Conti Sertoli Salis Canua Sforzato di Valtellina 2011

Ideally drink now through to 2032.

Decant 2 hours.

Intense ruby in colour, the nose shows cherry, liquorice, plum jam and spice. The palate gives a myriad of fantastic flavours that include the cherry, plum and spice notes that the nose revealed but additional cinnamon, elderberry and vanilla. The tannins are well integrated with the high alcohol and acid that provides a very well balanced and complex wine capable of long ageing. The finish is long with a full mouth feel that you would expect from this full bodied wine.

Match with lamb, veal, beef, mature cheese and mushrooms.

The way Sforzato is made is similar to that of Amarone. The hand harvested Nebbiolo grapes are partially dried on mats which concentrate the flavours, tannins and sugar within the grapes – alcohol readily reaches 15.5%. Fermentation on the skins takes around 15 days due to the relatively cold temperatures in the winery. The wine is transferred into 450 litre barrels and 225 litre barriques that are made of French oak. The wine is matured for 2 years in barrel followed by a further 12 months in bottle.