About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Albareda is a Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG made from selected Nebbiolo grown in the Sassella and Grumello areas of Valtellina Superiore. The vineyards face south at elevations of 350–550 metres. Their predominantly sandy soils derive from granitic rock debris and contain little clay. The vines are trained using the Guyot system.
Grapes
100% dried Nebbiolo. Only the healthiest, best-formed bunches are selected. For the 2021 vintage, harvest began on 4 October; the fruit was gathered in small crates and dried naturally in the fruit-drying room until 9 January, a period of almost 100 days. This drying concentrates the grapes’ sugars, aromas and flavours.
Vinification
For the 2021 vintage, the dried grapes underwent a further careful selection followed by gentle destemming. The berries were placed in barriques for alcoholic fermentation and remained on their skins for 24 days.
Ageing
The 2021 wine matured for 12 months in barriques and then spent 10 months refining in bottle.
Technical data
The 2021 vintage has 16% alcohol. Production amounted to 6,000 bottles. Available formats are 0.375, 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 5 litres. The wine was produced in a cellar holding environmental sustainability certification.
Tasting profile
A very full-bodied wine. Ripe-fruit aromas give way to liquorice, alpine herbs, mint and cocoa. Its pervasive tannins balance finesse with savoury character.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 17°C.
Vintage notes
The 2021 technical specification records 24 days of skin maceration and 12 months in barriques. The general presentation describes 21 days of maceration and 20 months in oak casks, followed by the same 10 months of bottle ageing.
Label / history
An ancestral emblem of strength appears on the label, expressing the wine’s power and ageing potential.
