2017 Giuseppe Quintarelli "Amabile del Cere" Bianco Veneto (375ml)

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.