2005 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cabernet 'Alzero,' Veneto IGT
Regular price $424.95Guiseppe Quintarelli, known as “The Father of Amarone,” has set an unrivaled benchmark for Amarone wines. With a profound legacy based in the heart of Valpolicella, the Quintarelli estate epitomizes tradition, meticulousness, and family-driven craftsmanship. Currently stewarded by Guiseppe's daughter Fiorenza, son-in-law Giampaolo, and grandsons Francesco and Lorenzo, the estate’s wines are lauded for their intense aromatics, deep complexity, and exceptional refinement.
Central to the Quintarelli philosophy is the traditional appassimento technique, which involves multiple rounds of grape picking to ensure optimal ripeness. The grapes are then dried on straw mats for two to four months before pressing and fermentation. This labor-intensive process results in concentrated, powerful wines that remarkably retain freshness and finesse. The estate's unwavering commitment to this process is evident in their wine portfolio.
The Alzero is perhaps the most remarkable wine of the estate, an incredible variation on a Bordeaux blend, using dried bunches of Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, and Merlot. These are typically the year's first harvest and are slowly dried over four months before pressing and fermentation. Extended aging happens first in French barrique, before moving to Slavonian oak. This is uber-cabernet, dark, brooding, complex, herbal, and brambly, rippling with power. It's a magnificent bottle of wine, one that, like anything from Quintarelli, will make any dinner an occasion.