Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oaklarge or old casks

Drinking window

Best 10 to 40 years from vintage.
vintage10 yrs40 yrs42 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: dried cherry, tobacco, leather, dried fig, dark chocolate, incense

Palate: dark plum, espresso, dried orange peel, cedar, liquorice, iron

A long-aged Amarone built around multi-variety appassimento, with concentration of dried fruit, leather and tobacco, firm but resolved tannins and a long finish.

What it pairs with

  • Braised beef short rib with polenta
    The wine's dried-fruit concentration and firm tannins embrace the collagen richness of long-braised beef; polenta's neutrality lets the Amarone speak.
  • Aged Parmigiano Reggiano
    Crystalline salt crystals and umami amplify the wine's savoury-cedar register.
  • Risotto with porcini mushrooms
    Earthy mushroom umami mirrors the wine's incense and tobacco complexity.

How to serve Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
  2. Serve at 12-14°C. Cellar temperature (12-14°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a small dessert-wine glass (3-5oz pour) , the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Braised beef short rib with polenta, Aged Parmigiano Reggiano, Risotto with porcini mushrooms. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Giuseppe Quintarelli began commercial bottling of his Amarone in the 1950s from the family's holdings above Negrar. He rejected any shortcuts in production: minimum four years drying on bamboo trellises in the fruttaio, seven-plus years in large Slavonian oak, and no filtration. The result is the longest-lived and most collected Amarone of the Classico zone, with the estate now run by his daughter Fiorenza.

  1. 1958: First documented Quintarelli Amarone bottling
  2. 1980: Extended maceration and long oak regime codified under Giuseppe's singular approach
  3. 2012: Giuseppe Quintarelli passes away; Fiorenza Quintarelli takes over direction

Facts

Producer
Giuseppe Quintarelli · visiting guide
Grapes
Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Oseleta, Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon
Classification
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG
Oak
Aged 7-8 years in large Slavonian oak casks before release
ABV
16.5%
Price
€400-600 at retail
Drinking window
10-40 from vintage
First vintage
1958

Frequently asked about Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

What does Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico taste like?

On the nose, dried cherry, tobacco, leather, dried fig, dark chocolate. On the palate, dark plum, espresso, dried orange peel, cedar, liquorice. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. A long-aged Amarone built around multi-variety appassimento, with concentration of dried fruit, leather and tobacco, firm but resolved tannins and a long finish.

When should I drink Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico?

Drink 10-40 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico?

Braised beef short rib with polenta is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Aged Parmigiano Reggiano and Risotto with porcini mushrooms. The wine's dried-fruit concentration and firm tannins embrace the collagen richness of long-braised beef; polenta's neutrality lets the Amarone speak.

What grapes are in Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico?

The blend is Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Oseleta, Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is classified as Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG.

Tags

cabernet sauvignon cellar worthy corvina corvinone cult wine dessert passito dry firm tannin full body high acid iconic molinara mood contemplative mood elegant nebbiolo occasion cellar occasion gift occasion special old vines old world oseleta pairs with aged cheese pairs with mushroom pairs with red meat price luxury rondinella

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