Community Tasting Note

• JohnMcIlwain Likes this wine:

  June 10, 2021 - With a pan-roasted veal chop and morels. I thought I had a couple of 2004 or 2005 Primofiore left in the wine fridge, but found 1999 Valpolicella instead. Given I was in a Quintarelli mood, I gave this a quick decant. The nose took a bit of coaxing, but dried cherries, spice, cafe au lait, and balsam notes emerge. The wine is rich and concentrated (and a broad 15 degrees alcohol), with loads of spice, red plum, dried cherry, and menthol notes dancing across the ripe, concentrated palate. Signore Quintarelli didn’t release an Amarone only Rosso del Bepe in 1999 and it isn’t hard to imagine some of what would have been the big wine having made its way into the “humble” Valpolicella or Rosso Ca’ del Merlo. The wine is delicious, if a bit zaftig for what’s on the plate, but a hunk of Vacche Rosso Parmigiana awaits, so there’s hope. As for the veal and morels, I suspect Primofiore would have been a prettier and more felicitous selection. And given that I have a couple of the Valpolicella remaining, perhaps Fall, polenta, short ribs, and porcini will prove more rewarding. And should you have a bottle, the structure is resolving nicely, but this shares more with Amarone than your typical Valpolicella, so plan your meal accordingly.

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2 Comments

• bugdoced commented:

  6/25/21, 7:30 AM - always liked felicitous
  will try and use it a little more
  cheers

• JohnMcIlwain commented:

  6/25/21, 8:00 AM - Thanks. It’s a handy word at times. Cheers!

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