Sassella Valtellina Superiore "Le Tense" DOCG Nino Negri

The Sassella is the forth bigger area in the DOCG Valtellina Superiore area: it is extended from the Castione Andevenno to the Sondro door. The name comes from the Sassella little church (from the word “stone”). Giosuè Carducci, the poet, dedicated a poem to the wines of this area “A una bottiglia di Sassella del 1848": "e tu pendevi tralcio dai retici balzi...è bello al sole dell'Alpi mescere il tuo vin cantando". This wine is made by 95% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) and a 5% of Pignola. The cultuivation soils are located at 350-500 meters above the sea level and there is used the Guyot method on sandy-lime soils almost dry. The profit is 80 quintals per hectare and the grapes are picked at the end of October, beginning of November. There are 10 days of maceration of the peels in the must and it follows the fermentation at 26-28°C. The maturation takes place for 2 months and there is a further resting period in Slavonia oak barrels for 18 months. There is a long bottle refinement.

Characteristics of the Sassella Valtellina Superiore “LE TENSE” DOCG

It has a ruby red color almost garnet. The smell is intense and elegant with strawberry, resin and goudron aromas with some withered roses and violet aromas. The taste is dry, austere, harmonic with a dry prune and a toasted almond hints very persistent.

Suggested pairings with this Cru of the Nino Negri winery

It perfect with the lamb, goat and game. It is great with red roasted meats or with the meat in humid. It is also very good with local aged cheeses. It must be served  at 18°C in a Ballon wine glass. It must be aged for 5 years in a fresh and dark cellar.