Giuseppe Quintarelli "Alzero" Cabernet 2011 [1.5L MAGNUM]
(Veneto, Italy) - [VM 94]

About the Wine:
Alzero is one of the hardest wines to find from Quintarelli and like his Amarones, can be counted among the greatest wines of Italy. The wine is made in almost the same way as his Amarones in that this is 100% appassimento. The grapes are harvested and then left to dry until mid-December, then crushed and fermented in the usual way. The wine spends the same amount of time in barrel as the Amarones, but part of that time is spent in French oak, then transferred to large Slavonian oak casks.  The main difference between Alzero and the Amarone is that this is made from Cabernet Franc (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and Merlot (20%), but make no mistake, this is not a 'me too' Super Tuscan or Bordeaux/Napa style wine by any measure. This is a Quintarelli wine, and that means no compromise, no wavering from their 'tradition-or-die' philosophy.

Vinification & Viticulture:
• Harvested before most other grapes, at the end of August and beginning of September
• Careful selection of grapes during harvest
• After harvest, grapes sit in wooden boxes or on rush mats
• Dried grapes are pressed in mid-December
• Grapes are pressed and after 20 days of maceration, alcoholic fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts
• Fermentation lasts approximately 50 days
• Wine is then aged in French barrels for two or three years, then racked into Slavonian oak barrels for four more years
• During this aging process, additional alcoholic fermentations take place

Tasting Notes

The aromatics continue the theme of the Amarone with notes of camphor, woodlands, liqueur cherries, perhaps with the tobacco more to the fore, then supported with spicy, leafy notes.

Varietal Composition: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot
Age of the Vines: 30 years average
Soil: Limestone and Basalt

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2011 Alzero Cabernet is a bit backward today, displaying mocha-infused black and red currants offset by hints of sour citrus and animal musk, plus a dusty floral and incense component that is not quite ready to come into the foreground. It’s velvety in feel yet medium in body, showing tart wild berries and exotic inner spices, all framed by a core of vibrant acidity. For all of its primary intensity, the 2011 maintains balance, leaving a glycerol-like coating of tart cherry and blackberry under an air of tobacco and sweet herbs. There’s a lot of immediate pleasure to be found within the 2011, but it should also excel over medium-term cellaring. With grapes dried through appassimento, the Alzero is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot." - Eric Guido (2/2021)