AMARONE CLASSICO VIGNETO SANT’URBANO 1988 GETS AN EXCELLENT SCORE FROM IAN D’AGATA

Ian d’Agata, one of International’s leading wine experts and wine critics, in a recent article in Terroir Sense of Feb. 23, titled “From the archives, iconic Italian wines: a fantastic tasting in London,” called our 1988 AMARONE CLASSICO VIGNETO SANT’URBANO a masterpiece, describing it as “one of the most balanced Amarones I have drunk in recent years,” further stating that the score of 98 points (98 points!) is “perhaps stingy considering the beauty of this wine.”

Below are the words of Ian D’Agata:

 “…The Speri 1988 Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto Sant’Urbano is a masterpiece. Everyone reading this article has probably tried Amarone once in their life, if not more; but truth is, for such a famous wine, not all examples are as well-balanced and easy to drink as they ought to be. Speri’s1988 wine (an excellent vintage) is drinking splendidly right now: it finds itself in a sweet spot that makes it at once extremely velvety, delicious and irresistible, though remarkably relatively youthful and age-worthy. ….”

“Warm, deep red colour with a pale garnet rim.  Absolutely captivating, multidimensional nose combines blackcurrant, dried red cherry, plums macerated in alcohol, brown spices, milk chocolate, and minerals, all lifted by a faded floral note. Sweet, creamy and deep on entry, then less showy and increasingly precise in the middle, yet wonderfully energetic despite its compelling silkiness and sweetness of red fruity flesh. Very ripe but not over the top, showcasing magically, still-bright red fruit and sweet spice flavors that carry through to an extremely long, vibrant finish featuring suave tannins and very complex spice, floral and licorice elements. Neither in the often blockbuster-styled Amarone in the Dal Forno mould nor as penetratingly elegant as the best from Quintarelli, this 1988 Speri Amarone is one of the best-balanced Amarone wines I have had in years. Drinking perfectly right now (this bottle at least), Speri ought to be paid by the Consorzio or the Italian government to go serve this beauty all over the world, for one sip is all it will take to get people to fall in love with Amarone. It’s so good I am wondering if I’m being stingy with my score. Drinking window: 2024-2035.”