridge between the valleys of Alpone adn Illasi at an elevation of ~450 m a.s.l. Grapes were harvested in September and allowed to wither until early December when the dehydrated grapes were pressed. The nose reveals savoury, rustic character, with leather, herbs, cherry, and fig. The palate is refreshing with fig, balsamic, leather notes persisting on the long finish. Enjoy over the next 10-15 years. Tasted February 2025. 94+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Corte Figaretto Musa delle Figaretto Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

From the Valpolicella Valpantena region, Musa del Figaretto is sourced from a selection of the best grapes from Corte Figaretto’s vineyards in Valpantena where the winemaking team of Mauro (father) and Sofia (daughter) produce their impressive Musa delle Figaretto Amarone. This blend of Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella was harvested in early fall then the grapes were allowed to wither for ~120 days to achieve a weight loss of ~55% before pressing. The nose reveals red and dark fruits, fresh and dried, with hints of spice. The palate highlights the wine’s great texture, silky with fine integrated tannins, the dried dark fruit persisting on the long finish. Enjoy now or over the next two decades. Tasted February 2025. 94 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca The wines Corte Figaretto are producing continue to impress me every year. A winery you should get to know!

Contrada Palui Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

This impressive lightly coloured Amarone impressed last year when it made its debut at Anteprima Amarone given its surprisingly faint colour yet big and layered taste profile. The 2020 vintage brings a similar light ruby colour and all the elegance you would expect along with great structure and texture revealing red and dark fruits, dried fruits, fig, plum, and sweet spices with impressive crushed rock minerality from the white limestone, black basalt and flint stone found in their high elevation vineyards overlooking Verona. This Amarone represents so clearly the terroir from where it was born. With their high elevation vineyards and careful winemaking they’re able to reflect a profound sense of place so well. Contrada Palui is changing how many may have perceived Amarone in the past. See for yourself. Put your fancy Burgundy down and try this wine! You’ll be impressed. Enjoy now and over the next 15 years. Tasted February 2025. 95 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Marion Amarone della Valpolicella 2020

Marion Winery is a family-run estate located in the Marcellise Valley, just east of Verona and just outside of the Valpolicella Classico region. Their Amarone generally show great concentration and structure with velvety-textured tannins and harmonious balance. They tend to be rich yet elegant, a welcome shift from the ultra-opulent Amarone that was more common amongst producers last decade. Their 2020 Amarone is showing beautifully now. The nose shows dried cherry, fig, plum, balsamic notes, and warm spice. It’s ripe, robust, with those velvety tannins in perfect harmony. A wonderful choice for those looking to enjoy an expressive and ready-to-drink Amarone in the short term, but one that will benefit from medium-term cellaring too. Enjoy 2025-2035+. Tasted February 2025. 94 points.

Zeni 1870 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico VigneAlte 2020

Zeni is a historic family-run winery founded in 1870, which has deep roots in Bardolino where their main winery is located, but also in Valpolicella since the 1960s. Vigne Alte Amarone is sourced from higher-altitude hillside vineyards in the Valpolicella Classico zone, the traditional heartland of Amarone production. The combination of calcareous-basaltic soils and the cooler diurnal range of elevated slopes yields grapes with intense concentration yet remarkable aromatic lift. The nose is super-decadent, imagine a hedonistic interplay of black cherries, black-forest cake, kirsch, and dark chocolate, laced with cocoa powder, sweet baking spice, and a graphite-mineral undertone from the basalt-limestone soils. Elegant hints of dried fig, espresso, and preserved cherry linger in the background, adding warmth and sophistication. The palate is velvety and expansive, unfolding in layers of black-cherry-filled pastries and cocoa-dusted spice, framed by supple, creamy tannins and balanced freshness. There’s a subtle saline–mineral tension that keeps the wine from excess, leading to an opulent yet finely tuned finish of fruit preserves, mocha, and spice that lingers luxuriously. A decadent yet balanced Amarone, marrying luxurious richness with poise and minerality. Tasted February 2025. 94 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Vigneti di Ettore Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2020

Vigneti di Ettore is a historic, family-run estate deeply rooted in the Valpolicella Classico zone. Founded in 1930, the winery has evolved through generations while maintaining a steadfast commitment to authenticity and quality. Today, the third generation—winemaker Gabriele—guides all viticultural and cellar work, supported by the experience and steady hand of his father, Giampaolo, who remains actively involved despite being “not fully retired.”

The family farms 19 hectares of hillside parcels across the Negrar Valley, one of the beating hearts of Valpolicella Classico. Their vineyards benefit from varied exposures, elevations, and soils that combine clay, limestone, and ancient moraine, giving the wines nuance, energy, and minerality.

Vigneti di Ettore’s style is defined by clarity, freshness, and a deft balance between tradition and precision. Their Amarone is never about sheer power—it’s about purity of fruit, textural finesse, and a sense of place. Over the years, the estate has quietly become one of the most consistent and compelling small producers in the region, with each vintage deepening their reputation.

The 2020 Amarone from Vigneti di Ettore is a beautifully harmonious and strikingly refined interpretation of this famed style—perhaps the finest expression the estate has produced to date. The nose opens with a seamless medley of dark fruit, subtle spice, mineral notes, and lifted aromas that speak to both the vineyard elevations and the careful appassimento. There is a compelling interplay of freshness and depth, with everything integrated and in perfect balance.

On the palate, the wine continues its theme of harmony. Dark fruit is woven into savoury, mineral-driven layers, all carried by a smooth, textural elegance. Nothing is overdone; every component—aroma, flavour, structure, and texture—works together with remarkable cohesion. This is a modern, sophisticated Amarone built on finesse rather than force. Still youthful but already captivating, the 2020 will reward patience. The anticipated release is winter 2027, and the wine will continue to evolve beautifully for decades thereafter. Tasted February 2025. 95+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Corte Cavedini Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

Corte Cavedini is a small, family-run estate tucked away in the Marcellise Valley, an under-the-radar part of Valpolicella just east of Verona where the rolling hills and calcareous soils yield wines of natural tension and elegance. Here, the Cavedini family crafts their terroir-driven Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG that favours balance over sheer power—beautifully ripened Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella (with a small portion of Merlot, Croatina, and Oseleta) grapes are gently air-dried for ~ 2 months then vinified, aged in French tonneaux for two years prior to bottling. The result, a lovely blend of dried fruit, red berries, pomegranate, and balsamic notes. The palate repeats with lovely dried red and dark fruit, fine tannins, harmonious texture on the long finish. Showing wonderfully now, this is a great go-to Amarone to enjoy now and over the next decade plus. Tasted February 2025. 94+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Tezza Viticoltori Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

Tezza Viticoltori, based in the Valpantena valley immediately northeast of Verona. Their 2020 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG shows impressive intensity and depth, layering bold dark and red fruit with inviting notes of sweet spice, chocolate, clove, and dried fig. The calcareous, well-drained soils of Valpantena lend structure and lift, keeping the wine refined rather than heavy, while the Tezza family’s restrained approach and organic farming allows the fruit and terroir to shine. It’s a beautifully balanced Amarone, rich, warmly spiced, and poised to age gracefully while preserving its hallmark warm spice and refreshing dried-fruit complexity. Tasted February 2025. 94 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Lavagnoli Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

Cantina Lavagnoli, based in the heart of Valpolicella just north of Verona, is a family-run estate devoted to crafting expressive, terroir-driven Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG through the traditional appassimento method. Their 2020 Amarone is a captivating example of the estate’s refined, artisanal approach — very inviting and fragrant, with rustic and balsamic highlights alongside layers of red and dark dried fruit, savoury spice, leather, and forest floor. The palate reveals sweet dark fruit and warm spice, with notes of leather and balsamic character persisting on a long, beautifully textured finish. It’s a wonderfully balanced and authentic expression of Amarone — drinking beautifully now and built to evolve gracefully over the next two decades. Tasted February 2025. 95 points – Matt Steeves, http://www.quercusvino.ca

Ca’ La Bionda Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG ‘Ravazzol’ 2020

Nestled in the heart of Valpolicella Classico, Ca’ La Bionda stands as one of the region’s highly respected family estates. Founded in 1902 in the historic commune of Marano di Valpolicella, the winery is now led by the fourth generation of the Castellani family, who farm organically and champion a pure, terroir-first expression of Valpolicella’s hillside vineyards. Their approach is patient and traditional—high-elevation terraces, careful bunch selection, and long natural fermentations—resulting in wines that balance depth with finesse.

The estate’s crown jewel is the legendary Ravazzol cru, one of the most prized sites in all of Valpolicella. With its ancient marly-limestone soils, dramatic slopes, and excellent exposure, Ravazzol yields fruit that lends itself beautifully to Amarone’s appassimento technique. Ca’ La Bionda translates this into an Amarone style that is structured, savoury, and elegant—never heavy—making their wines among the finest, age-worthy expressions in the denomination.

A stunningly elegant Amarone from one of Valpolicella’s great historic crus. The 2020 Ravazzol opens with a deep and complex aromatic profile: dried dark fruit, warm spice, flint, leather, balsamic lift, and a subtle salty mineral note that speaks clearly of its hillside limestone origins. On the palate, this is all about tension and refinement—chalky, savoury, and beautifully balanced. Waves of dark dried fruit mingle with spice and saline minerality, supported by youthful, tightly knit tannins that promise tremendous evolution. The structure is exceptional, and while it’s already expressive, the 2020 Ravazzol will be in a prime drinking window in about five years, with decades of graceful life ahead. Tasted February 2020. 95+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Zýmē di Celestino Gaspari Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2020

Zýmē, founded by the legendary Celestino Gaspari, is one of Valpolicella’s most innovative and quality-driven estates. An artisanal winery where deep regional knowledge meets cutting-edge precision. Gaspari, long regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of the appassimento method, brings a philosophy rooted in patience, purity, and terroir transparency. His approach begins in the vineyard, where meticulous bunch selection and careful monitoring of ripeness ensure that only the most expressive grapes begin the Amarone journey.

Located in the heart of Valpolicella Classico, Zýmē works with a mosaic of hillside parcels rich in limestone, clay, and ancient rock, soils that give the wines their hallmark depth and mineral tension. The cellar is a fusion of modernity and tradition, where long, natural fermentations and extended élevage create Amarone wines that are simultaneously powerful, elegant, and unmistakably Zýmē. Gaspari’s wines are revered worldwide for their purity of fruit, structural precision, and ability to age for decades with grace.

The 2020 Amarone Classico from Zýmē is a glorious, richly textured wine that embodies the precision and artistry of Gaspari’s team. Intense and expressive from the first swirl, it displays savoury dark fruit, leather, balsamic notes, and deeply perfumed dried dark fruit—an unmistakable signature of the estate’s meticulous bunch-by-bunch selection for their ultra premium wines. On the palate, the harmony is remarkable. The flavours mirror the aromatics perfectly: dark fruit, savoury undertones, dried figs and cherries, sweet spices, and a beautifully integrated balsamic lift. The richness and concentration are balanced by impeccable structure, making this a wine of both immediacy and immense longevity. Enjoy over the next 30 years as it continues to gain complexity and depth. Tasted February 2025. 96+ points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca

Domìni Veneti Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2020

Domìni Veneti represents the premium line of Cantina Valpolicella Negrar, a historic cooperative founded in 1933 and now working with ~245 small growers across Valpolicella Classico. Since launching the Domìni Veneti label in 1989, the co-op has focused on sourcing only the finest hillside fruit from the Classico zone—much of it organically farmed and hand-harvested—to craft wines that showcase the region’s best terroirs. Amarone is their flagship, famously tied to the cooperative’s own history, where legend credits founder Gaetano Dall’Ora with the accidental discovery of Amarone when a barrel of Recioto fermented dry. Today, their team, led by General Manager Daniele Accordini continues to refine this legacy, emphasizing purity, site expression, and the craftsmanship of their growers.

The 2020 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is fragrant and inviting, offering dried figs, warm spices, sweet dark fruit, and savoury earthiness. On the palate, expressive dark fruit and spice unfold with a soul-warming sweetness that lingers beautifully. Rich yet balanced, it’s a delicious and versatile Amarone—perfect with braised dishes, BBQ, or hearty après-ski meals. Tasted February 2020. 94 points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca

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

Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2020

Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde is a small, boutique estate producing just 4,000 individually numbered bottles of Amarone each vintage. They’re located high in the hills above Marano di Valpolicella, in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico zone northwest of Verona. Their vineyards sit at roughly 500 metres elevation, making them some of the highest in the entire appellation. These steep, terraced slopes—rich in limestone and ancient volcanic soils—benefit from excellent drainage and cool mountain breezes flowing down from the Lessinia plateau. This elevated setting naturally enhances freshness, aromatic definition, and long aging potential, giving the estate’s Amarone its hallmark elegance and finely textured structure.

The 2020 Amarone Classico is a beautifully expressive and refined wine, opening with an elegant, rustic bouquet of dark cherry, dried fruit, potpourri, graphite, plum, and cherry Danish. The nose is layered and perfumed, offering both delicacy and depth. On the palate, it’s incredibly graceful—spicy dried fruit, fine light-textured tannins, and a whisper-soft, ballet-like elegance that glides effortlessly. This is an Amarone that speaks softly yet confidently, showcasing purity, aromatic complexity, and impeccable balance. Structured for longevity, the 2020 can be cellared for 25 years or more, evolving in nuance and finesse as it ages. Tasted February 2025. 95+ points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca

Le Guaite di Noemi Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

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

Vigna ‘800 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva ‘Virgo Moron’ 2020

Vigna ‘800 is a family-run estate rooted in the historic hills of Negrar di Valpolicella in the heart of the Classico zone, where Amarone has been crafted and perfected for generations. The winery focuses on small-batch, terroir-driven wines that honour the region’s centuries-old winemaking culture. Known for purity, minerality, and complexity, Vigna ‘800 consistently produces Amarone that beautifully balances richness with freshness.

Virgo Moron Riserva 2020 is an intriguing and deeply complex Amarone, opening with a layered bouquet of dark and dried fruits, interwoven with graphite minerality, earthiness, and delicate balsamic and savoury accents. The aromatic depth is captivating, offering both power and refinement.

On the palate, the wine is richly textured yet balanced, with the dried-fruit character supported by savoury undertones and mineral lift. Everything is harmonious, polished, and beautifully composed—an exceptional Riserva that speaks clearly of its Classico hillside origins. Built for longevity, but immediately accessible, this is a wine to savour over the next couple decades. Enjoy 2026–2040. Tasted February 2025. 95+ points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca

Ilatium Morini Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG ‘Leòn’ 2020

Ilatium Morini is a dynamic, family-run winery located in the Val d’Illasi, one of the eastern valleys of Valpolicella known for its limestone-rich soils, steady ventilation, and ability to produce Amarone with both richness and definition. The Morini family has become well-regarded for their meticulous vineyard management, careful appassimento practices, and a modern yet terroir-true approach that yields Amarone wines with depth, purity, and finesse. Their Léon Amarone is the estate’s flagship—crafted from select hillside parcels and known for its concentration, structure, and long aging potential.

The 2020 Amarone ‘Leòn’ is a bold and beautifully crafted wine showing great intensity and concentration from the outset. It offers rich, layered aromatics of dark fruits, cassis, spice, and smoky dark fruit, all seamlessly integrated and polished. On the palate, the wine delivers impressive richness and depth, with robust dark fruit, warm spice, and a long, satisfying finish. Despite its power, the components are harmoniously woven, demonstrating superb balance and craftsmanship. A confidently structured Amarone that will age beautifully over the next two decades, rewarding patience with increasing complexity. Tasted February 2025. 94+ points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca

Torre di Terzolan Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

High in the hills of the upper Val Squaranto near Trezzolano, just minutes north of Verona, Torre di Terzolan stands as one of Valpolicella’s most evocative small estates. Housed within a 15th-century former hunting lodge, the winery sits at 350 metres above sea level, surrounded by a rich mosaic of vineyards, meadows, woodlands, and olive trees. It’s a landscape deeply rooted in history, biodiversity, and traditional land stewardship. Winemaker and proprietor Roberta Previdi produced her first vintage here in 2015, though hail damage delayed her inaugural commercial vintage to 2016. The estate cultivates 2.5 hectares of vineyards across four plots: La Mezzaluna, La Pala, Il Binte, and Il Brolo. Certified organic since 2020, production is limited to 13,000 bottles per year between three labels (Amarone, Valpolicella Superiore and Valpolicella), carefully crafted from indigenous Valpolicella varieties: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Croatina.

During my visit to the estate in winter 2025, the deep connection between land and legacy was palpable, from the ancient cellars where Roberta ages her wines in oak and amphora, to the extraordinary tree towering over the estate which was planted in 1492 to mark Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America. A place of serenity and craftsmanship. Their 2020 Amarone beautifully builds on the impressive 2019 vintage, offering a fragrant, complex, and elegant interpretation while retaining remarkable intensity. The nose is deeply expressive, unveiling dark cherry, dried red and dark fruits, balsamic tones, subtle spice, and graphite minerality, with gentle floral and herbal nuances emerging over time. On the palate, it’s harmonious and elegant, showing graceful concentration with dried dark fruit, plum, fine spice, and beautifully integrated tannins. The texture is refined, the structure poised, and the overall impression one of restrained power, an Amarone that favours finesse and purity over weight yet has the structure for decades of cellaring. A compelling expression from this talented producer, the 2020 vintage is shaping up to be another standout, exemplifying the unique character of Torre di Terzolan’s single vineyards on their historic estate. Expect graceful development over the next two decades. Tasted February 2025. 94+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Sartori ‘Corte Brà’ Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Riserva 2020

Founded in 1898, Sartori di Verona is one of the region’s most historic and influential family wineries, with over a century of experience crafting wines that express the character and tradition of Valpolicella. Their flagship Amarone, Corte Brà, comes from select hillside vineyards in the Valpolicella Classico zone, where the combination of old vines, limestone-rich soils, and cooling breezes promotes depth, concentration, and longevity. Produced only in the best vintages, Corte Brà Amarone Riserva is Sartori’s top expression—crafted with meticulous grape selection and long aging to reveal the estate’s signature elegance and power.

2020 Corte Brà Riserva opens with concentrated dark fruit, warm spice, cracked pepper, orange peel, and lifted balsamic tones, all melding beautifully in a deep and expressive bouquet. Initial impression is simply delicious! On the palate, it’s richly textured and layered, showing generous dark fruit and spice supported by youthful, firm tannins that promise decades of graceful evolution. The structure is impressive, the balance refined, and the overall expression unmistakably that of a top-tier Amarone from this storied family estate. A fantastic effort with a long life ahead, and a shining example of the depth and sophistication that define Sartori’s most prestigious bottling. Tasted February 2025. 95 points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca

Roccolo Grassi Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

Roccolo Grassi is located just outside the Valpolicella Classico zone in Mezzane di Sotto, an eastern valley renowned for producing some of the region’s most refined and distinctive wines. Established in 1996 by Bruno Sartori, the estate takes its name from Roccolo Grassi, their most important vineyard and the source of fruit for their flagship Amarone and Valpolicella.

The family farms 16 hectares of vineyards in Val di Mezzane, situated between 200 and 300 metres elevation. The soils here are a compelling mix of volcanic basalt and stony red and black clays, a combination that imparts both mineral tension and depth to their wines. The valley enjoys a cool mesoclimate, influenced by cooling air descending from the Lessini Mountains, alongside lower-than-average rainfall—conditions that promote slow, even ripening.

Roccolo Grassi Amarone 2020 is a beautifully expressive and impeccably composed wine, opening with meaty, graphite, fig, plum, and spice notes lifted by a touch of balsamic complexity. The aromatics are deep and savoury, yet elegant. On the palate, gorgeous integration and harmony, with plush dark fruit, savoury nuances, and a refined mineral backbone. The balance is exceptional, and the structure—powerful yet polished—demonstrates the precision and character that define Roccolo Grassi’s style. A fantastic, complex, and deeply satisfying Amarone, and one of the standout wines of the 2020 vintage. Built to age gracefully for decades. Enjoy 2026 – 2050. Tasted February 2025. 96+ points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca

Secondo Marco Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2020 (Preview Blend)

Located in Fumane, in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area between Lake Garda and the ancient city of Verona, Secondo Marco’s vineyards benefit from a uniquely balanced microclimate. Warm breezes rise from Lake Garda each morning, while cool air descends from the Lessini Mountains in the late afternoon—an oscillation that promotes gradual, even ripening and preserves vibrant natural acidity. Combined with the valley’s mineral-rich soils and Marco Speri’s distinctive “Y-shaped” pergola training system, this setting creates an ideal environment for producing concentrated yet remarkably fresh and harmonious wines.

Marco Speri’s winemaking philosophy is both patient and highly precise. Each varietal is vinified and aged separately, often for many years, and blended only once he deems every component to have reached an optimal point for integration. This meticulous, nearly decade-long approach is central to the expressive, structured, and elegant Amarone wines that define the Secondo Marco style.

For this year’s Anteprima, Marco prepared an educated preview blend of the 2020 Amarone—an early indication of the final wine—though all components continue aging independently. The definitive cuvée will only be assembled once Marco determines they have harmonized fully, likely within the next 1–2 years. This thoughtful process mirrors the philosophy behind the estate’s premium Amarone, crafted from vineyards just below the Speri family’s iconic Sant’Urbano cru.

The 2020 vintage shows tremendous promise. Light ruby and beautifully transparent in the glass, this early composition is remarkably elegant, immediately expressive with a medley of sweet spices, red and dark fruits, menthol, and lifted floral tones. There is a striking freshness that frames the fruit, carrying through to a poised and finely textured palate. The structure already hints at Marco Speri’s stylistic direction: refined, linear, and impeccably balanced, leaning toward finesse rather than sheer power. The tannins are soft and integrated even at this stage, and the aromatic complexity suggests what an exciting final blend this will become once the individual lots have reached full harmony.

A superb early indication of another outstanding Amarone from Secondo Marco, beautifully structured, elegant, and destined to evolve into a standout vintage once assembled. Tasted February 2025. 95+ points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca

Masi Costasera Amarone Classico DOCG 2020

Founded in 1772, and now guided by the seventh generation of the Boscaini family, Masi has spent nearly 250 years shaping the voice of Amarone, rooted in heritage, guided by innovation, and always deeply connected to the land.

Their flagship Costasera Amarone is grown on hillside vineyards spanning the historic communes of Marano, Negrar, Sant’Ambrogio, and San Pietro in Cariano, the very cradle of the Valpolicella Classico zone, where many of the region’s finest Amarone wines are produced each year. These west and southwest-facing slopes soak up the final warmth of the day, while Lake Garda’s cooling breezes preserve the wine’s natural lift and finesse—a hallmark of Classico Amarone, which tends to show more vibrancy and freshness compared to its warmer eastern counterparts.

The soils here contain red limestone and cretaceous marl, rich in calcium carbonate, which add a mineral tension and elegance that complements the naturally rich dried fruit character found in many Amarone wines. From these noble slopes, Masi cultivates Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, grapes that are slowly dried after harvest using the traditional appassimento method. The result is a wine style that balances intensity with elegance, approachable in its youth, yet structured for cellaring.

I recently tasted the 2020 vintage of Costasera, now widely available at LCBO stores across Ontario, just in time for the holidays, when Amarone becomes one of the season’s most sought-after wines for both gifting and fireside enjoyment. In the glass, it’s deep, dense, and inviting, with expressive aromas of dark cherry, wild berries, and dried plum, layered with dark chocolate, balsamic herbs, graphite, and a subtle earthiness that nods to its hillside origins. The palate delivers a full-bodied, plush mouthfeel, lifted by bright acidity and fine, integrated tannins. Flavours of dried fruit, cocoa-dusted raisins, and gentle warm spice carry through a long, mouthwatering finish. While it’s drinking beautifully now, this wine will evolve gracefully over the next 10 to 15 years. It’s approachable, classically styled, and offers excellent value, making it a great introduction to Amarone for those just discovering the style, and a solid, reliable bottle for seasoned enthusiasts alike. Tasted November 2025. 93 points. Matt Steeves

FINAL THOUGHTS

As the wines of the 2020 vintage begin their journey into cellars and onto shelves around the world, they carry with them the unmistakable signature of Valpolicella, its calcareous hillsides, its indigenous grapes, its ancient appassimento tradition, and the quiet mastery of its growers and winemakers. Anteprima Amarone 2020 offered a vivid reminder that Amarone is not merely a style of wine, but a living expression of place and time, shaped by the region’s unique terrain and the people who steward it. With their elegance, freshness, and impressive aging potential, the 2020 Amarone wines reaffirm Valpolicella as one of Italy’s great wine regions and Amarone as its enduring, majestic crown jewel.

Keep your eyes peeled for these impressive Amarone della Valpolicella wines from the great 2020 vintage. You won’t want to miss them when they start showing up in your market. Enjoy!