Giuseppe Quintarelli – Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2004 – Veneto Italy

Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2004 is a rare, mature release from one of Veneto’s benchmark traditional producers. Built through Quintarelli’s long, patient cellar regimen—including a second fermentation with Amarone lees and extended aging in large Slavonian oak—it is a serious, savory Valpolicella with remarkable depth and longevity.

🍷 At a Glance

• Grapes: 55% Corvina and Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Nebbiolo, Croatina and Sangiovese
• Region: Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Veneto, Italy
• Vintage: 2004
• Vine Age: Approximately 30 years
• Vineyard Area: 11 hectares
• Soil: Limestone and basalt
• Vinification: Indigenous-yeast fermentation followed by a second fermentation with Amarone lees
• Aging: Seven years in large Slavonian oak barrels
• Style: Dry, mature, traditionally styled red wine

👃 Tasting Notes & Experience

• Fruit: Mature cherry and red-fruit tones
• Savory: Spice, dried herbs and evolved tertiary complexity
• Structure: Dry, balanced and traditionally austere, with a gently bitter savory edge on the finish

The 2004 combines mature fruit with the earthy, spiced character expected from long-aged Valpolicella. Its extended élevage gives the wine a composed, layered profile rather than simple fruit-forward richness.

❤️ Why We Love It

• A mature vintage from one of Veneto’s most revered traditional estates
• Seven years of Slavonian-oak aging gives unusual depth for Valpolicella
• Quintarelli’s ripasso-based cellar method adds structure and complexity without turning the wine into Amarone

🍽️ Food Pairing Ideas

• Braised beef or veal
• Osso buco and slow-cooked game
• Roast poultry with herbs
• Aged Parmigiano Reggiano or other firm cheeses

👤 Who This Wine Is For

✓ Collectors of mature, traditionally made Italian reds
✓ Drinkers who value savory complexity and tertiary development
✓ Fans of Quintarelli seeking a distinctive expression below Amarone
✕ Not ideal if you prefer young, fruit-forward or lightly structured reds