Nino Negri 'Le Tense' Sassella Valtellina Superiore 2020
The Wine
"Le Tense" is produced with grapes coming exclusively from the Sassella DOCG sub-area. During the Swiss domination (1512 - 1797), the best vineyards were "secured" by armed guards, and this is how it got its name. Nebbiolo della Sassella produces elegant aromas and delicate and harmonious flavors, typical of the Alpine reds of Valtellina.
In the glass, it presents a bright ruby red color. Held at a slight angle, the red wine glass reveals a charming garnet red tone around the edges. The first nose of Le Tense Sassella Valtellina Superiore presents nuances of plums, blackberries and mulberries. The fruity hints of the bouquet are joined by notes of barrel aging as well as even more fruity-balsamic nuances.
The Details
Variety - Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca)
Country - Italy
Region - Lombardy
Sub Region - Valtellina
Extra - Cork
Year - 2020
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Established in 1897, Nino Negri is the premier estate producing wine in the Valtellina DOCG in Italy’s Lombardy region. The estate specialty is Sfursat (“strained” or “forced”); a wine made from grapes harvested by trained pickers and dried for 100 days in the cool, dry, alpine air. This winemaking style combines the opulence of Amarone with the elegant complexity of Barolo. The success of Nino Negri is due largely to the efforts of winemaker Casimiro Maule who has worked at the estate since 1971, his entire professional life. In 2007, Casimiro was named “Winemaker of the Year” by Gambero Rosso, the magazine authority in Italian wine.
The star and primary varietal here is Chiavennasca, the local name for Nebbiolo. The variety has been cultivated in the area for over 1,000 years and all Valtellina DOCG wines must contain at least 90% Chiavennasca.
Nino Negri controls almost 400 acres of the finest Chiavennasca vineyards in the Valtellina Superiore subzones. The estate directly owns 75 acres of exceptional vineyards, including the 27-acre Fracia vineyard, an exclusive cru planted since 1995 to special clonal selections. The vine stocks that are cultivated horizontally from west to east, an innovated planting scheme for this region.
The winery is located in the city of Chiuro in the 15th Century Quadrio Castle. The “castle” sits above an array of underground cellars which house thousands of barrels. All Nino Negri wines age for at least two years before they are released to ensure optimum maturity at time of bottling.
