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1997 Amarone Horisontal + Quintarelli
Copenhagen
Tasted October 20, 2017 by canan with 380 views
Introduction
A tasting to show as many Amarone's from the excellent 1997 vintage mixed with some fresh Champagnes and finishing with the Master of Amarone, Quintarelli.
Flight 1 (1 note)
White - Sparkling
2008 Maurice Vesselle Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé
90 points
Lovely and vibrant wine with yeast and freshly baked bread. Lots of green apple fruit.
The acidity is nice and fits well with the vintage profile. Tasted from MG.
The acidity is nice and fits well with the vintage profile. Tasted from MG.
Flight 2 (3 notes)
Red
1995 Romano Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta
90 points
Light plum-like fruit with a touch of sewer and cabbage. Seems to be well balanced and had started its decline. Lovely none the less but not as good as other vintages.
There were some discussions about this being corked and based on the other notes on cellartracker it could be correct but when tasting it, it just seemed old to me and not corked.
There were some discussions about this being corked and based on the other notes on cellartracker it could be correct but when tasting it, it just seemed old to me and not corked.
Red
1998 Romano Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta
92 points
Juicy dark plum and cherry fruit with a solid structure. Delicious and very drinkable with lots of vanilla and a creamy feel to it.
Drinking very well right now! 92-93p
Drinking very well right now! 92-93p
Red
1999 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore
92 points
Lovely light, fresh and vibrant cherry fruit. Still seems very young in the fruit but is also open for business and are drinking very well.
Has a lovely intensity that is adorable and really makes this wine something special. 92-93p
Has a lovely intensity that is adorable and really makes this wine something special. 92-93p
Flight 3 (3 notes)
Red
2004 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Serègo Alighieri Vaio Armaron
90 points
Dark and dense. Dark sweet cherries and harsh young tannins. Unstructured and alcoholic. Just seems unresolved and needs more time.
Red
1997 Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Il Bosco
93 points
Sweet and juicy dark raspberry fruit. Lovely mature and fresh wine with lots of vanilla, manure and sewer. Very well integrated alcohol and a solid overall balance.
The fruit still has a dried touch and could actually improve but it tastes really nice right now.
The fruit still has a dried touch and could actually improve but it tastes really nice right now.
Red
1990 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Serègo Alighieri Vaio Armaron
91 points
Lots of sewer and other well-developed flavors. Surprisingly, it still has some fruit left and is quite impressive. 91-92p
Flight 4 (4 notes)
Red
1997 Brunelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
92 points
Still has a compact cherry fruit but also some sewer and other mature flavors.
Very juicy and drinkable but also still quite dense. The alcohol does seem to dominate just a little bit.
Very juicy and drinkable but also still quite dense. The alcohol does seem to dominate just a little bit.
Red
1997 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
flawed
I had really hoped for finally being able to taste this again and were expecting big things but the nose had cabbage and the flavors were muted.
Red
1997 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
94 points
Dense, but fresh, dried and dark cherry fruit flavors. Huge acidity and overall balance and it is just drinking very nicely.
Very impressive and mature wine but can still keep for some time. Very impressive!
Very impressive and mature wine but can still keep for some time. Very impressive!
Flight 5 (2 notes)
White - Sparkling
2008 Moët & Chandon Champagne Grand Vintage
90 points
Fresh and lively acidity with mostly red apple flavor. Quite sweet and good balance but it does appear to be a little bit generic.
It was however still very nice for this price point.
It was however still very nice for this price point.
White - Sparkling
2008 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Bechalin
93 points
Lovely and almost electric acidity with lots of red apple fruit and yeast.
A complex and floral wine with a very serious touch. Could certainly improve with additional age.
A complex and floral wine with a very serious touch. Could certainly improve with additional age.
Flight 6 (3 notes)
Red
1997 Brunelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campo del Tìtari
93 points
Very harsh structure with lot so dark dried fruit. A little bit reluctant to open up and has some coal and smokyness with a touch of coffee also.
Surprisingly, there is some minerals also and overall, it is still a very young and potent wine. Highly impressive.
Surprisingly, there is some minerals also and overall, it is still a very young and potent wine. Highly impressive.
Red
1997 Aldegheri Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva
93 points
Huge and intense dark cherry fruit. Very sweet marinated cherries but also with a huge acidity that really promises a longer life.
The alcohol is slightly dominating but it is still very impressive and should perhaps be kept for a lot longer to achieve a better balance.
The alcohol is slightly dominating but it is still very impressive and should perhaps be kept for a lot longer to achieve a better balance.
Red
1995 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva
95 points
A beautiful floral and completely open wine. Has a touch of sewer but in a good way and also elegant and refreshing light cherry/raspberry fruit.
A stunning wine!
A stunning wine!
Flight 7 (3 notes)
Red
1997 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe
94 points
Lovely and impressive intensity but it is still also slightly closed and still appear very rustic.
Needs more time to really open up and show its full range. Still, an impressive wine.
Needs more time to really open up and show its full range. Still, an impressive wine.
Red
1997 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Tb Vigneto Alto
96 points
Dense and compact sweet dark plum fruit. Very sweet actually :-)
Still, the wine appears open and lush with plenty of freshness and drinkability. Has a lovely touch of rose petals which is almost mind-blowing that it can exist next to some much sweetness and fruit.
Even though it is packed with impressions and flavor, it is still very easy to drink and has a touch of lightness to it.
This is truly an impressive and very sexy wine. It is certainly quite sweet but in a very charming way, that you either love or hate. I LOVED it!
Still, the wine appears open and lush with plenty of freshness and drinkability. Has a lovely touch of rose petals which is almost mind-blowing that it can exist next to some much sweetness and fruit.
Even though it is packed with impressions and flavor, it is still very easy to drink and has a touch of lightness to it.
This is truly an impressive and very sexy wine. It is certainly quite sweet but in a very charming way, that you either love or hate. I LOVED it!
Red
1999 Giuseppe Quintarelli Rosso del Bepi Veneto IGT
96 points
Slightly rustic in style compared to the Bussola TB VA next to it.
There is clearly the expected Quintarelli VA present but not in any kind of bad way.
Packed with light and very intense sweet cherry fruit. The complexity is very impressive which really lifts this wine to a high level.
Hugely impressive wine that has kept improving over the last 5-10 years. Amazing wine that I just adored.
There is clearly the expected Quintarelli VA present but not in any kind of bad way.
Packed with light and very intense sweet cherry fruit. The complexity is very impressive which really lifts this wine to a high level.
Hugely impressive wine that has kept improving over the last 5-10 years. Amazing wine that I just adored.
Flight 8 (2 notes)
White - Sparkling
2009 Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Nature Cuvée Starck
93 points
Lots of red apple fruit but also a piercing acidity with a lovely bitter touch in the aftertaste.
Very lovely wine but should age a bit more to allow it to settle down a little bit.
Very lovely wine but should age a bit more to allow it to settle down a little bit.
White - Sparkling
2009 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut
96 points
Huge acidity and bitterness with a very intense flavor of green apples.
Beautiful and just outstanding wine. Drinking very nicely now but will improve a lot in the near term.
Beautiful and just outstanding wine. Drinking very nicely now but will improve a lot in the near term.
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Flight 9 (3 notes)
Red
2007 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
95 points
Light and elegant cherry fruit but still in a concentrated style.
The fruit is impressively intense and there are even some black currant bush and red gooseberries.
Very nice wine but clearly a different style than the old Quintarelli wines.
The fruit is impressively intense and there are even some black currant bush and red gooseberries.
Very nice wine but clearly a different style than the old Quintarelli wines.
Red
1995 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
97 points
Juicy and sexy sweet cherry fruit. Insanely complex and even though it is fairly sweet it is still kept in a lovely and very impressive balance by the huge acidity.
Very easy to drink and is just a crazy and stunning wine. I simply adored it!
Very easy to drink and is just a crazy and stunning wine. I simply adored it!
Red
1990 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
97 points
Slighly oxidized of sewer with lots of VA but not in a bad way. The fruit is very intense sweet cherries and it has a lovely creamy and airy feel to it.
Lots of complexity like coffee, vanilla and oak. Despite all the intensity and complexity it is still very light and easy to drink. A mind-blowing wine!!
Lots of complexity like coffee, vanilla and oak. Despite all the intensity and complexity it is still very light and easy to drink. A mind-blowing wine!!
Flight 10 (1 note)
Red - Fortified
1952 Niepoort Porto Colheita
96 points
Charming and still some elegant fruit left. Lovely touch of vanilla and a huge acicity.
Overall, just a beautiful wine that was a pleasure to try.
The bottling date was not possible to determine but the cork and vax was perfect. Assumed to be bottled in 1980s. (2 views)
Overall, just a beautiful wine that was a pleasure to try.
The bottling date was not possible to determine but the cork and vax was perfect. Assumed to be bottled in 1980s. (2 views)
Flight 11 (1 note)
White - Sparkling
1996 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons
96 points
A very impressive green apple acidity and even though it shows some aged fruit it also feels very young.
The acidity is vibrant and powerful and in general just a very impressive wine.
It is a very impressive wine and are really showing exceptional quality in this vintage. A great pleasure to drink this wine!
From MG!
The acidity is vibrant and powerful and in general just a very impressive wine.
It is a very impressive wine and are really showing exceptional quality in this vintage. A great pleasure to drink this wine!
From MG!
Closing
Overall, the wines showed that the 97 vintage is, as expected, huge for Amarone and while some wines were drinking perfectly now, others were still starting to loose their concentrated nature.
Personally, I prefer the Amarone's to loose their dried fruit structure because they start to really open up for the fruit and more complex flavors.
The Quintarelli wines at the end just showed that he certainly was the undisputed master of the Amarone wines. At least in my opinion.