Marcel Zanolari
Lombardy | Valtellina | Bianzone
Valtellina clings to the stony reaches of upper Lombardy, Italy’s northernmost wine-growing region. It’s a timeless place of imposing peaks, dense forests, and, as far as the eye can see, dry-wall terraces zigzagging across its slopes. Over the course of two millennia, the terraces have been built and rebuilt — a monument to the unbroken resolve of generations to grow wine in this place. Here, on 10 hectares of vines above Bianzone and scattered along the valley further east to Tirano, Marcel Zanolari has dedicated himself to biodynamic farming and making what he regards as “living wines.” They truly could come from nowhere and no one else.
Marcel Zanolari 2010 Sforzato di Valtellina Superiore
Like the Nebbiolo Valtellina Superiore, these grapes also come from nebbiolo vines in production since 2001, dried in the local tradition, through which 25% of the grape’s water weight is lost. The partially dried grapes are then briefly cold macerated and spontaneous fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tank. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is transferred to used barrique (10% new) for a minimum of 3 years. Valtellina’s nebbiolos tend to be lean and sculpted, delicate and floral — paler, less tannic, higher in acidity, and altogether lighter on their feet than their more famous Langhe counterparts.
- 2010
- Nebbiolo
- DOCG
- Italy
- Lombardy
- Valtellina
- Organic
- Curvedru, Baruffini
- South
- Granitic rocks, sand
- 6 months stainless, 3 years barrique (10% new)
- Stainless steel
- 1.6
- 750 ml
822 Salisbury Turnpike - Milan, New York - 12571 | 845-266-0376 | https://schatziwines.com | info@schatziwines.com