2008 Valpolicella Classico Superiore

Quintarelli’s 2008 Valpolicella shows the mid-weight, gracious style of this cool year. Sweet tobacco, dark cherry, herbs and mocha are all given an extra kick of acidity. About half of the fruit was air-dried for two months. The estate’s decision to release a wine with a good bit of age gives consumers a terrific opportunity to purchase a current release that also offers a good bit of aromatic and flavor complexity. I imagine the wine’s lively acidity will allow it to hold for a number of years, although I do not expect the wine will improve materially.