1997 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo Veneto IGT - Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT (6/8/2006)

My favorite Italian wine at Sams Preferred customer tasting yesterday. 1997 was a top vintage and other than Romano del Forno, the wines of Guiseppe Quintarelli are without an equal in the Veneto. The name Cà del Merlo means house of the blackbird. Qualitatively, it falls between a Valpolicella and an Amarone and the price reflects that (about $70).

This wine is the same Corvina blend used in the Valpolicella but a higher percentage of dried grapes are used adding more concentration and richness to the wine. The ripasso winemaking method is also employed with this wine. Ripe red fruit core. Some chocolate and tobacco notes were also present giving this wine a nice deep texture. Medium to full bodied. I liked this better than my wife did. 91-93 points.

VM

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Vino Me,

quote:

Originally posted by Vino Me:
I like this better than my wife.

You might want to keep that to yourself.

Thanks. I fixed it to eliminate the extra meaning.

VM

better now

Whew, I was getting worried!