IN BREVE
- The latest vintages of Amarone della Valpolicella show a growing balance between concentration, freshness, and stylistic precision.
- Standouts like Bertani 2016 and Speri Sant’Urbano 2020 highlight balsamic depth and fruit integration.
- Classic interpretations, such as Allegrini 2021 and Tedeschi Capitel Monte Olmi 2018, offer freshness and complexity.
- The “philosophy of waiting” of the Famiglie Storiche ensures that market release is postponed, resulting in harmonious wines with great aging potential.
- Each Amarone from the Famiglie Storiche enhances the personality and style of the producing winery.
The latest vintages of Amarone della Valpolicella crafted by the member wineries of the Famiglie Storiche present a nuanced picture, made up of different interpretations united by a growing search for balance between concentration, freshness, and stylistic precision. Tastings of the 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 vintages have highlighted wines capable of combining density and length, alcoholic power and acidic tension. With results that in some cases reach the absolute heights of the denomination.
SPERI SHINES WITH SANT’URBANO 2020, A “VOLCANIC” AMARONE
Among the most convincing samples are versions that focus on balsamic depth, fruit integrity, and well-calibrated tannins. This is the case with the Bertani 2016, just released on the market after eight years in large Slavonian oak casks, which combines ripe fruit, notes of licorice and coffee, balsamicity, and integrated structure.
Or the Speri Sant’Urbano 2020, from hillside vineyards at 400 meters, which plays on mineral tension and controlled fruity exuberance, with a finish that highlights the limestone and volcanic soils and divinely managed alcohol. A unique gem in the Valpolicella landscape.
STRONG SHOWING FROM ALLEGRINI, TEDESCHI, AND MASI
There is no shortage of more classic interpretations, centered on cherry, black cherry, and spice, such as the Allegrini 2021, which marks the estate style between freshness and depth, or the Tedeschi Capitel Monte Olmi 2018, tense and crisp in its fruit, with a finish of blood orange and minerality. Other samples, like the Campolongo di Torbe 2015 by Masi, with its notes of raisins and candied orange, show complexity and drinkability in a balance between tradition and modernity.
Alongside the more complete profiles, some labels show youth and perspective, with tannins still in the process of fully settling or a more marked acidic drive. Overall, the tasting confirms the vitality of Amarone from the Famiglie Storiche, between mature vintages now in full expression and more recent versions destined to evolve over time. Below are the scores assigned to the individual labels.
AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA FAMIGLIE STORICHE: ALL THE SCORES
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | CANTINA | VINO | PUNTEGGIO / SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Allegrini | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Docg 2021 (16%) | 92 |
| 2 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Begali Lorenzo | Amarone della Valpolicella Docg Classico Riserva Monte Ca' Bianca 2019 (16%) | 90 |
| 3 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Bertani | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2016 (15,5%) | 96 |
| 4 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Brigaldara | Amarone della Valpolicella Doc Riserva 2016 (16,5%) | 94 |
| 5 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Guerrieri Rizzardi | Amarone della Valpolicella Docg Classico Riserva 2020 Villa Rizzardi (16%) | 92 |
| 6 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Masi | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Docg 2015 Campolongo di Torbe (16%) | 95 |
| 7 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Musella | Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva Docg 2018 (16%) | 93 |
| 8 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Speri | Amarone della Valpolicella Docg Classico Sant'Urbano 2020 (15%) | 97 |
| 9 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Tedeschi | Amarone della Valpolicella Docg Classico Riserva Capitel Monte Olmi 2018 (16,5%) | 94 |
| 10 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Tenuta Sant'Antonio - Famiglia Castagnedi | Amarone della Valpolicella 2019 Campo dei Gigli (15,5%) | 92 |
| 11 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Tommasi | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Docg Riserva 2013 De Buris (15,5%) | 94 |
| 12 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Torre d'Orti | Amarone della Valpolciella Docg 2021 (17%) | 90 |
| 13 | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Davide-bortone | 16/02/2026 04:40 PM | Zenato | Amarone della Valpolciella Docg 2020 (16,5%) | 89 |
AGING TIMES BEYOND THE PRODUCTION REGULATIONS
The Amarone della Valpolicella production regulations require a minimum aging of two years, which increases to four for the Riserva category. These timeframes allow for a relatively early market release compared to the real evolutionary potential of this wine. However, the member companies of the Famiglie Storiche choose a different path: postponing the market release well beyond what is required by law.
A way, the wineries explain, to let the Amarone complete a longer maturation process between cask and bottle. It is a choice linked to the very nature of the wine, obtained from dried grapes and characterized by a significant structure and high alcohol content. As well as extract and tannins that need time to integrate.
THE FAMIGLIE STORICHE’S PHILOSOPHY OF WAITING
This approach is summarized in the so-called “philosophy of waiting.” A shared orientation that aims to present an Amarone on the market that is already complete and harmonious. The goal is to achieve a more stable balance between power and finesse, between glyceric sweetness and acidic tension. Between fruit and aromatic complexity. Avoiding the edges and rigidity associated with youth.
Each Amarone still reflects the personality of the individual family and winery, but the principle remains the same: considering time as a decisive element of the production process. The result is a wine capable of being both approachable and profound at the time of its delayed market release, but with further perspective for evolution over the years.
Amarone Famiglie Storiche: scores for the 7 vintages on the market in 2026
IN BREVE The latest vintages of Amarone della Valpolicella show a growing balance between concentration, freshness, and stylistic precision. Standouts like Bertani 2016 and Speri Sant’Urbano 2020 highlight balsamic depth and fruit integration. Classic interpretations, such as Allegrini 2021 and Tedeschi Capitel Monte Olmi 2018, offer freshness and complexity. The “philosophy of waiting” of the Famiglie Storiche ensures that market release is postponed, resulting in harmonious wines with great aging potential. Each…
