La Spia
Valtellina Superiore Sassella MR72 2018
| Denomination | DOCG Valtellina Superiore Sassella |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 15.0% by volume |
| Area | Lombardy (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Nebbiolo |
| Aging | Six months in steel tanks followed by 30 months in French oak barrels. |
- Grape variety and designation: 100% Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca), Sassella Riserva DOCG
- Terraced vineyards: Sondrio at 350–400 metres, south/south-east exposure, heroic viticulture
- Vinification and ageing: 8 days at 24–28 °C; 6 months in steel, 30 months in French oak
- Tasting notes: ruby colour; rich bouquet; silky taste with a slight balsamic note
- Serving and awards: 18–20 °C, decant for 1 hour; ideal with roasts and cheeses; 92/100 James Suckling
Description
What kind of wine it is
Valtellina Superiore Sassella MR72 Riserva from La Spia winery is an elegant and structured red wine, made from Nebbiolo grapes, locally known as Chiavennasca. A true expression of Valtellina Superiore Sassella, this wine appears in the glass with a ruby red colour and a rich, fruity bouquet. The palate is captivating, characterised by a silky texture that fades into a pleasant and subtle balsamic note. On the palate, it shows great balance, making it an ideal companion for mature cheeses, flavourful pork dishes, game, and roast red meats.
Where it comes from
The grapes are grown in the Sondrio area, the result of heroic viticulture on terraces situated between 350 and 400 metres above sea level. The south and south-east exposure ensures perfect ripening of the grapes. The vines sink their roots into sandy-silty soils of varying composition, at medium to shallow depth, with good organic matter and frequent outcrops of bedrock. Planting density and low yields are essential aspects for extracting the maximum aromatic potential and defining the precise character of the territory.
How it is produced
After a rigorous manual harvest in October, the must ferments at a controlled temperature between 24 and 28°C for eight days. This is followed by six months of ageing in steel to preserve the integrity of the fruit, before moving on to thirty months of maturation in French oak barrels. This stage imparts roundness and defines the wine's structure. The dry extract of 28.4 g/L and total acidity of 5.45 g/L ensure remarkable structural solidity, allowing the wine a long evolution over time, estimated up to twenty-five years.
History and Curiosities
Located in the Sassella subzone, the family-run winery La Spia enhances the Valtellina tradition of heroic viticulture, cultivating Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) on steep terraced slopes. The prestigious Valtellina Superiore MR72 Riserva 2018 is aged for a full thirty months in French oak, acquiring a silky and enveloping profile. Awarded 92 points by James Suckling, this red wine blends delicate balsamic notes with an extraordinary longevity, estimated at up to twenty-five years: a perfect synthesis of love for the Sondrio region and meticulous care of historic vineyards.
Awards
-
2018
92/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
18 - 20 °C
Longevity:
15 - 25 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
- Oenologist: Emil Galimberti
- Bottles produced: 15.000
- Hectares: 4
In recent years, La Spia has changed its production rate from just under 5,000 to over 15,000 bottles produced. The company took over small, selected vineyards in neighbouring sub-zones, such as 'Grumello' and 'Valtellina Superiore' in the town of Berbenno. From these vineyards, the increasingly careful selection of Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) pushed the company to separate the different types of grapes. Read more
| Name | La Spia Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva MR72 2018 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | Valtellina Superiore DOCG |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 15.0% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Nebbiolo |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Lombardy |
| Vendor | La Spia |
| Story | History and Curiosities Located in the Sassella subzone, the family-run winery La Spia enhances the Valtellina tradition of heroic viticulture, cultivating Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) on steep terraced slopes. The prestigious Valtellina Superiore MR72 Riserva 2018 is aged for a full thirty months in French oak, acquiring a silky and enveloping profile. Awarded 92 points by James Suckling, this red wine blends delicate balsamic notes with an extraordinary longevity, estimated at up to twenty-five years: a perfect synthesis of love for the Sondrio region and meticulous care of historic vineyards. |
| Origin | Sondrio (SO), Lombardia |
| Soil composition | Sandy-silty texture with low silt content and good organic matter; terraced soils of medium-low depth, heterogeneous, with frequent bedrock outcrops |
| Plants per hectare | 4.000 |
| Yield per hectare | 5,500–6,000 kg/ha |
| Harvest | October |
| Fermentation temperature | 24–28 °C |
| Fermentation | 8 days |
| Production technique | Traditional vinification in temperature-controlled vats (24–28 °C) for 8 days |
| Wine making | Traditional vinification in temperature-controlled fermenters (24–28 °C) for 8 days. |
| Aging | Six months in steel tanks followed by 30 months in French oak barrels. |
| Total acidity | 5.45 gr/L |
| PH | 3.5 |
| Dry extract | 28.4 gr/L |
| Year production | 15000 bottles |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |