There is a very small number of producers in Valpolicella that I would buy from every year regardless of the vintage conditions; Speri stands firmly among them. The house style is savory and intense, with lower-than-typical sugar and alcohol as well as the structure that allows for decades of aging. Even in the warmest vintages, the Sant’Urbano—from a site at higher elevations (250-380 meters), ventilating winds and volcanic soils—is beautifully pure and refined. Speri relies on a modified pergola training system, which likely contributes to the vines’ ability to deliver balanced fruit in hot seasons. This estate is not only about Amarone; Speri’s Valpolicella Superiore and Ripasso rank among the top wines in their category year after year. Speri’s approach prioritizes purity, relying on vineyard work rather than stylizing in the winery. As for the wines, the 2020 Amarone is drop-dead gorgeous and perhaps even a little more accessible than usual. The 2022 Ripasso is an impressive offering for such a challenging year, as is the Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sant’Urbano. I recommend opening these wines a day ahead of time or the morning before enjoying them. Speri is top-notch across the board.
Undisputedly symbolic of the Speri company, the Amarone Sant’Urbano is a superb example of a fine, classic wine. It is an extraordinary wine with great complexity and a vigorous structure, which has always been top for its elegance and quality.
VINEYARDS
The Monte Sant’Urbano property in the municipality of Fumane: located on a hill at between 280 and 350 m./a.s.l., it benefits from excellent exposure to sunlight. The average age of the vines is high.
GRAPE VARIETIES
Corvina Veronese e Corvinone 70%,
Rondinella 25%,
Molinara 5%.
VINIFICATION
Manual selection of the finest bunches followed by drying for around 100 days, with a loss of about 40% in the weight of the grapes. These are destemmed and pressed and fermentation with maceration takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
AGEING
24 months in 500 l. French oak tonneaux and 18 months in medium-to-large Slavonian oak casks. Maturation in bottle for 12 months.
