2017 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore

Tasting Note

Giuseppe Quintarelli's 2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore pours a clear, medium-depth ruby with a bright garnet core and a slightly translucent rim that reflects the estate's commitment to restraint over extraction. The nose opens with an immediately engaging bouquet: tart Marano valley red cherries lead, followed by black pepper, dried violet petals, graphite, and a characteristic Quintarelli herbal lift that sets his Valpolicella apart from richer, more commercial expressions. In the background, notes of sun-dried blackberry and a whisper of fermentation-driven earthiness add complexity without obscuring the wine's essential freshness. On the palate, the Corvina-Corvinone-Rondinella blend delivers structure and generosity in equal measure. Bright tingling acidity drives the mouthfeel from entry through the long midpalate, while firm, chalky tannins provide grip without roughness. The finish is balanced and surprisingly long for a wine in this category, cycling back through red cherry and black pepper with a clean, toasty mineral quality at the very end. This is Valpolicella as Quintarelli conceived it: not an Amarone substitute, but a serious wine in its own right with genuine aging potential.

About Giuseppe Quintarelli

Giuseppe Quintarelli was, until his passing in 2012, the undisputed master of Valpolicella and Amarone, and the estate he built in Negrar continues under the direction of his daughter Fiorenza and her family with the same obsessive commitment to quality. Quintarelli practiced extended aging, low intervention, and the use of indigenous grape varieties in ways that were considered eccentric during his lifetime but are now recognized as visionary. His Valpolicella Classico Superiore is not an entry-level wine but a serious, structured expression of the appellation from one of Italy's most revered estates, made with the same care as his legendary Amarone.

Food Pairings

• Braised beef short ribs with polenta

  The rich braising fat softens the wine's firm tannins while the savory beef depth amplifies the Quintarelli's dried blackberry and graphite complexity.

• Pasta e fagioli with rosemary and aged Parmigiano

  A classic Veneto pairing where the legume richness and Parmigiano umami draw out the red cherry brightness and black pepper character of the Corvina blend.

• Roasted pork with fennel pollen and bitter greens

  The fennel pollen echoes the herbal lift of the Quintarelli Valpolicella, while the pork's gentle sweetness balances the wine's vibrant acidity.

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