Amarone Riserva Quintarelli 2003
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£840.00
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Amarone Riserva Quintarelli 2003
HED83673
75 cl
17%
£840.00
Taxes included.
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88
Robert Parker
The 2003 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva awards a truly exceptional emotional charge for reasons that go beyond the technical tasting attributes of the wine. There is the nostalgic recognition that this would be one of the last vintages made, all hands on deck, by Giuseppe Quintarelli before his struggle with Parkinson's disease and his death at 84 in 2012. I tasted bottle number 4,780 of only 5,973 made. The Riserva is only produced in truly exceptional years and represents the single-best barrel of the bunch. Sadly the wine is heavily saddled with overripe aromas and a strong blast of 17% alcohol that are hard to see past. Of course, 2003 was an extremely hot vintage. The bouquet here is overplayed with heavy-footed aromas of dried fruit, smoked cedar wood, crushed brimstone and balsam herb. Given the greatest of the estate's other wines, my expectations of this wine were not met. — Monica Larner, 31st May 2017
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Quintarelli Giuseppe
The Godfather of Veneto
The Quintarelli estate in the northern Veronese village of Negrar dates back to 1924 and was founded by Bepe’s father, Silvio. Bepe himself took over in the 1950s, orchestrating a quality revolution through his meticulous work in the vineyard and his uncompromising practices in the cellar. The result was wines of such hedonistic deliciousness that they became some of the most sought-after in Italy; those made before Bepe’s death in 2012 especially so.At the still family-run estate, Bepe’s legacy continues through his daughter, Fiorenza, along with her husband, Giampaolo, and their children. The core range of wines are those made in the appassimiento style (ie, with partially sun-dried grapes): the Valpolicella Superiore, Amarone, Rosso del Bepi (essentially an Amarone, but released instead of the Amarone in ‘lesser’ vintages) and Recioto. The Amarone, only released in exceptional years, is matured for fully seven years in old Slavonian oak before release. An Amarone Riserva sees 10 years.
