Giuseppe Quintarelli
Alzero Cabernet
Veneto IGT
2016
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Merlot
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
Approaching Peak: drinkable, but best years are ahead.
The 2016 Alzero Cabernet opened its drinking window just this year and in May 2026 is right at the threshold of accessibility. This is a wine that has spent its first decade building structural complexity rather than opening up, and opening a bottle now rewards serious engagement. The nose requires patience, with the bouquet emerging slowly over the first thirty to forty minutes after decanting, gradually unfurling from a reticent dark fruit and spice profile into the full aromatic complexity that Quintarelli's meticulous winemaking creates. On the palate, the velvety tannins are integrating well but still carry density, and the finish is warming and long. The peak window running from 2032 to 2048 suggests the wine's best years are still ahead, and most collectors would be well served by returning this to the cellar for another five to eight years.
The ‘16 Alzero Cabernet.
A massively scaled but surprisingly elegant Veneto Cabernet from Italy's greatest traditionalist, built on velvety tannins and precise acidity for several more decades of evolution.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Giuseppe Quintarelli's 2016 Alzero Cabernet pours a profound, near-opaque garnet-purple with a narrow crimson rim, immediately signaling the density and concentration that this singular Veneto IGT commands. The nose is broad-shouldered and multilayered: jammy blackberry and blackcurrant interweave with green curry leaf, dried cassis, and a complex spice profile of cloves, dark chocolate, and a whisper of cocoa powder. Underlying everything is the savory, umami-rich complexity that comes from Quintarelli's extended aging in large Slavonian oak barrels, a process that imparts depth rather than overt wood flavor. The palate confirms the nose's promise with a wine of extraordinary texture and presence. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot blend arrives with immediate volume, filling the mouth with velvety, well-resolved tannins and a long, warming finish driven by crisp acidity that defies the wine's obvious richness. There is nothing heavy or monolithic about the Alzero: the acidity is the key, threading through the dense fruit and polishing the structure into something genuinely elegant. The finish is remarkably long, trailing through dark fruit, cocoa, and a mineral whisper before fading gracefully.
The 2016 vintage
The 2016 vintage in the Veneto was exceptional across nearly all categories, with the growing season delivering ideal conditions for Quintarelli's demanding viticulture. A wet spring gave way to a dry, moderately warm summer with cooling nights at the Negrar estate's hillside elevation, preserving acidity while ripening the Cabernet varieties fully and evenly. The Alzero's Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc achieved perfect physiological maturity without the overripe, jammy character that warmer years can produce. The 2016 vintage at Quintarelli is considered one of the reference years for this estate, producing wines with exceptional structural integrity and the kind of precise phenolic ripeness that allows for very long aging trajectories.
About Giuseppe Quintarelli
Alzero is Quintarelli's singular expression of the Veneto's capacity to produce world-class Cabernet: a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot that undergoes extended maceration and years of aging in large Slavonian oak barrels before release. The wine is named for the family's plot in the hills above Negrar, where Quintarelli planted Cabernet varieties decades before it was fashionable in the region. The result is one of Italy's most distinctive and collectible Cabernet expressions, made with the same obsessive attention to detail that defines every wine from this legendary estate.
From the cellar: pair with
Braised oxtail with black truffle and aged Parmigiano
The oxtail's collagen richness and truffle earthiness meet the Alzero's velvety tannins at their midpoint, with the Parmigiano adding a savory resonance that echoes the wine's cocoa-and-cassis depth.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina with bone marrow butter
The Florentine steak's char and iron character draw out the Alzero's blackcurrant and clove complexity, while bone marrow provides the fat to cushion its still-dense structure.
Wild boar ragu with pappardelle
The gamey richness and aromatic herbs of wild boar ragu are a natural counterpart to the Alzero's curry leaf and dark chocolate register, creating a pairing of exceptional complexity.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 17-19C / 63-66F
- Decanting
- Decant for a minimum of two hours, ideally three. The 2016 Alzero at ten years old is still tightly wound and benefits enormously from extended air exposure. A wide-bodied decanter and patience are essential to unlocking the wine's full aromatic complexity.
- Cellar Storage
- 12-14C / 54-57F
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
Frequently Asked
What is Alzero and how does it differ from Quintarelli's Amarone?
Alzero is a Veneto IGT made from Cabernet varieties rather than the Corvina-based blend of Amarone. It is a separate and complementary expression: denser and more structured than the Amarone at a young age, with a different aging trajectory.
Is the 2016 ready to drink?
It is technically accessible as of 2026, but the peak window runs from 2032 to 2048. Patient collectors are better served by waiting another five or more years for the wine to fully express itself.
How many years can this wine age?
The hard decline is projected around 2058, giving the 2016 Alzero a potential lifespan of over four decades from vintage. Few Veneto wines match this aging potential.
What is the oak regimen for the Alzero?
Quintarelli uses large Slavonian oak barrels for extended aging, a traditional method that integrates the wine's tannins and adds savory complexity without imparting obvious wood flavor.