Quintarelli VS Dal Forno Amarone Wine Tasting Friday, May 3rd 7:30pm and all the wines from these two GREAT producers on SALE!!
Wine hath drowned more men than the sea.
THOMAS FULLER
And if I drowned in wine, I can think of none better than Amarone!!
This is annual event here at the Wine Watch. We show the wines of these two producers every year at a "Once in a Lifetime" tasting event and then every other year we show them against each other.
The styles are dramatically different between Dal Forno and Quintarelli but they both make Amarone at the top level of quality and both sacrifice quantity over quality. They are also very expensive but the price reflects the demand for these wines in the marketplace.
Dal Forno is a bit more progressive thinking aging his wines in new French Oak and making a dryer style of Amarone by not drying the grapes for as long as Quintarelli.
Although Giuseppe Quintarelli passed away last year his wines will forever be iconic examples of this ancient style of making wine by drying the grapes before fermenting. These wines are incredibly rare and to be opening up 6 bottles on one evening categorizes this evening as a "once in a lifetime" experience.
Join us as we experience some of the top vintages for this region and some of the most sought-after wines from the Veneto in an all out battle over who's wine reigns supreme- the godfather of Verona, Giuseppe Quintarelli or the new kid on the block, Romano Dal Forno.
Toni Lampasone will be making a special menu to accompany the wines. The fee for this "Once in a Lifetime" wine tasting which includes dinner is $495 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.
Quintarelli VS Dal Forno Amarone Wine Tasting
Friday, May 3rd
7:30 pm
2003 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella
2009 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella
1995 Giuseppe Quintarelli 'Alzero' Cabernet Veneto IGT, Italy
1998 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella
1998 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella
2002 Dal Forno Valpolicella
2007 Dal Forno Valpolicella
2009 Dal Forno Valpolicella
2008 Dal Forno Amarone Della Valpolicella
2007 Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella
2004 Dal Forno Romano Vigna Sere
Menu
Selection of Cheese: St. Andre, Blue Cheese, Beemster Gouda
Hudson Valley Foie Gras Sauteed with Cherry Reduction and wilted Greens
Amarone Pasta with Reggiano Parmesan and Speck
Braised Beef Shortrib with Amarone Mole reduction
Cheesecake with Amarena Cherries and Recioto reduction
The price for this tasting which includes dinner is $495 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail: andy@winewatch.com. Please let us know when you make your reservations if you have any dietary restrictions and chef Toni will be happy to accommodate you.
Menu
Selection of Cheese: St. Andre, Blue Cheese, Beemster Gouda
Hudson Valley Foie Gras Sauteed with Cherry Reduction and wilted Greens
Amarone Pasta with Reggiano Parmesan and Speck
Braised Beef Shortrib with Amarone Mole reduction
Cheesecake with Amarena Cherries and Recioto reduction
The price for this tasting which includes dinner is $495 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail: andy@winewatch.com. Please let us know when you make your reservations if you have any dietary restrictions and chef Toni will be happy to accommodate you.
A bit about Giuseppe Quintarelli - The Godfather of the Veneto
Known as “The Master of the Veneto,” Giuseppe Quintarelli makes some of the world’s most sought-after wines. From aperitifs to digestifs, his limited production Amarones, Reciotos, and Valpolicellas are the benchmark for excellence. Their greatness stems from the inherent quality of the terroir and natural talent of this master, whose concept of vintage approval and strict grape selection rival great Chateau of Sauternes. Quintarelli makes stunning wines in average vintages by hand picking everything and making severe selections- sometimes going cluster by cluster and selecting each individual berry!
Giuseppe puts his wines on the market when he deems them ready, often keeping them in the cellar for decades until the right moment arrives. Quintarelli Produces around 2,500 cases of Valpolicella, 850 cases of Amarone and 300 cases of Recioto. Valpolicella is a terroir with a long history. It has weathered difficult times and has now been saved by the commitment of a large number of young producers, and the example of a great one, Guiseppe Quintarelli. Giuseppe’s winery, situated at Negrar on the gentile Valpolicella hills, has 12 hectares of vineyards at an average altitude of 240 meters above sea level. Some of the grapes are brought in bringing the average annual production up to 50-60,000 bottles. In the best years, Giuseppe Quintarelli makes an Amarone Riserva, and of course 1990 was no exception. Before release, this seriously good wine spent ten years ageing in Slavonian oak barrels. The deep garnet hue is appealing and there are sweet cocoa powder and ripe berry fruit on the nose. The palate is generous with plums, fruit liqueur and coffee in a harmonious, lingering profile. The Alzero, made from raisined Cabernet Franc grapes is deep ruby red and proffers aromas of red peppers, vegetables and tobacco on the nose. The palate has remarkable finesse and hints of cocoa, morello cherries, pepper and pencil lead create a very stylish, bitter-sweet effect. The fresh-tasting nicely rounded Valpolicella has hints of aromatic herbs, cherry fruit and liquorice, as well as good extract.
According to archaeological evidence vines were growing in the Valpolicella area some 40 million years ago, but winemaking probably came about around the 5th century BC somewhere that is now referred to as Fumane, the home of one of the most famous Amarone producers, Allegrini. This wine was referred to as Retico and came from the county of Catullus, Verona. Late in the Roman period the name Retico changed to Acinatico. Cassiodoro, a famous Italian minister to the Ostrogoth king Theodoric, has been quoted making reference to Acinato: “It has a pure and exceptional taste and a regal color, so that you may believe either that purple got its colour from the wine or that the wine is the epitome of purple. Its sweetness is of incredible gentleness, its density is accompanied by an indescribable stability and it swells over the tongue in such a way that it seems either a liquid made of solid flesh or else a drink to be eaten.”
Valpolicella, according to some accounts, means “valley of many cellars,” which seems fitting. It is derived, they say, from the Greek word poli (many) and the Latin cella (cellar). This area is approximately 27 miles long and 5 miles wide, it passes north and west of Verona, extending from the Adige River to the Cazzano Valley. Bardolino and Lake Garda lie to the west and Soave to the east. The land ranges in altitude from 490 to 1,475 feet above sea level. The vines in the classico district to the northwest of Verona, are planted on the hillsides and mountain slopes of the valleys of the Adige tributaries and the Fumane, Marano, and Negrar torrents. Some of the vineyards are terraced with stone. The cretaceous, calcareous soil is of glacial origins. And volcanic activity in this area contributed elements to the soil as well.
The area around Sant’Ambrogio is considered the heart of the Amarone production zone. Within this area, northeast of Gargagnago, is a valley called Vaio Armaron, which may have given the wine its name. The blend of grapes typically used in Valpolicella is Corvina (40%-70%), Rondinella (20%-40%), Molinara (5%-25%) and may contain up to 15% Negrara Trentina, Rossignola, Dindarella, Barbera, and/or Sangiovese. Before 1989 producers were allowed to add as much as 15% of grapes, must, or wine from outside the zone to correct problems from a weak vintage, but this practice is prohibited today. Corvina contributes color, body, bouquet, flavor, and the basic Valpolicella character to the wine. Rondinella, which is resistant to disease and rot, is added for its color and strength, tannin and vigor, it also adds some refinement to the azromas. Molinara, or Mulinara, is also known as Rossara Veronese and Rossanella, is blended in to make the wine lighter and more drinkable. It also contributes dryness and acidity, as well as that characteristic bitterness. Negrara, adds softness, freshness and early drinkability.
The first dry Amarone, according to writer Cesare Marchi, was the result of a fortunate accident. In the early 1950s, Adelino Lucchese, Bertani’s cellarmaster, discovered a barrel of wine in the cellar that had been overlooked and neglected for some time. Certain that it had spoiled he was about to discard its contents, when curiosity prompted him to take a taste just to see what had happened. He was astonished to discover that the forgotten wine had a velvety texture and a penetrating perfume, a slightly bitter taste, but not at all unpleasant. There is however evidence that the Romans made a type of bitter Recioto for diabetics or other people who couldn’t take sugar. Sandro Boscaini of Masi pointed out that some of the oldest families in Valpolicella, the Count Campostrini and Count Serego Alighieri, as well as his own produced an Amaro, a dry Recioto. This would seem to indicate that Amarone is considerably older that Marchi admits. According to another book called Valpolicella Spolendida Contea Dei Vino, written by Lamberto Paronetto, the name Amarone has been in use since the eighteenth century. It became popular at the beginning of this century and the name could very well be derived from the Italian word amaro, meaning “bitter” (scholar Scipione Maffei, writing in the first half of the eighteenth century, refers to an amaro, a dry wine from the Valpolicella area), or it could come from Vajo Armaron, where some highly regarded Amarones have been produced for ages.
All the wines from Giuseppe Quintarelli in the store on SALE!!
1997 GIUSEPPE QUINTARELLI VALPOLICELLA
Price: $325.00 Sale Price: $250.00 Quantity in Stock: 11
Juicy red and blue fruits cavort with warm baking spices, violet petals, underbrush, pressed herbs, and cherry liqueur in this captivating, balanced ’10 Valpolicella. Fine-grained tannins cling to the cheeks as this supple wine crosses the palate, releasing a sweet inner perfume and building to a mineral-laden and altogether symphonic finish. Crafted from a mélange of indigenous Veneto grape varietals chosen with Quintarelli’s legendarily strict grape selection, grapes dry for two months in the appassimento technique before pressing and fermentation. This wine ages for seven years in Slavonian oak botti before bottling, a protocol unheard of in the region but one the estate maintains to create nuanced and structured, complex Valpolicella with some appropriate maturity. An opportunity to experience Quintarelli magic at a fraction of the price of the estate's Amarone, this Valpolicella is a true “baby Amarone.”
2007 QUINTARELLI RECIOTO DELLA VALPOLICELLA 750ML
List Price: $495.00 Sale $435.60 Quantity in Stock: 1
For 100 years this small producer from the Veneto has been exporting limited quantities to the U.S. The absolute traditionalist has not changed the techniques set by his father. As those who are familiar with Quintarelli know, he creates miracles in off vintages and legends when Mother Nature shines - and in 1990, 1993 and 1995 she did just that, rivaling her efforts of 1990 and perhaps 1976 or 1985. For Giuseppe, like his father, the challenge of Recioto is a labor of love. After arrested fermentation, which provides Recioto's distinctive sweetness, this wine's vinification follows the same pattern as for the Amarone.
A bit about Romano Dal Forno
A few years ago the last day of the Vinitaly we left early to go see one of the producers that does not show his wines at the fair- Romano Dal Forno. We just happened to be doing a tasting with this producers wine in a few weeks after my return, so I was anxious to learn more about this producer from the horse’s mouth.
Although Romano’s wines have become some of the most sought after in all of Italy, there are not many people that know a lot about them, many people believe that he was a pupil of the great Giuseppe Quintarelli. Well it is true that Dal Forno is a good friend of Quintarelli and that it was Giuseppe’s passion for winemaking that inspired Romano to get into the wine business, however he never worked for Quintarelli like so many wine experts have claimed. Romano’s family had been land owners in Valpolicella for several generations and they owned vineyards, but they had always sold their grapes to other producers. Romano never went to enology school, he is a self taught winemaker, his first vintage was 1983 and over the course of the next few he quickly became one of the rising stars of this area.
His approach to making Amarone is very different from Quintarelli and collectors usually will like one or the other rather than both. Quintarelli dries his grapes for upwards of six months before crushing them. This causes the resulting wines to be rather sweet in style. Romano prefers the taste of dryer wines so he only leaves his grapes to dry for one to two months, thus the resulting wines are fairly dry in style.
When you walk down to the cellar, the stairs are made of white marble tile that has been tumbled so that the surface is not slippery, everything that Romano does is well thought out, he is a perfectionist and it shows in his cellar and in his wines. The brick work on the ceilings of the cellar is a mosaic and really makes the cellar one of the most attractive that you will encounter. The barrles are stained in the centers so you will not notice the drippings from topping off. It seems like every little detail has been thought out.
His greatest recent vintages are: 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, and the 2004 which is still in barrique. The Valpolicella is one of the most concentrated and rich that you will encounter and is rich enough that it could be mistaken for Amarone. The magical elixir, Recioto was declassified in 2003 because it failed the tasting panel from the DOC and will from this vintage on be simply entitled late harvest with the name of the vineyard, Vigna Sere. There are two tests that Valpolicella, Amarone and Recioto have to pass before they are allowed to carry the DOC title. One is a chemical analysis that measures both the sugar content and the grape varietals. The second is a physical tasting that the DOC panel conducts to ensure that the wine resembles the style of wines that are produced in this area. The Recioto in 2003 passed the chemical analysis but the tasting panel failed this wine for being to astringent, this may have angered Dal Forno as he stated that this wine will no longer be submitted for DOC status.
We were like kids in a candy store during our visit as the exuberant wine producer showed us his newest wines that were still in barrique. Romano is very passionate about his wines and you could tell that he was glad to have a group of his fans in his home to learn more about what makes this producers wines so unique.
His journey stared with the 1983 vintage and every vintage he has continued to improve his wines by making progress in the vineyard as well as developing new techniques in the winery. He began a complete renovation and expansion of the winery in 2005 and it was completed by the end of 2007 just in time for the harvest. One of the things that he stresses is cleanliness. Some producers of Amarone like to have a bit of "Noble Rot" in their wines. Romano feels that there is nothing noble about rot, therefore he goes to every extreme to ensure that there is none in his cellar. The new facility has a series of fans to circulate the air in the cellar so there is very little moisture, which is one of the largest contributors to the formation of mold in the cellar.
Any great producer will tell you that great wine is made in the vineyard and Dal Forno is no exception to this rule. Dal Forno spends a lot of time tending his vines and has planted several new acres of vines to increase the size of his production which now hovers at around 20,000 cases of the four wines.
All the wines from Dal forno Romano in the store on SALE!!
2017 DAL FORNO ROMANO VALPOLICELLA
Price: $151.50 Your Price: $133.32 Quantity in Stock: 1
(93 Points) A compact, focused red, this presents pretty violet, medicinal herb and anise notes on the nose as it slowly expands -- flavors that are more subdued at first on the palate. This is supported by dense, plushly textured tannins, flavors of mulled cherry, dark chocolate and amaro, loamy earth and smoke that are slowly revealed, gaining momentum and lingering on the long finish. Give this some air or time in the glass to allow it to shine brightest. Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina and Oseleta. Best from 2024 through 2032. Wine Spectator
2012 DAL FORNO ROMANO VALPOLICELLA
Price: $151.00 Your Price: $132.88
2012 was quite a good vintage. Excellent weather conditions persisted throughout the summertime, with high peaks of temperature but good rainfalls, allowing a consistent maturation of grapes. Unfortunately, the vineyards were hit twice by hail, resulting in less production and a need for more careful selection during the harvest time. Except for this flaw, which the winery is more or less used to dealing with every year, the trend of the vintage was even and consistent. The result is a wine with a full body and a perfect balance.
Blend: 70% Corvina and Corvina grossa, 20% Rondinella, 5% Croatina, and 5% Oseleta.
2011 DAL FORNO ROMANO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE
Price: $151.00 Your Price: $132.88
(93 Points) The 2011 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is a darkly concentrated but carefully balanced expression that only the most expert vintner can pull off with success. Consider that the dry extract is a massive 48 grams per liter. In fact, there is some minor precipitation of color matter even at this relatively young age. This wine was aged in new oak for two years (instead of the standard three years) with four years bottle (instead of three). That extra year in glass served to help the wine integrate and to reduce micro-oxygenation. The bouquet is bright and fragrant with floral notes of rose and violet that are rare to find in Valpolicella. There are faint tertiary notes as well that add to the complexity. You will find cured leather and savory spice. The finish offers enough acidity to refresh the palate, following that considerable density and thickness. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2010 DAL FORNO ROMANO VALPOLICELLA
Price: $151.50 Your Price: $133.32
(95 Points) The 2010 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is more precise and focused compared to the 2011 edition that I tasted at the estate at the same time. This was not an easy vintage in Valpolicella compared to other parts of Italy that enjoyed a classic growing season. Instead, this Northern corner of Italy suffered from heavy rains and some hail damage. Overall yields were lower as a result. But the wine sings in terms of its brightness and aromatic intensity today. The expressive bouquet covers all the bases from black fruit to spice to drying mineral or flint. All of these elements conspire to bring robust flavors together with smooth and seamless transitions. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2009 DAL FORNO ROMANO VALPOLICELLA
Price: $172.50 Your Price: $151.80 Quantity in Stock: 3
(94 Points) Built like a tank, the 2009 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is a masterful achievement. This wine shows so beautifully, especially in a warm but balanced vintage like 2009. The fruit is expressive and articulate with deep layers of blackberry preserves, dried cherry, dark chocolate, espresso bean, mesquite smoke and soy sauce. The mouthfeel is super rich and concentrated as the Dal Forno signature style would dictate. The tannic bite is still strong and this wine needs a few more years to stretch out its muscular build. I'd suggest drinking it after 2018. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2008 DAL FORNO ROMANO VALPOLICELLA
Price: $172.50 Your Price: $151.80 Quantity in Stock: 6
(93 Points) The 2008 Valpolicella Superiore hails from the famed Monte Lodoletta cru and immediately struts its stuff: It opens to huge intensity, an inky appearance and tight tannic astringency. Great care is taken to transform each berry of fruit into this dense, syrupy wine that is redolent of bitter chocolate, dried fruit, blackberry preserves, baking spice and toasted herbs. The oak tannins dry every last drop of moisture from your mouth. The blend is 70% Covina and Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta and 5% Croatina aged 36 months in barrique. This wine has a long, long way to go. Don’t even think of popping the cork for five years or more. Drink 2018-2035. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2007 DAL FORNO ROMANO VALPOLICELLA
Price: $172.50 Your Price: $151.80 Quantity in Stock: 4
(94 Points) The 2007 Valpolicella Superiore from the celebrated Monte Lodoletta vineyard is rock-tight with a midnight black appearance and aromas that emerge with fierce determination. The fascinating aromatic medley includes dark spice, prune, Spanish cedar, tar, black licorice, balsam herb and blackberry tart. The mouthfeel is plush and rich with super-tight tannins that grip nervously to the finish. It has only started its bottle evolution and requires more time to soften and develop. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2017 DAL FORNO ROMANO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA
Price: $489.00 Your Price: $430.32
(96 Points) A dark, brooding red that effortlessly marries a lovely range of kirsch, blackberry paste, dried mint and eucalyptus flavors with fine, sculpted tannins and a rich streak of minerality, showing lots of smoke, fresh earth and iron. This offers concentration and power, revealing even greater detail and expression as it opens in the glass, but at the same time this is an exercise in balance and restraint...Drink now through 2035. Wine Spectator
2009 DAL FORNO ROMANO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA
Price: $522.00 Your Price: $459.36
(99 Points) The Dal Forno family considered the idea of releasing their Amarone ten years after the harvest. If that plan had been implemented, this would be the vintage on the market now. The 2009 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta is a full and generous expression that delivers thick lines and robust flavors of dried blackberry, camphor ash, exotic cedar wood, licorice and tarry road pavement. This vintage saw average temperatures throughout the growing season with a few hailstorms along the way. Very dry weather led to some mild drought in July and August, with ensuing ripening and concentration of the clusters. I found this monumental wine to be irresistible when I first tasted it five years ago, and I consider it to have improved since then. This is one of the most complete and comprehensive vintages produced at Dal Forno, and it gives us an ample 360-degree view onto the might, brawn and potential of this icon wine from the Veneto. Its evolutionary track shows no sign of slowing down. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2008 DAL FORNO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA
Price: $600.00 Your Price: $528.00 Quantity in Stock: 2
(98 points) The 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella is compelling. With a little air, the tannins begin to soften, releasing a myriad of intense dark aromas and flavors. Bittersweet chocolate, cloves, violets, plums and blackberry jam cover every inch of the palate in a stunning, headspinning Amarone that captures all of the best qualities of the year. When Romano Dal Forno's wines are on, there is nothing quite like them, and that is certainly the case here. If opened young, the 2008 needs a little air. Actually, a lot of air. (AG) (3/2014) Vinous
2006 DAL FORNO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA
Price: $522.00 Your Price: $459.36
(96 Points) Production was skipped over in 2007 due to extreme hail damage. The fruit that would normally be destined to Amarone went to the lower tier Valpolicella Superiore instead. The 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta marks a return to a slightly cooler vintage with a longer growing season slowed down during the summer's moderate temperatures. Indeed, harvest was wrapped up during the first days of November. The blend is mostly Corvina, at about 60%, with smaller parts Corvinone, Rondinella, Croatina and Oseleta. The new Dal Forno winery was finished in 2008, complete with the unique vacuum-sealed fermentation tasks that help to avoid any intrusive oxygen during winemaking. Indeed, this wine is balanced and elegant with fruit that is still crunchy and very much alive. The tannins are firm and nicely integrated into the wine's thick, fleshy consistency. This vintage is characterized by a very elegant and graceful approach, which must be taken into context given the enormity of a wine of this caliber. Happily, there is no doubt that this vintage should still evolve steadily over time. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2004 DAL FORNO ROMANO VIGNA SERE (375ML)
Price: $237.00 Your Price: $208.56 Quantity in Stock: 2
(99 points) The 2004 Passito Rosso Vino Dolce Vigna Seré is a masterpiece that is impossible to repeat. In fact, the wine has not been produced since 2004. Even if a vintage as good as this did come along, we'd need to wait another 13 years before we could enjoy this level of maturity and evolution. Formally a Recioto della Valpolicella, this sweet red wine is made with air-dried fruit as local tradition dictates. Luckily no botrytis set in that year, because that would have eroded the wine's deep and luscious color saturation. The bouquet delivers a generous flow of dark spice, bitter chocolate, espresso, raisin, plum, barbecue spice and teriyaki smoke. The concentration and layering of the wine are both rare and distinctive. The mouthfeel sees sweet flavors with a syrupy mouthfeel. The finish offers hints of caramelized brown sugar and savory hickory. The aging window is impossible to predict, but the wine is surely built to last. I can think of no other wine that comes close to matching this unique style. (ML) (5/2017) Wine Advocate
back