Quintarelli – Negrar, Valpolicella

In the world of Italian wines there are very few estates and even fewer personalities whose influence can truly be considered as epochal. Giuseppe Quintarelli is undoubtedly classed as one of the top auteurs of post war Italian fine wine. Bepi, as he was known, spent over sixty years – up until his sad passing in 2012 – of skill, care, patience and uncompromising attention to detail creating the legendary wines of the estate, characteristically modern yet tied to the family’s home and history.

The Bianco Secco is a Garganega-based field blend with dollops of Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Saorin. Juicy pears, white orchard fruits, pale flowers and racy intensity. The ‘base’ Valpolicella Classico Superiore sees a full 7 years in large Slavonian oak casks. Dark fruits, cigar leaf, deep cherry sorbet and amazing length lifts Valpolicella to the heights only Quintarelli would strive for. The Rosso del Bepi is essentially the estate’s Amarone, declassified as they only release an Amarone in the very finest vintages. The Amarone Classico is Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, pressed at the end of January following appassimento. This is the true definition of Amarone with power, richness and chiselled definition. The Amarone Riserva is a best-of-the-verybest barrel selected by the family. Utterly magical.