Negri 5 STELLE Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG

The grapes: 100% nebbiolo – chiavvennasca

The vineyard: the finest vines from the sub-zones of Inferno, Grumello and Fracia, this last cru being the exclusive property of Casa Negri, provided the grapes intended for raisining. The vines are pruned using the arched variant of Guyot system (3500 vines/hectare), on terraces well exposed to the south at an altitude of 400-450 metres on loose shallow sandy-slippery soils, and yielded 6 tonnes/hectare. Only 35% of the grapes were selected for the Sfursa 5 stelle.

The vinification and the maturation: the selection of the Nebbiolo - Chiavennasca bunches began at the end of September and ended at the beginning of October. The harvested bunches were placed in boxes (only one layer, max 5 kg per box) and allowed to dry naturally for 100 days in the fruit shed where they lost about 30% of their weight. Then stalk-removal and pressing began on the grapes which, after arriving in the cellar at a temperature of 4°C, remained in cryomaceration for 3 days (to allow the perfumes to develop) and then fermented for 15 days at a temperature of 25°/26°C. Following tumultuous fermentation and a 24-hour sojourn in vats, the wine was transferred to new French barriques from Allier and Nevers for 20 months where it completed alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. It was then blended and further matured in the bottle for 4 months before being released on the market.

The wine: the Sfursat  5 Stelle D.O.C.G. possesses an intense garnet appearance and a refreshing nose with balsamic notes of mint and eucalyptus intermingled with hints of crusty bread, liquorice root, sun-dried hay, cocoa powder, black pepper, prunes and dried figs. The richly extracted, vigorous palate exhibits vanilla aromas and pleasantly satisfying forward tannis.

Optimum Keeping: 15 years in bottles stored horizontally in cool, dark conditions.

Serving temperature: 18° C.

Unusual fact: Negri was the first Valtellina wine house, in 1956, to produce Sfursat with a natural drying of the grapes. 5 Stelle is its most prestigious Sfursat.

FOOD MATCHES: red meats, game, strong cheeses.