Wine Advisor
Giuseppe Quintarelli, Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2014
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
This was a humid and rainy vintage and many producers in the Valpolicella decided not to make their top-shelf Amarone wines, directing their fruit to wines like this instead. The Quintarelli Giuseppe 2014 Valpolicella Classico Superiore offers a spicy opener with tarry smoke and cured tobacco. It also shows some tart and brambly fruit, and this ties into what we can expect of the vintage. In truth, the ripeness is present and balanced. It undergoes a partial and brief appassimento. The 2014 is thinner than past vintages have been, but I am very much enjoying this more streamlined and elegant approach.
About the Producer
Giuseppe Quintarelli, the father of Amarone and a masterful wine grower, has left an invaluable legacy to his family who now manage the estate. Excellence, tradition, artisanal spirit, and authenticity define the monumental work carried out by this property, where only the finest vintages are produced. These wines, renowned globally, are incredibly elegant, displaying a beautiful mellowness and remarkable aromatic persistence. Despite Giuseppe's unfortunate passing in 2012, his influence on Italian viticulture, particularly Amarone, remains legendary. Located in the hills of Verona within the Valpolicella appellation, the 12-hectare domain was meticulously managed by Giuseppe, who gained recognition for his Amarone della Valpolicella Classico and Recioto, releasing them only after years of aging. Today, Giuseppe's daughter Fiorenza, her husband, two children, Francesco and Lorenzo, and a dedicated team continue the family's tradition. The domain upholds a traditional viticultural approach, drawing inspiration from ancestral practices. The vines are treated minimally, with no use of herbicides, and yields are intentionally kept low through meticulous pruning and green harvests. The grapes, destined for Amarone, are handpicked and dried for four months. The winery has undergone modernization to further enhance the quality of their exceptional wines. Giuseppe Quintarelli's estate is a true gem in the Valpolicella region, revered for its Amarone production. Their deep, complex wines, adorned with handwritten labels, have garnered international acclaim. The estate's portfolio includes Amarone, Recioto, and Valpolicella Classico Superiore, all crafted with a similar blend. However, their cult wine, the Alzero, stands out for its blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Produced exclusively in outstanding years, Alzero undergoes the same drying process as Amarone. Winemaking at Quintarelli is a patient craft. The top wines undergo a meticulous 20-day pre-ferment maceration for optimal color and tannin extraction, followed by slow fermentations and extensive aging in large Slavonian oak barrels—up to eight years for Amarone wines. Alzero, on the other hand, is aged in barriques for two to three years, followed by an additional four years in larger Slavonian oak barrels. Quintarelli's commitment to unhurried winemaking ensures the creation of exceptional, age-worthy wines that captivate wine enthusiasts worldwide.
