Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Giuseppe Quintarelli 2013

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Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico Giuseppe Quintarelli 2013

La «cuvée»

Produced in the prestigious Amarone della Valpolicella Classico appellation in the Veneto, this wine embodies the very essence of one of Italy’s great historic terroirs. The appellation extends across the western part of the province of Verona, where vineyards cling to hillsides between 150 and 450 metres above sea level. Limestone and basalt soils, poor yet exceptionally well drained, encourage natural concentration in the berries and remarkable aromatic intensity. At Quintarelli, every bunch is harvested by hand and rigorously selected. The grapes are then raisined for around four months on ventilated drying racks, concentrating both sugars and aromas. Fermentation is deliberately slow, lasting up to 50 days, before the wine is aged for seven years in large Slavonian oak tuns, developing extraordinary depth and complexity.
In the glass, the hue is a gorgeous intense garnet. The nose reveals aromas of black cherry compote, cocoa, liquorice, blond tobacco, truffle and leather. Rich and harmonious on the palate, the wine combines power with elegance. Its velvety texture, fine tannins and vibrant acidity bring perfect balance to the wine’s richness, leading to a remarkably persistent finish.

Giuseppe Quintarelli is considered to be quite simply a legend of Italian viticulture, notably of Amarone, a globally-renowned Venetian wine. He unfortunately passed away in 2012, having spent many years managing his 12-hectare domain in the northern hills of Verona at the heart of the Valpolicella appellation. A perfectionist, this wine maker made a name for himself with his Amarone della Valpolicella Classico and his Recioto, selling his cuvées only after many years of ageing. Giuseppe's daughter Fiorenza took up the domain with her husband and two children, Francesco and Lorenzo, and a team of four works at the domain throughout the year.
The viticulture at the domain is traditional, inspired by ancestral practices. The vines are treated only when necessary (when it rains, for example), and no herbicides are used. The yields are kept to a minimum with rigorous pruning and green harvests. The grapes are picked by hand before being dried for 4 months (when destined to become Amarone). The winery has been modernised to improve the quality of the wine even further. An exceptional domain.