Amarone Monte Sant’Urbano Speri is one of the standard-bearers for the excellence of Italian wine, and has been awarded many honours by the most influential experts in the sector. It is a refined, elegant, austere classic of great complexity and vigorous structure.

This Amarone comes from the homonymous vineyard (Sant’Urbano), a place of rare beauty that is nestled in the winding hills of the municipality of Fumane, where prestigious grapes grow alongside olive and cherry trees, flanked by the typical ‘marogne’, dry stone walls that are kept intact out of a deep respect for history.

The grapes selected for this wine are Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, Corvinone and Molinara. Only the best grapes are harvested by hand and left to dry for about 120 days on the traditional ‘arele’ (racks), then moved on to vinification and a very long maturation process (up to 4 years) in oak barrels. But the Amarone Speri is not ready until it has spent a further year ageing in the bottle.

The result is full-bodied, warm, refined and unquestionably devoted to improving over time: left to rest in the cellar, it can surprise even after 10 years.

In the glass it has a beautiful garnet red colour, with reflexes that hint at vague memories of bright ruby. The nose encompasses a range of aromas: ripe fruit, walnut, cinnamon, a whiff of dark chocolate, liquorice and a finish that includes rhubarb and coffee.

The sip is soft, engaging, strong but also sweet, with long olfactory persistence.

A wine to be enjoyed at the table, but also to be enjoyed over conversation with our closest friends.