2016 Giuseppe Quintarelli, "Alzero," Veneto - 750ML

94–95 points — Wine Advocate 95; James Suckling 94.

From one of the Veneto’s most revered estates, Alzero stands apart as Quintarelli’s singular Cabernet-based icon: a Bordeaux-inspired blend interpreted through the house’s painstaking appassimento tradition rather than conventional Valpolicella methodology. In 2016, the wine shows the estate’s modern refinement, with less residual sugar than older releases, formidable richness, and the layered, slow-building complexity that has made Alzero one of Italy’s most distinctive collector bottles.

Blend: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot.
Tasting Notes: Aromatically deep and expansive, with cassis, jammy blackberry, blackcurrant, clove, cocoa powder, and a subtle herbal lift recalling curry leaf. The palate is full-bodied and velvety, carrying dark fruit, chocolate, warming spice, and a polished, long finish shaped by crisp acidity and fine tannic grip.
Structure: Concentrated and powerful; velvety, broad-shouldered, and cellar-worthy.
Drink Window: 2028–2045. This is a conservative drinking estimate based on the wine’s 16.5% alcohol, extended élevage, appassimento concentration, and critical descriptions emphasizing richness, polish, and aging potential.

Decanting:**
If opening in the near term, give this 2–3 hours in a decanter to allow the darker fruit, spice, and herbal tones to unfurl. With additional bottle age, a shorter decant should be sufficient, mainly to separate sediment and let the bouquet open gradually.**

Alzero occupies a rare space in fine wine: unmistakably Italian, yet singular enough to sit outside easy comparison. For collectors and tables that call for something profoundly individual, the 2016 offers gravitas, conversation value, and the structure to reward patient cellaring.