The 2009 is a powerful wine that explodes onto the palate with tons of fruit. This focused, vibrant wine is still much too young to deliver its full potential, so several years of cellaring seem warranted. As always, the aromatics require some aeration to clean up and find their focus. Still, the 2009 Amarone is impressive for its power and fine overall balance. Stylistically, this is one of the most dynamic and structurally sound Amarone's on the market.

Young the Speri Amarone is all dark chocolate, like opening a fresh bag of coffee, bark-like tannins, voluptuous, fine and elegant, a wine with that delectable lift. Seemingly though, as they age, they begin to adopt more earthen fungi-like tertiary characters that are truly appealing for the astute wine drinker. Take me to a forest and lay me in the centre of a sinister fairy ring and my senses would be divinely content. I suppose the main concept the group got from bracket three of Speri wines, was the inherent ‘freschezza’, or freshness, that has become a defining character of the producer.

In other words, hold onto this one, buy a dozen and lay them someone you won't be tempted. In five years, open one up every year and watch the magic work!