2001 Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Quintarelli

Quintarelli's wines remain at the top of the Valpolicella tree; the yardstick by which all Valpolicella producers gauge their wines.  None more so than this sensual, dry 'Ripasso' wine, which represents a lighter, more approachable form of Amarone, whereby Valpolicella Classico wine is added to Valpolicella Amarone marc in the spring following the harvest to induce a second ferment & an extra roll of succulence.  Crucially the wines then mellow for 7 years in large Slavonian oak before reappearing as a heavenly herbal weave of black, chicory & chocolately fruit, stemming from a blend of 50% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and 25% Cabernet, Nebbiolo, Croatina and Sangiovese.  And to cap it all, this wine's from the excellent and only recently released (!) 2001 vintage.  A truly brilliant accompaniment to almost any meat dish, but I'd opt for guinea fowl.
(David Berry Green - BB&R Italian Buyer)