KERMIT LYNCH® Giuseppe Quintarelli Rosso Ca’ del Merlo 2012 [3.0L MAGNUM] (Veneto, Italy) – 6045876191391

About the Winery:
The late, great Maestro del Veneto, Giuseppe Quintarelli, fondly known as “Bepi” to those closest to him, was a perfectionist in every way. From the beautiful handwritten labels, to the best possible quality cork, to the exquisite wine in the bottles, the Quintarelli name is a stamp of authenticity and the ultimate indication of an artisanal, handmade, uncompromising wine of the highest quality. Over the course of an amazing sixty-year career, he succeeded in establishing his legendary estate. Today, the winery continues under the guidance of grandsons Francesco and Lorenzo, still producing artisanal, handmade, uncompromising wines of the highest quality. 

Quintarelli is considered the father of Amarone, with an ancient history that dates back to the early 1900s in Negrar, the epicenter of Valpolicella, where between 12 hectares of vineyards and with the utmost respect for tradition, about 50,000 bottles a year are produced. The property grows Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, plus small amounts of Sangiovese, Oseleta, Croatina and Saorin, the latter an ancient local white variety that they are looking to propagate with the help of the local nursery. The average age of the vines is roughly 25 years old, resulting from the combination of recently planted young vineyards that are only 7-8 years old and others that are about fifty years old.

Winery Notes:
A single vineyard bottling. Grapes are pressed immediately after harvest. After 3-4 days of maceration, primary fermentation starts with indigenous yeasts. Wine is racked and then sits until February. When is racked on to the lees of the Amarone which starts a second alcoholic fermentation (this process is called ripasso). After this fermentation, the wine is racked into large Slavonian oak barrels for seven years.

A ripasso-styled wine, the process for this red is the same as that for the Valpolicella. The additions of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Croatina in this bottling make it a more fruit-driven counterpart to the earthy, spicy Valpolicella.

Technical Details:
Vine Age: 30 years average
Soil Type: Limestone and Basalt
Production Area: 11 ha total
Blend: 55% Corvina and Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Croatina, Sangiovese

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:
“The 2012 Secco Ca’ del Merlo shows a light and luminous appearance with elegant tones of crushed mineral, flint and talc powder. There’s a hint of natural rubber followed by fresh tones of peach, apricot and dried garden herb. The close is fresh and super-crisp. Drink 2014-2016.” – Monica Larner (Oct 2013)