2004 - Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Quintarelli Giuseppe

Here's a beautiful blast from the past. The Quintarelli Giuseppe 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is drinking beautifully right now, and you should be eyeing this bottle if you are lucky enough to have it in your cellar. I had been safekeeping one bottle in my underground Roman cave, and this review is based on it. This wine shows a very polished and precise personality with integrated tannins and a smooth mouthfeel that renders a soft entry (despite the oversize 17% alcohol content). Fresh acidity adds zest and energy. The bouquet is layered with dried cherry fruit, raspberry and hints of apple skins that give the wine vertical lift and reinforced aromatic intensity. I recommend a double decant to air it out, although the wine is without sediment. Its color is vibrant and saturated.