www.italianwinemerchants.com

Quintarelli’s ’97 Amarone is a riveting, mesmerizing wine, wafting from the glass in layers of sweet red and blue fruits, melted chocolate, crushed flower petals, pencil lead, warm saddle leather, and a handful of rich baking spices. At once refined and lush, this wine glides with a silky feel, scattering polished, fine-grained tannins as it builds to a resounding finish. Full-bodied and layered, this wine is drinking wonderfully now, but it’ll be enjoyable for decades to come. Quintarelli’s collector's wine is the benchmark for all Amarone, composed primarily of the indigenous Corvina blended with Rondinella and traces of Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Croatina, and Sangiovese. Replete with myriad layers and endless flavors, Quintarelli’s Amarone demands to be contemplated rather than merely consumed.

• Country: Italy
• Region: Veneto
• Subregion: Amarone della Valpolicella

Known as "the Master of the Veneto," Quintarelli makes some of the world’s most sought-after wines, and their releases always create commensurate fervor. Quintarelli’s limited production Amarones, Reciotos, and Valpolicellas are the benchmark for excellence. Their greatness stems from the inherent quality of the terroir and the natural talent of this master, whose concept of vintage standards and strict grape selection rivals the great Chateau of Sauternes. Quintarelli puts his wines on the market when he deems them ready, sometimes cellaring them for decades until the right moment arrives. True thinking wines that slow the pace and teach the drinker to be silent, Quintarelli’s wines are unlike any other in the world.