2014 Monte Santoccio Valpolicella Classico Superiore 750 ml

Heir Apparent To Amarone Kingpin Quintarelli

It is impossible to speak about Valpolicella and not utter the name Giuseppe Quintarelli — Wine Spectator said: “Because of his small production and the high prices of his wines, Quintarelli developed an almost mythical reputation.” Nicola Ferrari worked with Quintarelli for 10 years before striking out to create his own winery, Monte Santoccio. Last month we offered Nicola’s extraordinary Amarone to Wine Access clients and demand was through the roof. We went back to the importer and secured 50 cases of his cracking Valpolicella Classico to meet the fever pitch of demand.

Quintarelli’s life work — in the vineyards of Valpolicella, and in the cellar — caused the wines to become world-renowned, highly respected, and quite expensive. At the age of 26, Nicola Ferrari took a winemaking job working side-by-side with Quintarelli — the greatest winemaker ever to come from his region, the man he would come to call “Bepi.” It was a dream come true.

Ferrari is making classic Valpolicella just like his mentor, but charging a fraction of the price. The 2014 Monte Santoccio Valpolicella Classico Superiore is entirely sourced from Nicola’s almost 8-acre estate in the foothills outside of the small town of Fumane. The blend is made up of 40% Corvina, 30% Corvinone, 25% Rondinella, and 5% Molinara — essentially the same blend that goes into his Amarone.