MCF Rare Wine
L'Arco - A Fresh Vintage from Quintarelli's Star Pupil
This time last year, I was delighted to re-introduce the wines of Luca Fedrigo's L'Arco estate, a collection of superb bottlings from the true protégé of the great Giuseppe Quintarelli.
The short version of that story is that you all bought so much of it, that L'Arco's new importer could barely keep up with the demand.
It was a triumphant return to NYC for this most special of gems from Northern Italy.
So here we are, a year later, with the latest releases of what I feel are Luca's two signature wines, the Rùbeo and Pario.
The Pario 2019 is a classic Valpolicella blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, 50% of which is Ripasso juice and the other 50% is appassimento fruit. In homage to his mentor's Rosso del Bepi, this is fresher (and less expensive) alternative to his Amarone.
It still carries all of that dense, dark, raisin-y, spicy fruit, but with a more versatile texture and livelier personality.
The Rùbeo 2018 is 40% Cab Franc, 30% Corvina, 15% Rondinella/Molinara and then 5% each of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, all of which is Amarone'd...that is to say dried like Amarone grapes. The Valpo varietals are dried for three months, and the Bordeaux varietals for two. They're then fermented separately and aged for 6 months in tank, before being blended and aged for 40 months in large Slavonian barrels.
Those of you who know his mentor's wines will immediately recognize the Rùbeo as Luca's nod to Alzero. Like Alzero, Rùbeo is one of the most uniquely delicious wines you'll encounter from anywhere on Earth - the density, texture and seamlessness of an Amarone, with the herbaceous, perfumed and spicy nuance that Cab Franc is so known for.
If you're like me, and love to keep the wine flowing, long after the meal is done, but you're all still at the table enjoying the good conversation and post-meal bliss, you won't find a better wine than this.
I do struggle feeling like I need to make comparisons between Luca's wines and Quintarelli's, but it's kind of impossible not to.
Someday, L'Arco will be the one whose wines demand to be mentioned when showcasing a new producer, but, until that time, I'm sure that Luca's more than honored to have his wines mentioned in the same breath as Quintarelli's.
In the meantime, though, I'm going to spend all of my breath making sure you get some of these while they're here...
...and as you all know, I can be pretty long winded if given the chance...
L'ARCO
Pario 2019
Rùbeo 2018
You may order by calling 212.255.8870.
Matt Franco
MCF Rare Wine, Ltd
249 West 13th Street NYC 10011
212.255.8870
Looking for a wine you loved from a past newsletter or a favorite you can't find anywhere? Email Raphael at raphael@mcf-rarewine.com, and we'll do our best to find it for you!
