Quintarelli’s 2011 Valpolicella is one of the greatest we’ve seen, which is saying a lot. Spicy red and blue berries mingle with warm earth, cigar wrapper, cedar wood, dried rose petals, and underbrush in a seductive, seamless whole. While this wine has a pleasing tannic heft, its bright skein of acidity surprises with a counterweight, and the wine’s lush, sweet fruit is offset by savory minerality--just gorgeous! Crafted from a mélange of indigenous Veneto grape varietals, grapes dry for two months in the appassimento technique before pressing and fermentation. This wine ages for seven years in Slavonian oak botti before bottling, a protocol unheard of in the region but one the estate maintains to create nuanced and structured, complex Valpolicella with some appropriate maturity. An opportunity to experience Quintarelli magic at an affordable price point, this Valpolicella is a true “baby Amarone.”
- Country: Italy
- Region: Veneto
- Sub-Region/Appellation: 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.
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