Tom Garland

9.4

1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A striking medium purplish garnet color with bricking. On the nose: Inviting notes of dried red fruit, currants, pencil shavings, floral, stewed meat, milk chocolate. Taste: fully mature, savory, silky wine with dried plum, ground coffee, earth, minerals, tobacco, and a sour cherry/green bell pepper/graphite long finish. YUM!! Drink em if you got em. — 18 days ago

with Brenda

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. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2018 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins. Light-medium/medium body. Oodles of power. Just starting to transition into adulthood. 2.20.26. — a month 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. — 23 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.4

Oak, chocolate, and leather. Big, rich, and full. — 2 months ago

Lance E. Farman

9.1

Massive wine, huge flavor, judicious oak. Usually wines like this would be goopy but this is not. — 2 months ago

Sage Shimoda

9.6

Wow. What a quality wine! Great, great, great complexity. Totally ready to drink. Love it. — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This is Garagiste’s private label. I’m guessing the producer is Icardi because that’s usually their go-to for Barbaresco and Barolo, but I can’t be sure. In any event, this is terrific wine and at its peak, in my view. Nose is classic with rose petals, beautiful dried cherry, mineral-flecked gravel, and some tertiary old library scents making an appearance. Soft, long, and balanced in the mouth. Really fine. Strangely, zero sediment. — a month ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.0

A nice blend with peach and a bit of almond on the palate. Lots of acidity. March 2026. — 20 days ago

Baltar666

8.9

Drink this shit with pasta. Just buy a bunch of this shit, it's pretty good. — 2 months ago