A Note from Sergio
"The basic problem in wine today is that nobody has any patience," Giuseppe Quintarelli said to me. "They hurry the fruit in the vineyard, speed through the vinification process, rush it into the bottle, and run it to the store. But patience is the most important thing a winemaker must have. Patience in all areas."
I suppose I could say that patience is his secret, that his slow and steady pace accounts for the fact that he makes some of the most sought-after, difficult-to-obtain, life-altering wines in the world. It would make it much simpler to justify why enthusiasts and collectors descend into feverish, irrational states when presented with a Quintarelli bottle.
But the fact is that all the patience in the world can't explain how Giuseppe does what he does. There have even been several attempts undertaken by the industry's leading consultants to recreate Quintarelli's wines in a controlled environment. The results have proven that Quintarelli cannot be captured through the most rigorous and fastidious of attempts. Like all gold-standard wines, the stuff is a complete and utter mystery -- a treasure forever sought and never found.
Patience is, however, the key to drinking Quintarelli wines. They are thinking wines, meaning that they tend to force you to shut up and reflect. You need to consider their unique qualities, because nothing else even comes close. You may confuse a Giacomo Conterno Monfortino with a Bartolo Mascarello Barolo, a Château Lafite with a Château Haut-Brion, a Chianti Classico Riserva with a Rioja Reserva, but once you taste Quintarelli Amarone, Alzero, or Recioto, you'll never forget them. They're like no other wines on earth.
Today, I'm offering Quintarelli's latest release, the 2000 Amarone della Valpolicella Selezione, a wine that Quintarelli has patiently been watching as it matured. Quintarelli doesn't release his wines according to any schedule other than his own, and he's held onto what would be the 2000 Riserva, choosing to release it now and upgrade its status to a Selezione. It's a wine that makes my head spin; it's a rocket ship. I'm also offering three other wines by Quintarelli, the gorgeous 2001 Valpolicella, as well as the 2008 Bianco Secco and 2006 Primofiore, both of which are affordable wines by the master winemaker.
Quintarelli's wines are treasures. The world is a richer place for having them. I'm delighted to offer these wines to my clients and to urge you to sit down, relax, and sip them slowly. Life is to be savored, and these wines remind you of why.
My Best,
P.S. You can now follow me on Twitter: @iwmse.
Featured Wines
Giuseppe Quintarelli
Amarone della Valpolicella Selezione 2000 $699.00**
Quintarelli's Amarones make writers cranky: there's no way to do the wines justice. Quintarelli, ever idiosyncratic about his wines' release times, has only just now chosen to send out his 2000 Amarone Riserva, a vintage so extraordinary that he's naming it a Selezione. Suffice to say that if Quintarelli thinks it's a wine special enough to warrant a distinguished name, it's an astounding wine, and the 2000 Selezione is. Delicate and balanced, this Amarone gathers power and intensity in the glass, revealing an ethereal combination of flowers, berries, and spices. It's amazing, indescribable, and it makes writers want to bang their heads against their keyboards. Incomparable, and drinking now through 2020.
Giuseppe Quintarelli
Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2001 $85.00**
Superlatives seem the default setting for Quintarelli. Just as his Amarone is an apotheosis of the wine, so too is his Valpolicella, and the 2001 is outstanding. Savory-sweet, redolent of dark cherries and berries, touched by menthol and spice, it's a rich, complex, otherworldly wine. This subtle, nuanced gem of a Valpolicella will once again recalibrate the scale for greatness, which is exactly what we expect from Quintarelli. Drinking now through another decade.
Giuseppe Quintarelli
Bianco Secco Ca' del Merlo 2008 $44.69**
Stunning and blonde, Quintarelli's value-conscious white, Bianco Secco, is a seductive blend of Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Saorin. This pretty wine carries a bouquet of flowers, a sassy palate, and finishes with a touch of minerals and honey. Charming doesn't even begin to describe it.
Giuseppe Quintarelli
Primofiore 2006 $49.50**
It is possible to enjoy the magic of Quintarelli on a budget. His Primofiore, a first-press IGT table wine, is a blend of the customary Valpolicella suspects: Corvina Veronese, Corvinone, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Juicy, fresh, and vibrant, the Primofiore is the fun, accessible Quintarelli, and a delicious wine with flavors of cherry, olives, spices and oak. All the mastery, less money. What's not to love?
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** Indicates pre-arrival. Wines available Mid-November. |
