Giuseppe Quintarelli - Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2017 (750ml)

Price: $110.00

Producer	Giuseppe Quintarelli
Country	Italy
Region	Veneto
Varietal	Valpolicella
Vintage	2017
Sku	8204
Size	750ml

Wine Advocate: 94 Points

The Quintarelli Giuseppe 2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore (made with 55% Corvina and Corvinone 30% Rondinella and 15% Cabernet Nebbiolo Croatina and Sangiovese) goes through a brief appassimento (that leans to the Ripasso method) and sees between five and six years in large oak cask. The wine's maturation has been slightly shortened over recent years down from seven years in botte. This wine was bottled in February 2024 and we can expect the 2018 vintage to go into bottle in January or February 2025. The 2017 vintage is a little shy initially but the wine does open to dark fruit and dried blackberry. There are two to three grams per liter of residual sugar that help to amplify the softness and texture of the mouthfeel. I always try to schedule my tasting trips to Valpolicella during appassimento or when harvested fruit is left to air-dry in specially ventilated hangars. The fruit loses much of its water mass during the process thus increasing flavors concentration and alcohol. Of the many estates I regularly visit Giuseppe Quintarelli is among my favorites because of the traditional approach taken. There is one hangar dedicated to grapes drying in plastic crates and on the other side of the winery there is a second hangar with grapes carefully laid out on bamboo racks. You also see the celebrated trecce or "braids" of grapes hung from a ceiling rafter. Each braid weighs 30 kilograms. It is such a beautiful site. While visiting the Giuseppe Quintarelli winery with its cramped spaces and dark corners I tasted with grandsons Lorenzo and Francesco in the very same tasting room I first visited 20 years ago with the master himself. Carved oak botte stand outside the tasting room. One shows an enormous peacock a symbol of purity and around it are symbols of the family and their vineyards. The Giuseppe Quintarelli estate counts 11 hectares of vines on limestone and basalt soils. Annual production is 60000 bottles. Only estate fruit is used although extra fruit is purchased in some years if there is an emergency such as significant hail. Published: Dec 05 2024

James Suckling: 94 Points

Aromas of red cherries restrained black pepper graphite and flowers. Full-bodied with tingling acidity and warming alcohol. Firm chalky yet ripe tannins that are just a bit tight at the end otherwise a good toasty finish. Exuberant fruit yet balanced overall by the structure. Drink or hold.