Giuseppe Quintarelli Ca' del Merlo 2017

Giuseppe Quintarelli Ca' del Merlo 2017

Giuseppe Quintarelli
$120.00

Grape: 55% Corvina and Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc Nebbiolo, Croatina, Sangiovese
Vintage: 2017
Type: Red

Grapes are harvested during multiple passages through the vineyard for the optimum quality of the different grape varieties and for different styles of wine. A single vineyard bottling, grapes are pressed immediately after harvest. After 3-4 days of maceration, primary fermentation starts with indigenous yeasts. Wine is racked and then sits until February. Wine is racked on to the lees of the Amarone which starts a second alcoholic fermentation (this process is called ripasso). After this fermentation, the wine is racked into large Slavonian oak barrels for seven years. " The process for this red is the same as that for the Valpolicella. The additions of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Croatina in this bottling make it a more fruit-driven counterpart to the earthy, spicy Valpolicella." - Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant 55% Corvina and Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Croatina, Sangiovese

Giuseppe Quintarelli is a legendary winemaker from the Valpolicella region of Italy, renowned for creating some of the world's most sought-after and collectible wines. Affectionately known as "Il Maestro del Veneto," the late Quintarelli, who passed away in 2012, established a legacy of uncompromising quality, a deep commitment to tradition, and an intense focus on patiently aging his wines. The estate is now run by his daughter, Fiorenza, and her family, who continue his meticulous methods. The Quintarelli winery is famous for its use of the appassimento method, which involves drying harvested grapes on traditional rush mats or racks for several months. This concentrates the flavors and sugars, leading to more intense and complex wines. His wines, especially the flagship Amarone, are aged for exceptionally long periods in large, neutral Slavonian oak barrels (botti)—up to 8 to 10 years or more—before bottling. This slow aging process results in wines of remarkable grace, depth, and persistence.