The 2021 vintage does not present a single, uniform style. There are traditional and firmly tannic expressions, fragrant wines filled with regional herbs and red fruit, and darker examples built around dried dark fruits, graphite and balsamic complexity. The best share a more important quality: proportion. Fruit concentration is matched by freshness. Alcohol is present but rarely becomes the wine’s sole defining feature. Appassimento adds depth without consistently pushing the wines into heaviness. Even among the most powerful examples, the more successful producers have preserved movement, aromatic clarity and a sense that the wines will continue to evolve rather than merely soften. Seen through the six symbols of the masterclass, 2021 becomes more than another Amarone release. It demonstrates how vineyard architecture, grape selection, drying conditions, fermentation, maturation and inherited cultural knowledge all contribute to the finished wine. Valpolicella is no longer most accurately explained through simple oppositions: power versus elegance, tradition versus modernity, or technique versus terroir. Its identity lies in the relationships between its wines and in the decisions, rituals and accumulated wisdom connecting them. The 2021 Amarone vintage shows that concentration and elegance need not be opposites. When every stage is handled with precision and restraint, each can make the other more compelling. Full details at http://www.quercusvino.ca #Amarone #Anteprima #Valpolicella #Italy #Sommelier #Wine #TopRated #MustTry #WineAficionado #Verona #AmaronePreview #Cellarworthy #Backupthetruck #Winetime #2021Amarone #Corvina #LakeGarda #OperaPrima #Anteprima #WineCollecting #Cellaring #Consorzio
Sommelier Matt Steeves’ Top Rated Wines of 2025
Each year, a small handful of wines rise unmistakably above the rest—bottles that don’t simply impress, but define what greatness looks like in their place of origin. The top-rated wines I tasted this year from Canada, Champagne, and across Italy represent the absolute pinnacle of craftsmanship, terroir expression, and ambition. These are wines made without compromise, where precision meets emotion, and regional identity is expressed with clarity and confidence. From cool-climate Canadian vineyards delivering finesse and mineral tension, to the timeless brilliance of Champagne, and the profound depth and heritage found throughout Italy’s greatest appellations, these selections stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s finest. Together, they tell a compelling story of what is possible when vision, site, and skill align—wines that proudly showcase the extraordinary heights their regions can achieve on the global stage.
Wine Myths as discussed on CFRA News Talk Radio December 4th, 2025
Wine shouldn’t feel intimidating — it should be enjoyable, expressive, and accessible to everyone. Yet myths persist about how wine should be sealed, served, stored, or selected. To help cut through that noise, I recently joined Patricia Boal on CFRA News Talk Radio 580 to debunk some of the most common misconceptions using seven wonderful wines from Canada, Portugal and Italy.
Wine Myths as seen on CTV Your Morning
Wine shouldn’t feel intimidating — it should be enjoyable, expressive, and accessible to everyone. Yet myths persist about how wine should be sealed, served, stored, or selected. To help cut through that noise, I recently joined CTV Your Morning to debunk some of the most common misconceptions using five wonderful wines from Canada and Italy. Each wine highlighted a different myth, and each proved it wrong in the most delicious way. Wine doesn’t have to be complicated to be extraordinary. Serve it properly, store it wisely, and stay open to discovery. Whether it’s a twist-top white, a powerful cool-climate red, sea-aged sparkling, or an iconic style like Amarone — the key is curiosity, not conformity. Afterall, wine is meant to be experienced, not overcomplicated. So remember, the best bottle isn’t determined by price, closure, or origin—it’s the one you enjoy, explore, and share.
Collectible Amarone: The Top Wines of the 2020 Vintage
Collectible Amarone: The Top Wines of the 2020 Vintage - A First Look at Amarone 2020: A Vintage of Elegance, Energy & Exceptional Balance. Full details at http://www.quercusvino.ca #Amarone #Anteprima #Valpolicella #Italy #Sommelier #Wine #TopRated #MustTry #WineAficionado #Verona #AmaronePreview #Cellarworthy #Backupthetruck #Winetime #2020Amarone #Corvina #LakeGarda #OperaPrima #Anteprima #WineCollecting #Cellaring #Consorzio
wine review: 96+ points – Tedeschi Maternigo Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva 2016
February 2025 Matt’s review: Tedeschi Maternigo Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva 2016, sourced from the Barila vineyard on the Maternigo estate in eastern Valpolicella. 2016, a five star vintage, also marks the inaugural vintage of Riserva Amarone for Tedeschi from the Barila single vineyard. This beautiful cru vineyard, although early in its tenure under Tedeschi’s care,... Continue Reading →
Why your wine glass matters, as seen on CTV Morning Live
Today on CTV Morning Live we discussed the intriguing world of wine glasses...the different shapes, sizes, and functions and what you may want to consider when you're looking to get some for your home. We touched on a few basic concepts to help you pick the right glass(es) for your needs. More details at: http://www.topwines.ca
Top Rated 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Wines
Must try 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella wines! Full details at http://www.quercusvino.ca #Amarone #Anteprima #Valpolicella #Italy #Sommelier #Wine #TopRated #MustTry #WineAficionado #Verona #AmaronePreview #Cellarworthy #Backupthetruck #Winetime #2019Amarone
wine review: Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019 (barrel sample) – another highlight of Anteprima Amarone
This small boutique winery produces 4000 individually numbered bottles of Amarone each vintage. Grapes are sourced from their high-altitude vineyards in the Classico region, at 500m elevation making them some of the highest in all of Valpolicella. Ruby with a garnet hue, this is an exceptionally expressive and well structured wine. The nose shows dried dark fruit, spice, balsamic and herbal notes. The palate reveals layers of dark fruit, savoury and meaty characteristics, it's fresh and textured with youthful albeit integrated tannins which the winemaker envisions all reaching the right level of integration in 5 years for a 2029 planned release. A stunning expression of Cru Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, structured for long-term bottle aging. Enjoy 2029-2050+. Tasted February 2024. 95+ Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
wine review: Contrada Palui Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Let me introduce you to Contrada Palui, a relatively new Valpolicella producer that has entered the market with one of the most elegant and expressive terroir-focused wines you'll find in all of Valpolicella, and it's an Amarone!
