Rainoldi Superiore DOCG Sassella Riserva 2015

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Check out all of Rainoldi’s Wines

The best wines of Valtellina are vital, alive wines of grace and sophistication. Drinking them over 2-3 days revealed new, aromas and flavours with every sniff and mouthful.

Chiavennasca is a synonym for Nebbiolo. The name used in Valtellina for the variety.

From the Winery:

Grapes: Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca).

Aspect: South, 270 – 600 m above sea level.

Soil: Rich in iron rock with sub-acidic reaction. Shallow.

First Vintage: 1983. Produced only in the best vintage years.

Harvest Period: First ten days of October. Manual harvest.

The 2013 Vintage: Valtellina’s wines quality standards are redefined by 2013 harvest, reaching the top of best harvests. Both wines produced with drying method and those produced with fresh grapes revealed good structure, wide olfactory range and excellent balance.

Yield: 65 q.li/ha

Winemaking: Fermentation with controlled temperature maceration, with regular cycles of punching-down and pumpingover.

Malo-lactic fermentation by spring.

Ageing: In oak barrels for almost two years. Ageing in bottles takes place in dark, cool cellars for at least a year before commercial release.

About Rainoldi

The Rainoldi family’s agricultural and trade history in the region dates back to the 1870’s. In 1925 they literally cemented their passion for wine with the building of their ‘Wine House’ in Casacce, near Chiuro in 1925. As early as the 60’s the Rainoldi’s were exporting across Europe, the US, Canada, Japan and the far east.

The latest and 4th generation Aldo formally trained in viticulture and winemaking in the mid-1990’s has been raising bar ever since.

“If you don’t throw all your heart in it and dare when you are strong enough, you might never end up doing a lot of things in your life!”. Aldo Rainoldi, 2nd Generation.

About Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo, pronounced NEH-bee-oh-low, is such a unique variety. The name is derived from the Italian word Nebbia meaning fog. Two theories for the name exist. The first that it refers to the fog that the vineyards of the Langhe are often immersed in. Second that the natural bloom that covers the grapes gives them a foggy appearance. Given the latter applies to most red grapes I prefer the former! There are 4 main clones of which Nebbiolo Lampia dominates over  Nebbiolo Michet, Rosé (now proven to be a different variety), and, Bolla.

Where is it grown?

Southern central and north Piemonte: Langhe including Verduno, Roero, Ast, Carema, Biella, Novara and Vercelli. It is also grown in the lower parts of the Valle d’Aosta where it is known as Picotendroi, and, Valtellina in Lombardy where it is known as Chiavennasca, among others.

What does it taste like?

The ultimate case of not judging a book by its cover, Nebbiolo, at first appears pale in colour, old wines can have the appearance of rusty tap water.

Then you smell it! The aroma of most red wines is dominated by fruit characters. In contrast, Nebbiolo’s aroma is typically a mix of complex secondary aromas, earthy, tarry, spice, rose, citrus peel, woody herbs like rosemary, liquorice, phenol, dark chocolate, tobacco, truffles, leather, and, dark cherry fruit, often more evident on the palate. You’ll see this difference immediately by comparing it two the other two main Piedmontese varieties Barbera and Dolcetto.

Good Nebbiolo has a core of fruit running the length of your tongue, along with layers of those same secondary characters. Nebbiolo’s grape tannins give it a distinct texture, that for those who have not tried it before can seem hard, and, unyielding. Look for the quality and depth of tannin.

Achieving well balance tannin, alcohol, and, acidity makes for great Nebbiolo.

More than most other Italian wines, Nebbiolo, demands food to be at it’s best. A little fat and salt, enhance the texture and bring out the flavours.

Nebbiolo from Valtellina tends to be more feminine, tannin management more critical during the winemaking process. Well managed vineyards produce wines with a great core of vibrant fruit and fine texture.

Where in the World is Rainoldi?

Piedmont is not the only Italian region to produce Nebbiolo! Valtellina Superiore is a thin horizontal strip in the very north of Italy above Milan.

Rainoldi’s vineyards are in Sassella, Grumello and Inferno sub-regions. Sondrio, Valtellina’s largest town is in the middle, Sassella the orange area to the left, Grumello the lime to the right and Inferno the burnt red just past Grumello.