Quintarelli Without Equal
by Joanie Bonfiglio
2017 Veneto Rosso “Cà del Merlo”
Italy | Veneto
The concept that keeps coming to mind about Quintarelli, the legendary Veneto estate, is fuoriclasse, meaning “unrivaled” or “without equal.” This wine, classified simply as “Veneto Rosso,” represents the height of winemaking traditions from the area. An aromatically explosive wine, made from a blend of local grapes (as well as a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc), the Cà del Merlo represents a unique vineyard expression, as well as a distillation of Giuseppe Quintarelli’s winemaking vision. Where else is a simple “red wine” from a single vineyard bottled after seven years of aging?
2016 Alzero Cabernet
Italy | Veneto
Alzero is another exquisite anomaly in the world of Italian wine, a red blend—Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot—as seen through the distinctive lens of Giuseppe Quintarelli himself. All of the grapes for this wine are dried before pressing, and the resulting juice is aged carefully in a selection of wooden vessels for seven years before it is bottled. Alzero is a love letter to crisp fall evenings and earthy red fruit: a dedication to the elegance and balance that only precision and time can produce.
2015 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico
Italy | Veneto
Quintarelli’s 2015 Recioto is a work of art: pure and simply the definitive wine of the region, and the height of its category. It is shockingly fresh for a sweet wine made with dried grapes—imagine how little juice results from pressing grapes left to dry for three months! This is the true alchemy of Quintarelli, a wine that has everything: fruit, length on the palate, and beguiling, layered aromatics. A dream. You have not experienced Recioto if you have not tasted it from the cellar of the Quintarelli family.
Quintarelli’s 2015 Recioto is a work of art: pure and simply the definitive wine of the region, and the height of its category. It is shockingly fresh for a sweet wine made with dried grapes—imagine how little juice results from pressing grapes left to dry for three months! This is the true alchemy of Quintarelli, a wine that has everything: fruit, length on the palate, and beguiling, layered aromatics. A dream. You have not experienced Recioto if you have not tasted it from the cellar of the Quintarelli family.