Giuseppe Quintarelli Quintarelli Giuseppe Primofiore 2022 750ml

Currants and cedar with sandalwood and peaches. Fascinating aromas. Violets. Full-bodied with a crunchy and electric palate of primary fruit, with hints of tangerines and citrus. Great finish with structure and polish. 53.6% Merlot, 35.4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc. Interesting to have such high Merlot in the blend.

The 2022 Haut-Brion comes across as a bit restrained, given the natural opulence of the year and the other wines in the Clarence Dillon portfolio. Deep and wonderfully layered, the 2022 possesses remarkable depth but also a bit less of the explosive energy that is such a Haut-Brion signature. I suspect that will come in time, as the 2022 starts to show quite a bit better with a little aeration. Violet, gravel, incense, leather, tobacco and scorched earth linger. Superb. (AG)

The Quintarelli Giuseppe 2022 Primofiore is a blend of 50% local grapes (Corvina Veronese and Corvinone) and 50% international grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) with fruit that has been pressed fresh and some that undergoes appassimento. However, the style of the wine is slowly moving toward a fresher and drier style, with extra measures taken to avoid residual sugar and volatile acidity. The wine is expressed with floral and herbal elements over a medium-lean texture. There are earthy sensations with iris root and dark currant that give the Primofiore an especially food-friendly personality.