2015 Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva
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| Type of Wine | |
|---|---|
| Country | Italy |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Grape | , , , , |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (16%) |
| Drink window | 2026 - 2050 |
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Description
Giuseppe Quintarelli Winery
Giuseppe Quintarelli is one of Valpolicella's absolute benchmarks and considered one of the founders of modern Amarone. The estate works exclusively with its own vineyards and employs a highly traditional approach, with long appassimento, slow fermentation, and very prolonged aging. The style focuses on concentration, balance, and aging potential, without compromising on pace or volume. Today, the estate is family-run, maintaining its classic vision and placing increasing emphasis on precision and purity.
More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.
Region, climate and location
The vineyards are located in the Valpolicella Classico zone, north of Verona. This area is characterized by hills with limestone and basalt soils and a temperate continental climate. The 2015 vintage experienced a warm and sunny growing season, resulting in perfectly ripe grapes with high concentration. At the same time, sufficient freshness was retained, essential for the balance of a powerful Amarone Riserva.
Amarone Riserva within the estate
The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is produced only in exceptional years and represents the estate's most concentrated and long-lived expression. This wine ages considerably longer than regular Amarone and is only released when its structure and balance allow. The 2015 vintage was not released until late 2024, after years of aging in barrel and bottle.
Vineyards
The grapes come from approximately 11 hectares of our own vineyards on limestone and basalt soils. These soils contribute to tension, structure, and aromatic depth. The low yields and careful selection are essential for the concentration required for an Amarone Riserva of this caliber.
Grape varieties and composition
The blend consists primarily of Corvina and Corvinone, supplemented with Rondinella. This classic combination forms the backbone of Quintarelli's Amarone style. Corvina and Corvinone provide structure, cherry notes, and acidity, while Rondinella contributes spice and aromatic breadth.
Harvest
The grapes are harvested by hand and then dried for several months using the traditional appassimento method. The bunches dry in crates, on bamboo racks, and in traditional trecce drying. During this process, the grapes lose a significant amount of their moisture, leading to the concentration of sugars, aromas, and extract.
Vinification
After drying, a slow fermentation with natural yeasts follows. The extraction is gradual and controlled, focusing on depth and structure without rough edges. The alcohol content reaches 16.5 percent, with modest residual sugar that contributes to volume and texture without overpowering the sweetness.
Maturation
The wine is aged for years in large oak barrels, followed by extended bottle aging. This approach ensures the integration of alcohol, tannins, and extract. Maturation is essential for developing complexity and balance in a wine of this intensity.
Color, smell and taste
The color is deep and opaque ruby red. The aroma is dominated by notes of dried plum, candied cherry, cigar box, spices, and brandy-like fruit, complemented by floral nuances and earthy notes. On the palate, the wine is powerful and compact, with enormous concentration but also a striking freshness. The structure is firm and fine-grained, with a long, layered finish in which licorice, plum peel, and spices slowly fade.
Development and drinking window
This Amarone Riserva is clearly designed for very long aging and will continue to develop over several decades. Since this wine is over 15 years old, wine is a natural product and aging can vary from bottle to bottle. The drinking window is roughly between 2026 and 2060, and patience will be richly rewarded.
Summary of professional reviews
Monica Larner awarded the wine 97+ points, emphasizing its intensity, texture, and compact structure, with great confidence in its long bottle aging. Eric Guido awarded the wine 98 points, praising the combination of depth, freshness, and refined tannins, a striking blend of power and elegance. Both reviewers consider the 2015 vintage an exceptional one for Quintarelli's Amarone Riserva.
The full review texts can be found in the Professional Reviews tab.
If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you this information when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.
You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.
Wine and food pairings
- Deer calf with cocoa and spices, where the concentration and depth of the wine are fully appreciated.
- Slow-cooked beef skewer with spicy gravy and celeriac, matching the structure and length.
- Wild boar stew with bay leaves and juniper berries, which enhances the earthy and spicy notes.
- Risotto with porcini and aged Parmesan, which supports the umami and layering.
- Roasted beetroot with mushrooms and hazelnut, which respects the earthy components.
Specifications
| Packing information | Box |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Veneto |
| Appellation | Amarone della Valpolicella |
| Winery | Quintarelli |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon, Corvina, Nebbiolo, Rondinella, Sangiovese |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Drinking as of | 2026 |
| Drinking till | 2050 |
| Alcohol % | 16 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 98 |
| Vinous rating | 98 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Fruitig, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Kruidig, Rood fruit, Soepel, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard, Romantisch |
| Sommy Pairing Beschrijving | De 2015 Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is een rijke en krachtige wijn met diepe smaaktonen van gedroogde pruim, gekonfijte kers en subtiele kruiden, aangevuld met florale en aardse nuances. Door zijn geconcentreerde structuur en zachte, rijpe tannines past deze wijn perfect bij gerechten met een stevige en langzaam gegaarde bereidingswijze, zoals rundersukade of wildstoof, omdat de wijn de volle smaak en de kruidige en aardse elementen van de gerechten aanvult. Vooral gerechten die met zorg en lang op lage temperatuur zijn bereid, zoals een slow-cooked wildzwijnstoof of een smaakvolle risotto met porcini en oude Parmezaan, versterken de harmonie tussen wijn en spijs en zorgen voor een onvergetelijke ervaring. |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 97+
Reviewed by:
Monica Larner
Release Price:
$700
Drink Date:
2026 - 2060
Made primarily with a blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, the Quintarelli Giuseppe 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva has been in bottle since November 2023 (and was released at the end of 2024). This is a wine of impact and intensity, with the textural heft and richness to match. This warm and sunny vintage delivers aromas of dried plum, sweet cigar, spice and brandied cherry. In terms of structure, the wine remains quite firm and compact, and this bodes especially well for its future bottle evolution. The alcohol content is recorded at 16.5%, and the 2015 vintage carries three to four grams per liter of residual sugar that adds a lasting sense of volume and depth to the finish.
I always try to schedule my tasting trips to Valpolicella during appassimento, or when harvested fruit is left to air-dry in specially ventilated hangars. The fruit loses much of its water mass during the process, thus increasing flavors, concentration and alcohol. Of the many estates I regularly visit, Giuseppe Quintarelli is among my favorites because of the traditional approach taken. There is one hangar dedicated to grapes drying in plastic crates, and on the other side of the winery, there is a second hangar with grapes carefully laid out on bamboo racks. You also see the celebrated trecce, or "braids," of grapes hung from a ceiling rafter. Each braid weighs 30 kilograms. It is such a beautiful site.
While visiting the Giuseppe Quintarelli winery with its cramped spaces and dark corners, I tasted with grandsons Lorenzo and Francesco in the very same tasting room I first visited 20 years ago with the master himself.
Carved oak botte stand outside the tasting room. One shows an enormous peacock, a symbol of purity, and around it are symbols of the family and their vineyards. The Giuseppe Quintarelli estate counts 11 hectares of vines on limestone and basalt soils. Annual production is 60,000 bottles. Only estate fruit is used, although extra fruit is purchased in some years if there is an emergency such as significant hail.
Published: Dec 05, 2024
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
98
Drinking Window
2025 - 2038
From: Veneto Rising: Amarone, Soave and Beyond (Sep 2025)
The 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is classic Quintarelli to the core, with a vibrant cascade of exotic spices, dried flowers, citrus peels and fresh crushed cherries forming its seductive bouquet. Juicy in feel yet deep and complex, it sweeps across the palate with ripe wildberry fruits elevated by a whiplash of electric acidity as violet inner florals arc across the senses. Long and staining but also impossibly fresh, the 2015 leaves a web of fine-grained tannins as hints of plum skin and licorice slowly fade. This is a rockstar.
- By Eric Guido on September 2025
After a short window of uncertainty, the Quintarelli wines have decidedly reached a new level. There was a magic to these wines under the late Giuseppe Quintarelli and his oenologist, Roberto Ferrarini, but over the past 14 years, the family has worked to create a new style centered on purity and elegance. For a period, the wines were very good and technically correct, but they were missing that old magic.
My recent tastings—particularly my preview of the 2015 Amarone Riserva, 2017 Alzero and 2018 Amarone—fully assured me that the current winemaking team is operating at full tilt. To be clear, the "magic" of the past could be described as “pleasurable rusticity.” These wines no longer show that rustic edge, which has been supplanted by a mix of refinement, purity, finesse and depth that I associate with the greatest wines in the world. I will always love older vintages of Quintarelli, and while the modern-day wines may be different, they are equally captivating.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Wijnhuis
The shy and calm elderly man, Giuseppe Quintarelli, is THE frame of reference for winemakers from the Valpolicella. Born and raised in Cerè, he has been running the family business since 1954, which dates back to 1924. For the last 10 years, he has been assisted by his cousin Marco. This house presents very traditionally made wines, with those ever so recognizable, unique handwritten labels. Its red wines age for an unprecedented length (6 to 7 years) in barrels of Slovenian oak, except for the cuvee 'Alzero', which undergoes aging on barriques. Our traditional flavors and methods must be cherished and not forgotten. Above all, we cannot force nature. We need to keep calm, be patient, use the right techniques and have a lot of passion. " These words symbolize the philosophy of the most famous Veneto producer. Quintarelli wines are very complex and are without doubt one of the greatest wines in all of Italy. Icon wines that without any marketing have made it to the most sought after wines in the world, the ultimate 'wanna haves' for collectors, on wine lists in the best restaurants even rare, almost mythical in reputation.
In the years leading up to 'Bepi' Giuseppe Quintarelli's death in 2012 from Parkinson's disease, there was much confusion about the ups and downs of this absolute top wine house. Giuseppe Quintarelli had been ill for a long time, but his relatives (four daughters and a lot of grandchildren) started a new chapter more than a year after his death. Quintarelli's heirs Francesco and Lorenzo (both grandsons) now manage together with Giampaolo (son-in-law) and continue to focus on providing only top quality. The 2006 Amarone was only released in late 2015 and is among the very best Amarone's available.
Giuseppe Quintarelli Winery
Giuseppe Quintarelli is one of Valpolicella's absolute benchmarks and considered one of the founders of modern Amarone. The estate works exclusively with its own vineyards and employs a highly traditional approach, with long appassimento, slow fermentation, and very prolonged aging. The style focuses on concentration, balance, and aging potential, without compromising on pace or volume. Today, the estate is family-run, maintaining its classic vision and placing increasing emphasis on precision and purity.
More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.
Region, climate and location
The vineyards are located in the Valpolicella Classico zone, north of Verona. This area is characterized by hills with limestone and basalt soils and a temperate continental climate. The 2015 vintage experienced a warm and sunny growing season, resulting in perfectly ripe grapes with high concentration. At the same time, sufficient freshness was retained, essential for the balance of a powerful Amarone Riserva.
Amarone Riserva within the estate
The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is produced only in exceptional years and represents the estate's most concentrated and long-lived expression. This wine ages considerably longer than regular Amarone and is only released when its structure and balance allow. The 2015 vintage was not released until late 2024, after years of aging in barrel and bottle.
Vineyards
The grapes come from approximately 11 hectares of our own vineyards on limestone and basalt soils. These soils contribute to tension, structure, and aromatic depth. The low yields and careful selection are essential for the concentration required for an Amarone Riserva of this caliber.
Grape varieties and composition
The blend consists primarily of Corvina and Corvinone, supplemented with Rondinella. This classic combination forms the backbone of Quintarelli's Amarone style. Corvina and Corvinone provide structure, cherry notes, and acidity, while Rondinella contributes spice and aromatic breadth.
Harvest
The grapes are harvested by hand and then dried for several months using the traditional appassimento method. The bunches dry in crates, on bamboo racks, and in traditional trecce drying. During this process, the grapes lose a significant amount of their moisture, leading to the concentration of sugars, aromas, and extract.
Vinification
After drying, a slow fermentation with natural yeasts follows. The extraction is gradual and controlled, focusing on depth and structure without rough edges. The alcohol content reaches 16.5 percent, with modest residual sugar that contributes to volume and texture without overpowering the sweetness.
Maturation
The wine is aged for years in large oak barrels, followed by extended bottle aging. This approach ensures the integration of alcohol, tannins, and extract. Maturation is essential for developing complexity and balance in a wine of this intensity.
Color, smell and taste
The color is deep and opaque ruby red. The aroma is dominated by notes of dried plum, candied cherry, cigar box, spices, and brandy-like fruit, complemented by floral nuances and earthy notes. On the palate, the wine is powerful and compact, with enormous concentration but also a striking freshness. The structure is firm and fine-grained, with a long, layered finish in which licorice, plum peel, and spices slowly fade.
Development and drinking window
This Amarone Riserva is clearly designed for very long aging and will continue to develop over several decades. Since this wine is over 15 years old, wine is a natural product and aging can vary from bottle to bottle. The drinking window is roughly between 2026 and 2060, and patience will be richly rewarded.
Summary of professional reviews
Monica Larner awarded the wine 97+ points, emphasizing its intensity, texture, and compact structure, with great confidence in its long bottle aging. Eric Guido awarded the wine 98 points, praising the combination of depth, freshness, and refined tannins, a striking blend of power and elegance. Both reviewers consider the 2015 vintage an exceptional one for Quintarelli's Amarone Riserva.
The full review texts can be found in the Professional Reviews tab.
If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you this information when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.
You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.
Wine and food pairings
- Deer calf with cocoa and spices, where the concentration and depth of the wine are fully appreciated.
- Slow-cooked beef skewer with spicy gravy and celeriac, matching the structure and length.
- Wild boar stew with bay leaves and juniper berries, which enhances the earthy and spicy notes.
- Risotto with porcini and aged Parmesan, which supports the umami and layering.
- Roasted beetroot with mushrooms and hazelnut, which respects the earthy components.
| Packing information | Box |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Veneto |
| Appellation | Amarone della Valpolicella |
| Winery | Quintarelli |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon, Corvina, Nebbiolo, Rondinella, Sangiovese |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Drinking as of | 2026 |
| Drinking till | 2050 |
| Alcohol % | 16 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 98 |
| Vinous rating | 98 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Fruitig, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Kruidig, Rood fruit, Soepel, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard, Romantisch |
| Sommy Pairing Beschrijving | De 2015 Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is een rijke en krachtige wijn met diepe smaaktonen van gedroogde pruim, gekonfijte kers en subtiele kruiden, aangevuld met florale en aardse nuances. Door zijn geconcentreerde structuur en zachte, rijpe tannines past deze wijn perfect bij gerechten met een stevige en langzaam gegaarde bereidingswijze, zoals rundersukade of wildstoof, omdat de wijn de volle smaak en de kruidige en aardse elementen van de gerechten aanvult. Vooral gerechten die met zorg en lang op lage temperatuur zijn bereid, zoals een slow-cooked wildzwijnstoof of een smaakvolle risotto met porcini en oude Parmezaan, versterken de harmonie tussen wijn en spijs en zorgen voor een onvergetelijke ervaring. |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 97+
Reviewed by:
Monica Larner
Release Price:
$700
Drink Date:
2026 - 2060
Made primarily with a blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, the Quintarelli Giuseppe 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva has been in bottle since November 2023 (and was released at the end of 2024). This is a wine of impact and intensity, with the textural heft and richness to match. This warm and sunny vintage delivers aromas of dried plum, sweet cigar, spice and brandied cherry. In terms of structure, the wine remains quite firm and compact, and this bodes especially well for its future bottle evolution. The alcohol content is recorded at 16.5%, and the 2015 vintage carries three to four grams per liter of residual sugar that adds a lasting sense of volume and depth to the finish.
I always try to schedule my tasting trips to Valpolicella during appassimento, or when harvested fruit is left to air-dry in specially ventilated hangars. The fruit loses much of its water mass during the process, thus increasing flavors, concentration and alcohol. Of the many estates I regularly visit, Giuseppe Quintarelli is among my favorites because of the traditional approach taken. There is one hangar dedicated to grapes drying in plastic crates, and on the other side of the winery, there is a second hangar with grapes carefully laid out on bamboo racks. You also see the celebrated trecce, or "braids," of grapes hung from a ceiling rafter. Each braid weighs 30 kilograms. It is such a beautiful site.
While visiting the Giuseppe Quintarelli winery with its cramped spaces and dark corners, I tasted with grandsons Lorenzo and Francesco in the very same tasting room I first visited 20 years ago with the master himself.
Carved oak botte stand outside the tasting room. One shows an enormous peacock, a symbol of purity, and around it are symbols of the family and their vineyards. The Giuseppe Quintarelli estate counts 11 hectares of vines on limestone and basalt soils. Annual production is 60,000 bottles. Only estate fruit is used, although extra fruit is purchased in some years if there is an emergency such as significant hail.
Published: Dec 05, 2024
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
98
Drinking Window
2025 - 2038
From: Veneto Rising: Amarone, Soave and Beyond (Sep 2025)
The 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is classic Quintarelli to the core, with a vibrant cascade of exotic spices, dried flowers, citrus peels and fresh crushed cherries forming its seductive bouquet. Juicy in feel yet deep and complex, it sweeps across the palate with ripe wildberry fruits elevated by a whiplash of electric acidity as violet inner florals arc across the senses. Long and staining but also impossibly fresh, the 2015 leaves a web of fine-grained tannins as hints of plum skin and licorice slowly fade. This is a rockstar.
- By Eric Guido on September 2025
After a short window of uncertainty, the Quintarelli wines have decidedly reached a new level. There was a magic to these wines under the late Giuseppe Quintarelli and his oenologist, Roberto Ferrarini, but over the past 14 years, the family has worked to create a new style centered on purity and elegance. For a period, the wines were very good and technically correct, but they were missing that old magic.
My recent tastings—particularly my preview of the 2015 Amarone Riserva, 2017 Alzero and 2018 Amarone—fully assured me that the current winemaking team is operating at full tilt. To be clear, the "magic" of the past could be described as “pleasurable rusticity.” These wines no longer show that rustic edge, which has been supplanted by a mix of refinement, purity, finesse and depth that I associate with the greatest wines in the world. I will always love older vintages of Quintarelli, and while the modern-day wines may be different, they are equally captivating.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
The shy and calm elderly man, Giuseppe Quintarelli, is THE frame of reference for winemakers from the Valpolicella. Born and raised in Cerè, he has been running the family business since 1954, which dates back to 1924. For the last 10 years, he has been assisted by his cousin Marco. This house presents very traditionally made wines, with those ever so recognizable, unique handwritten labels. Its red wines age for an unprecedented length (6 to 7 years) in barrels of Slovenian oak, except for the cuvee 'Alzero', which undergoes aging on barriques. Our traditional flavors and methods must be cherished and not forgotten. Above all, we cannot force nature. We need to keep calm, be patient, use the right techniques and have a lot of passion. " These words symbolize the philosophy of the most famous Veneto producer. Quintarelli wines are very complex and are without doubt one of the greatest wines in all of Italy. Icon wines that without any marketing have made it to the most sought after wines in the world, the ultimate 'wanna haves' for collectors, on wine lists in the best restaurants even rare, almost mythical in reputation.
In the years leading up to 'Bepi' Giuseppe Quintarelli's death in 2012 from Parkinson's disease, there was much confusion about the ups and downs of this absolute top wine house. Giuseppe Quintarelli had been ill for a long time, but his relatives (four daughters and a lot of grandchildren) started a new chapter more than a year after his death. Quintarelli's heirs Francesco and Lorenzo (both grandsons) now manage together with Giampaolo (son-in-law) and continue to focus on providing only top quality. The 2006 Amarone was only released in late 2015 and is among the very best Amarone's available.
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Sign InDescription
Giuseppe Quintarelli Winery
Giuseppe Quintarelli is one of Valpolicella's absolute benchmarks and considered one of the founders of modern Amarone. The estate works exclusively with its own vineyards and employs a highly traditional approach, with long appassimento, slow fermentation, and very prolonged aging. The style focuses on concentration, balance, and aging potential, without compromising on pace or volume. Today, the estate is family-run, maintaining its classic vision and placing increasing emphasis on precision and purity.
More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.
Region, climate and location
The vineyards are located in the Valpolicella Classico zone, north of Verona. This area is characterized by hills with limestone and basalt soils and a temperate continental climate. The 2015 vintage experienced a warm and sunny growing season, resulting in perfectly ripe grapes with high concentration. At the same time, sufficient freshness was retained, essential for the balance of a powerful Amarone Riserva.
Amarone Riserva within the estate
The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is produced only in exceptional years and represents the estate's most concentrated and long-lived expression. This wine ages considerably longer than regular Amarone and is only released when its structure and balance allow. The 2015 vintage was not released until late 2024, after years of aging in barrel and bottle.
Vineyards
The grapes come from approximately 11 hectares of our own vineyards on limestone and basalt soils. These soils contribute to tension, structure, and aromatic depth. The low yields and careful selection are essential for the concentration required for an Amarone Riserva of this caliber.
Grape varieties and composition
The blend consists primarily of Corvina and Corvinone, supplemented with Rondinella. This classic combination forms the backbone of Quintarelli's Amarone style. Corvina and Corvinone provide structure, cherry notes, and acidity, while Rondinella contributes spice and aromatic breadth.
Harvest
The grapes are harvested by hand and then dried for several months using the traditional appassimento method. The bunches dry in crates, on bamboo racks, and in traditional trecce drying. During this process, the grapes lose a significant amount of their moisture, leading to the concentration of sugars, aromas, and extract.
Vinification
After drying, a slow fermentation with natural yeasts follows. The extraction is gradual and controlled, focusing on depth and structure without rough edges. The alcohol content reaches 16.5 percent, with modest residual sugar that contributes to volume and texture without overpowering the sweetness.
Maturation
The wine is aged for years in large oak barrels, followed by extended bottle aging. This approach ensures the integration of alcohol, tannins, and extract. Maturation is essential for developing complexity and balance in a wine of this intensity.
Color, smell and taste
The color is deep and opaque ruby red. The aroma is dominated by notes of dried plum, candied cherry, cigar box, spices, and brandy-like fruit, complemented by floral nuances and earthy notes. On the palate, the wine is powerful and compact, with enormous concentration but also a striking freshness. The structure is firm and fine-grained, with a long, layered finish in which licorice, plum peel, and spices slowly fade.
Development and drinking window
This Amarone Riserva is clearly designed for very long aging and will continue to develop over several decades. Since this wine is over 15 years old, wine is a natural product and aging can vary from bottle to bottle. The drinking window is roughly between 2026 and 2060, and patience will be richly rewarded.
Summary of professional reviews
Monica Larner awarded the wine 97+ points, emphasizing its intensity, texture, and compact structure, with great confidence in its long bottle aging. Eric Guido awarded the wine 98 points, praising the combination of depth, freshness, and refined tannins, a striking blend of power and elegance. Both reviewers consider the 2015 vintage an exceptional one for Quintarelli's Amarone Riserva.
The full review texts can be found in the Professional Reviews tab.
If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you this information when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.
You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.
Wine and food pairings
- Deer calf with cocoa and spices, where the concentration and depth of the wine are fully appreciated.
- Slow-cooked beef skewer with spicy gravy and celeriac, matching the structure and length.
- Wild boar stew with bay leaves and juniper berries, which enhances the earthy and spicy notes.
- Risotto with porcini and aged Parmesan, which supports the umami and layering.
- Roasted beetroot with mushrooms and hazelnut, which respects the earthy components.
Specifications
| Packing information | Box |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Veneto |
| Appellation | Amarone della Valpolicella |
| Winery | Quintarelli |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon, Corvina, Nebbiolo, Rondinella, Sangiovese |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Drinking as of | 2026 |
| Drinking till | 2050 |
| Alcohol % | 16 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 98 |
| Vinous rating | 98 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Droog, Fruitig, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Kruidig, Rood fruit, Soepel, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard, Romantisch |
| Sommy Pairing Beschrijving | De 2015 Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is een rijke en krachtige wijn met diepe smaaktonen van gedroogde pruim, gekonfijte kers en subtiele kruiden, aangevuld met florale en aardse nuances. Door zijn geconcentreerde structuur en zachte, rijpe tannines past deze wijn perfect bij gerechten met een stevige en langzaam gegaarde bereidingswijze, zoals rundersukade of wildstoof, omdat de wijn de volle smaak en de kruidige en aardse elementen van de gerechten aanvult. Vooral gerechten die met zorg en lang op lage temperatuur zijn bereid, zoals een slow-cooked wildzwijnstoof of een smaakvolle risotto met porcini en oude Parmezaan, versterken de harmonie tussen wijn en spijs en zorgen voor een onvergetelijke ervaring. |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 97+
Reviewed by:
Monica Larner
Release Price:
$700
Drink Date:
2026 - 2060
Made primarily with a blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, the Quintarelli Giuseppe 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva has been in bottle since November 2023 (and was released at the end of 2024). This is a wine of impact and intensity, with the textural heft and richness to match. This warm and sunny vintage delivers aromas of dried plum, sweet cigar, spice and brandied cherry. In terms of structure, the wine remains quite firm and compact, and this bodes especially well for its future bottle evolution. The alcohol content is recorded at 16.5%, and the 2015 vintage carries three to four grams per liter of residual sugar that adds a lasting sense of volume and depth to the finish.
I always try to schedule my tasting trips to Valpolicella during appassimento, or when harvested fruit is left to air-dry in specially ventilated hangars. The fruit loses much of its water mass during the process, thus increasing flavors, concentration and alcohol. Of the many estates I regularly visit, Giuseppe Quintarelli is among my favorites because of the traditional approach taken. There is one hangar dedicated to grapes drying in plastic crates, and on the other side of the winery, there is a second hangar with grapes carefully laid out on bamboo racks. You also see the celebrated trecce, or "braids," of grapes hung from a ceiling rafter. Each braid weighs 30 kilograms. It is such a beautiful site.
While visiting the Giuseppe Quintarelli winery with its cramped spaces and dark corners, I tasted with grandsons Lorenzo and Francesco in the very same tasting room I first visited 20 years ago with the master himself.
Carved oak botte stand outside the tasting room. One shows an enormous peacock, a symbol of purity, and around it are symbols of the family and their vineyards. The Giuseppe Quintarelli estate counts 11 hectares of vines on limestone and basalt soils. Annual production is 60,000 bottles. Only estate fruit is used, although extra fruit is purchased in some years if there is an emergency such as significant hail.
Published: Dec 05, 2024
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Vinous
98
Drinking Window
2025 - 2038
From: Veneto Rising: Amarone, Soave and Beyond (Sep 2025)
The 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is classic Quintarelli to the core, with a vibrant cascade of exotic spices, dried flowers, citrus peels and fresh crushed cherries forming its seductive bouquet. Juicy in feel yet deep and complex, it sweeps across the palate with ripe wildberry fruits elevated by a whiplash of electric acidity as violet inner florals arc across the senses. Long and staining but also impossibly fresh, the 2015 leaves a web of fine-grained tannins as hints of plum skin and licorice slowly fade. This is a rockstar.
- By Eric Guido on September 2025
After a short window of uncertainty, the Quintarelli wines have decidedly reached a new level. There was a magic to these wines under the late Giuseppe Quintarelli and his oenologist, Roberto Ferrarini, but over the past 14 years, the family has worked to create a new style centered on purity and elegance. For a period, the wines were very good and technically correct, but they were missing that old magic.
My recent tastings—particularly my preview of the 2015 Amarone Riserva, 2017 Alzero and 2018 Amarone—fully assured me that the current winemaking team is operating at full tilt. To be clear, the "magic" of the past could be described as “pleasurable rusticity.” These wines no longer show that rustic edge, which has been supplanted by a mix of refinement, purity, finesse and depth that I associate with the greatest wines in the world. I will always love older vintages of Quintarelli, and while the modern-day wines may be different, they are equally captivating.
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Wijnhuis
The shy and calm elderly man, Giuseppe Quintarelli, is THE frame of reference for winemakers from the Valpolicella. Born and raised in Cerè, he has been running the family business since 1954, which dates back to 1924. For the last 10 years, he has been assisted by his cousin Marco. This house presents very traditionally made wines, with those ever so recognizable, unique handwritten labels. Its red wines age for an unprecedented length (6 to 7 years) in barrels of Slovenian oak, except for the cuvee 'Alzero', which undergoes aging on barriques. Our traditional flavors and methods must be cherished and not forgotten. Above all, we cannot force nature. We need to keep calm, be patient, use the right techniques and have a lot of passion. " These words symbolize the philosophy of the most famous Veneto producer. Quintarelli wines are very complex and are without doubt one of the greatest wines in all of Italy. Icon wines that without any marketing have made it to the most sought after wines in the world, the ultimate 'wanna haves' for collectors, on wine lists in the best restaurants even rare, almost mythical in reputation.
In the years leading up to 'Bepi' Giuseppe Quintarelli's death in 2012 from Parkinson's disease, there was much confusion about the ups and downs of this absolute top wine house. Giuseppe Quintarelli had been ill for a long time, but his relatives (four daughters and a lot of grandchildren) started a new chapter more than a year after his death. Quintarelli's heirs Francesco and Lorenzo (both grandsons) now manage together with Giampaolo (son-in-law) and continue to focus on providing only top quality. The 2006 Amarone was only released in late 2015 and is among the very best Amarone's available.
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