Vinous (96)

The 2009 Alzero Cabernet is a knockout, showing a captivating display of sour cherries, licorice and mint offset by mocha and hints of tobacco. This is elegance personified, as a velvety wave of sweet red and black fruits is further complemented by confectionary spices and contrasting notes of espresso and cacao. There is so much energy to be found within the 2009. It bristles with residual acids, minerals and sour citrus through the finale, while still showing a gorgeous inner sweetness through a note of ripe plums under an air of violets and lavender. This is so easy to like today that it’s hard to recommend waiting. However, there’s much more to be seen over time, and patience will be rewarded. The Alzero Cabernet is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot dried prior to vinification through appassimento.

Vinous (94)

The 2012 Amabile del Cerè is flat-out stunning, boasting a seductive display of baked apple, fig paste, mint, spiced orange and hints of burnt sugar. It’s weighty and textural yet full of vibrant energy, as floral-laced peach, honey and hints of buttercream give way to candied citrus and a note of brown sugar. This is unrelenting pleasure and opulence in a glass, as layer upon layer of contrasting sweet and sour notes repeatedly thrills the senses. It lingers for well over a minute with hints of tropical fruit and florals. The Amabile del Cere uses the same mix of Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Saorin as the Bianco Secco, yet it’s air-dried prior to vinification. It’s only produced in years when Quintarelli feels that the Bianco Secco is strong enough to stand on its own without the addition of the Amabile’s fruit. The 2012 should not be missed.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Only produced in select vintages when growing conditions are deemed exceptional, this is one of the most coveted bottles in Italian wine. The Quintarelli Giuseppe 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva represents the last vintage seen by Bepi himself. Giuseppe Quintarelli died in January 2012 at age 84 following his struggle with Parkinson's disease. There's magic in this wine, and we raise a glass to the master of Negrar. It delivers elegant class and concentration, fruit freshness and the power (plus 16.5% alcohol) that comes with appassimento. It's an ethereal wine from a hot and dry vintage. There are many contradictions within the bottle, but it ultimately settles on a place of balance and beauty. I opened bottle number 1,443 of only 5,726 released.

Vinous (94)

It’s rare that you take in the aromas of an Amarone and the first thing that comes to mind is how wonderfully fresh and perfumed it is, but that’s exactly what you’ll experience from the 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico from Quintarelli. Sour cherries are complicated by notes of rose, sweet spice and hints of cedar and mint. It’s deeply textural yet precise, with a polished and pure display of purple-tinged red fruit contrasted by zesty acids and a slight herbal twang. Remarkably feminine and undeniably elegant, with a slow-mounting structure that sneaks up on you through the finale. This gentle giant tapers off long and floral, only hinting at the depths that further cellaring will bring.

Vinous (89)

The 2010 Rosso del Bepi has a savory, exotic and almost animalistic personality that keeps you coming back to the glass, as a dusting of confectioner’s sugar gives way to wild strawberry, spiced citrus, sour apple and hints of flowery undergrowth. Its textures are soft, offset by salty minerals, a hint of bitter coffee and a tart display of red and black fruits. This tapers off a bit short and struggles to find balance, with a slight green streak running through its lingering note of cherry pits and savory spice. Because of heavy rains, Quintarelli decided to declassify their Amarone and produce this rendition of Rosso del Bepi instead.

Vinous (93)

The 2014 Rosso del Bepi is understated yet very pretty, showing nuances of woodland berries laced with sour citrus, savory herbs and a hint of animal muskiness. This washes across the palate with silken textures, yet delivers masses of tart red berries and minerals that add grippy tension. It’s remarkably fresh and zesty in character, and it’s amazing to think that the 2014 underwent the same appassimento that an Amarone did in better years. This tapers off spicy with a sour citrus twang under inner violet florals, as round tannins linger. The 2014 may not have the depth of a Quintarelli Amarone, but it instead possesses verve and is packed full of character.

Indulge in the splendour of Roccolo Grassi Amarone della Valpolicella 2017, a bold and distinctive fine wine from the top-rated vineyards of Valpolicella, Italy. Expertly crafted by the esteemed producer Roccolo Grassi, this Amarone offers a perfect expression of its origin. Late harvested, the hand-picked Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone grapes are air-dried for four months, intensifying their rich, fruity flavours before a 30-month oak ageing period.

Beautifully layered and opulent, Roccolo Grassi Amarone della Valpolicella 2017 reveals aromas of dried cherries, plums and spices enveloped with hints of dark cocoa and tobacco. As you sip, savour the wine’s elegance, fascinating complexity and lasting finish. This Amarone is age-worthy, highlighting Roccolo Grassi's precise tannins and exceptional balance, hallmarks of a commitment to quality and tradition. Immerse yourself in the experience of Roccolo Grassi Amarone della Valpolicella 2017, a divine marriage of power, grace and Venetian finesse.

Vinous (94)

A dark, super-ripe wine, the 2008 Valpolicella Superiore is fabulous in this vintage. Smoke, tar, incense, licorice and blackberry jam hit the palate in a massive, intense Valpolicella loaded with class and personality. Even with all of the concentration, the 2008 is quite a bit less tannic than some recent vintages have been, which makes it accessible even today, especially if given a little air. There is a lot to admire in this drop-dead gorgeous Valpolicella from Romano Dal Forno.

James Suckling (94)

A powerful and dense red with so much concentration of fruit and chocolate undertones. Hints of toasted oak. Full body and a velvety texture. Fantastic and dense red as usual. Drink now.

Decanter (97)

From one of the most iconic wineries in the Orientale, this is aged for two years in oak and a further three in bottle. A proper meditation wine, great with game, strong cheeses or a cigar. It has a huge nose of stewed red fruits, ethereal bramble forest fruits and blackberry jam. Generous, with spicy, bitter cherry-stone freshness. Full-bodied with a rich, intense, spicy undertone.

Vinous (94)

The 2014 is a unique rendition of Dal Forno’s Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta. It's a remarkably pretty wine, displaying crushed ripe strawberries and plums with cinnamon, clove, vanilla bean and a cooling hint of mint. The textures are velvety, coating all that they touch in glycerol fruit concentration, yet somehow coming across as zesty and spry, contrasting weight with saturating notes of tart blackberry and savory spice. There’s a bit of a lull in the midpalate, yet it hardly takes away from the experience. At times, the Monte Lodoletta can seem almost salty, especially through its long, mouthwatering finish, where hints of cherry pits and herbs linger. This atypical yet truly enjoyable expression is the result of the extremely difficult 2014 vintage, when hail damaged and reduced the crop in the lower-elevation vineyards, followed by rain from August through September. As a result, Dal Forno decided not to produce their Amarone, and to instead focus all of their attention on the Valpolicella. The result is a wine that no Dal Forno fan should miss, but be aware that production was down 30% from an average year.

James Suckling (96)

Such a profound nose of fresh and dried fruit with blackcurrants, dates and prunes, together with lighter notes of mild spice and pomegranate seeds. The fresher elements provide the drive on the full palate and, together with very fine, bright, fine-grained tannins, give a long, chewy yet fresh and pruney finish. Hugely concentrated, but the balance and poise is impeccable. There’s no denying the classic quality of this. Delicious to taste now, but this needs a few years to integrate. Try from 2025.

James Suckling (95)

Pungent nose of violets, amarena cherries, dried figs and lightly charred oak. Some toffee notes emerge with air, together with more pressed flowers. Not so much full-bodied as full-flavored, with silky, fine and polished tannins. Very young and driven at the moment. Lacks the depth and complexity of more fortunate vintages, but still shows exceptional quality. Try from 2024.

Wine Advocate (99)

The 2004 Passito Rosso Vino Dolce Vigna Seré (500-mililiter) is a masterpiece that is impossible to repeat. In fact, the wine has not been produced since 2004. Even if a vintage as good as this did come along, we'd need to wait another 13 years before we could enjoy this level of maturity and evolution. Formally a Recioto della Valpolicella, this sweet red wine is made with air-dried fruit as local tradition dictates. Luckily no botrytis set in that year, because that would have eroded the wine's deep and luscious color saturation. The bouquet delivers a generous flow of dark spice, bitter chocolate, espresso, raisin, plum, barbecue spice and teriyaki smoke. The concentration and layering of the wine are both rare and distinctive. The mouthfeel sees sweet flavors with a syrupy mouthfeel. The finish offers hints of caramelized brown sugar and savory hickory. The aging window is impossible to predict, but the wine is surely built to last. I can think of no other wine that comes close to matching this unique style.

Wine Advocate (99)

The 2004 Passito Rosso Vino Dolce Vigna Seré (500-mililiter) is a masterpiece that is impossible to repeat. In fact, the wine has not been produced since 2004. Even if a vintage as good as this did come along, we'd need to wait another 13 years before we could enjoy this level of maturity and evolution. Formally a Recioto della Valpolicella, this sweet red wine is made with air-dried fruit as local tradition dictates. Luckily no botrytis set in that year, because that would have eroded the wine's deep and luscious color saturation. The bouquet delivers a generous flow of dark spice, bitter chocolate, espresso, raisin, plum, barbecue spice and teriyaki smoke. The concentration and layering of the wine are both rare and distinctive. The mouthfeel sees sweet flavors with a syrupy mouthfeel. The finish offers hints of caramelized brown sugar and savory hickory. The aging window is impossible to predict, but the wine is surely built to last. I can think of no other wine that comes close to matching this unique style.

Captured from the illustrious Italian region of Veneto, the Sansonina Merlot 2001 embodies the epitome of finesse and structure, characteristic to its famed lineage. Significantly influenced by the unique terroir, this vibrant ruby red Merlot boasts exquisite aromas of sweet spices, blackberries, and understated earthy nuances.

The grapes, harvested meticulously in late September, underwent a long maceration and were subsequently aged in small oak barrels. The employment of these traditional vinification methods imparts the Sansonina Merlot 2001 a velvety texture with an elegant balance of tannin and acidity.

This prestigious creation is a testament to the Sansonina estate's unfaltering commitment to excellence. Renowned for its artisanal approach, this female-led boutique winery, managed by the brilliant minds of Nadia Zenato and her mother Carla, endeavours to engrave their indelible mark on each vintage they produce. Experience sans pareil with the Sansonina Merlot 2001, a wine to treasure for the discerning connoisseur.

Immerse yourself in the elegance and complexity of the Secondo Marco Valpolicella Classico 2018. Born out of the Italian Valpolicella region north of Verona, this awe-inspiring red wine is a testament to the winemaking traditions passed down in Marco Mosconi's family for generations. The authenticity of the terroir is spectacularly evident in this bright, dry and slightly spiced wine. Cherries, red fruits and distinct spices on the nose pave the way for a soft, well-structured palate with splendid balance.

Produced from the classic blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes on hillside vineyards, Secondo Marco Valpolicella Classico 2018 undergoes traditional fermentation followed by maturation in stainless steel tanks to enhance its vivid fruit-forward character. Mosconi's commitment to honouring his grandfather's legacy is unmistakable, resulting in a wine that is both deeply personal and universally laudable. Savour the craftsmanship of this limited production gem and enjoy a true taste of Italian viticulture.

Immerse your palate in the world of luxury with the Secondo Marco Valpolicella Classico 2019, a true testament to Italian winemaking artistry. Crafted in the prestigious Valpolicella region of Veneto, Italy, this red wine boasts an exquisite blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. Producer Marco Mosconi’s meticulous attention to detail manifests in the traditional 'pergola veronese' training of vines, limited yield per hectare and separately vinifying the grapes of each vineyard, resulting in a vibrant wine with a splendid balance of freshness and complexity.

Its elegant bouquet brims with lush dark cherries, aromatic herbs, and wild spices, an olfactory pleasure beautifully resonating its terroir. In the mouth, it reveals enticing flavours of ripe red fruits, peppery notes and a touch of minerality. The tannins are soft, lending a well-rounded finish to this splendid vintage. Capture Italian sophistication and revel in the divine character of Secondo Marco Valpolicella Classico 2019.

Vinous (95)

The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant'Urbano takes some time to blossom in the glass, as mineral-tinged blackberry evolves into a display of currants and cherries complemented by hints of sweet mint, lavender and violets. It’s velvety in texture and savory to the core, coasting dark red and black fruits across a medium-bodied frame, contrasted by vibrant acids, as grippy tannins form up toward the close. This finishes youthfully structured yet amazingly long, with echoes of licorice and purple inner florals. The 2016 is geared for the cellar, and in need of some time to soften, but my expectations are very high.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant'Urbano is dusty and darkly alluring, as dried flowers and incense gives way to nuances of cocoa and, with time in the glass, a vivid note of black cherry. This is texturally deep and savory in style, coming across as almost salty in character, with an intense and saturating core of raspberry and cherry. Exotic spices, dark, dark chocolate and clove develop toward the close. This tapers off long and staining, lightly structured, needing only a short stay in the cellar to come together. Speri did a remarkable job of maintaining balance in such a warm and difficult vintage.