The Rosso Cà del Merlo and the Valpolicella Classico Superiore sit hand in hand – and on paper it is rather difficult to tell them apart. (Historically we would receive the Rosso 'Cà del Merlo' along with the Valpolicella each year, but since the Rosso 'Cà del Merlo' spends more time aging in the cellar, this year's release is somewhat staggered.) In asking Francesco for his take on the personalities of these two wines, he acknowledges their resemblance – noting that both wines undergo the classic ripasso (drying) process, bolstering their complexity, color, and structure, and then age in Slovoniean botti for about seven years – but using slightly different grape varieties. The blend here is 55% Corvina and Corvinone, 15% Rondinella, 10% Cabernet (Sauvignon and Franc), 15% Merlot and 5% Nebbiolo, Croatina and Sangiovese. The only single-vineyard bottling at Quintarelli, Cà del Merlo takes its name from the hill that rises beside the family house and is loaded with powerful flavors of blackcurrant, mint, sage, lilac, and exotic spices. Ever voluptuous and luxurious, it is a more fruit-driven component of the estate's iconic duo.