2017 Amabile del Cerè Passito Bianco
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Tasting notes
This pretty sweet wine is made with the same blend of grapes we saw in the table white Bianco Secco Ca' del Merlo. These are mostly Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and the local Saorin grape (also known as Tocai or Friulano), only in this case they are air-dried in order to obtain elevated sugar and flavor concentration. The Quintarelli Giuseppe 2017 Passito Amabile del Cerè is waxy and rich in texture with compelling flavors of honey, brown sugar and marron glacé or chestnut confection. There is a dusting of something spicy like cinnamon or nutmeg. Those flavors are supported by 120 to 130 grams per liter of residual sugar, with the bright acidity to balance out the sweetness. This precious dessert wine (with 1,500 375-milliliter bottles produced) is only made in the ideal vintages. Recent releases include 2003, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2017.
Critic scores
Average Score
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Eric Guido, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Truly exotic, the Amabile del Cerè tempts the imagination with a wild bouquet of tropical citrus, melon, vanilla bean and confectionary spice. It's silky and seamless on the palate, with juicy acidity guiding stimulating notes of kiwi and tangerine. For all of its depth, this tapers off remarkably fresh yet still long and potent, leaving a staining of dried nectarine and a flourish of sweet, autumnal spices that lingers on and on. Once again, I'm amazed by how Quintarelli has managed to find such balance, as the Amabile del Cerè finishes at 130 grams-per-liter of residual sugar but doesn't come across as sweet or cloying. Well done.
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Product details
Garganega/Grecanico, Chardonnay, Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc
White
Sweet