Quintarelli Rosso del Bepi 2014

Quiet and composed, the 2014 Rosso del Bepi opens with woodland berries, dried herbs, sour cherry and a faint animal undercurrent. Silky in texture, yet there's genuine grip here, tart red fruit and stony minerals give the wine a lively, almost nervy edge that's unexpected given the appassimento process. It's a fresher, more energetic expression than you'd anticipate from this cellar, the vintage stripping away weight and leaving pure verve in its place. The finish tapers with a spicy, citrus-tinged lift and a brush of violet florals, round tannins fading slowly. It won't match the depth of a Quintarelli Amarone, but it has something of its own, wit, character, and genuine charm.