Valtellina Superiore Sassella 'Le Tense' Nino Negri 2019

"Le Tense" by Nino Negri is a Valtellina Superiore whose name means "protected," in reference to the daily custody that in the 1600s guardians reserved for the vines to preserve them from damage. It comes from the Sassella subzone, known for being able to generate wines of particular elegance and finesse. In the embrace of the Lombardy Alps, Valtellina is characterized as a wonderful mountainous valley chiseled by 2,500 km of dry stone walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is in contexts like these that viticulture is defined as heroic. Since as far back as 1897, the Nino Negri winery has been a pioneer of Chiavennasca, a name that identifies the local clone of Nebbiolo. The winery's philosophy is turning with increasing attention to a sustainable type of agriculture, one that is apt to make the most of all the natural resources present in Valtellina.

Valtellina Superiore "Le Tense" is made from the best bunches of Nebbiolo grapes from the vineyards owned by the Nino Negri winery. The must ferments in steel tanks, and then undergoes a division: part of the wine will age in large French oak barrels for a duration of 20 months, while the remainder will mature in French and American oak barriques for 16 months. Another 4 months in bottle complete the aging process, allowing this red to reach its perfect taste balance, ready to be drunk.

Valtellina "Le Tense" presents a very intense garnet color, which can easily turn to warm orange tones with age. Its bouquet is broad, with jammy red fruit and a pleasant floral background that introduce a constantly evolving complexity. The palate is full and round, perfectly balanced by dry, fine tannins. The long persistence does not leave the palate and refers, powerfully, to the sun-kissed Sassella vineyards.