A 5-star Sfursat

by Daniele Cernilli 10/28/14 |

Valtellina Sforzato or Sfursat DOC is made from Chiavennasca grapes (the local name of Nebbiolo) which have raisinated on drying racks for several months. The grapes come from all the zones of the Valtellina Superior appellation and, in particular, the areas of Valgella, Grumello and the recently recognized Maroggia, less from Inferno and almost never from Sassella. They can even come other Valtellina DOC vineyards as long as they have a per hectare yield of 80,000kg, as for the Superiore, and not 100,000kg, as allowed for the ‘normal’ wines.
Nino Negri’s Sfursat 5 Stelle is one of the two Sfursat wines the estate produces. It is the result of a very strict selection and the wine ages in oak barriques, mostly from Allier wood, for around 18 months. The following a review of a vertical tasting of ten vintages I had the pleasure to take part in at the estate’s headquarters not long ago. The current retail price in Italy for the latest vintage is about 50 euros a bottle.

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Sfursat 5 Stelle 1989 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	10/28/14	Daniele Cernilli	Like one’s first love, one never forgets their first vintage. In this case, it was a wine from an exceptional harvest when everything went for the best. It did not rain much, there were great... Leggi tutto
5 Stelle Sfursat 1995 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	04/16/15	Vinogodi	The intense red color is almost unnatural with its luminous integrity. The aroma is very particular and. like the previous wine, is all jam except this time it is citrusy, with notes that are even... Leggi tutto
Sfursat 5 Stelle 1997 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	10/28/14	Daniele Cernilli	A hot, regular year with favorable temperature variations while the grapes were ripening and a slightly early harvest, between the end of September and the beginning of October. The wine has a bright... Leggi tutto
Sfursat 5 Stelle 1999 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	10/28/14	Daniele Cernilli	The weather was fairly good this year although harvest came a bit late, beginning around October 10. The climate was also excellent while the grapes were drying out, cold and dry. Here the color is... Leggi tutto
Sfursat 5 Stelle 2001 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	10/28/14	Daniele Cernilli	A regular year with a medium-low yield and excellent conditions for raisinating the grapes. This is the best vintage so far and has won prizes and praise to become a real cult wine. The color is a... Leggi tutto
Sfursat 5 Stelle 2002 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	10/28/14	Daniele Cernilli	A growing season of alternating rainy and sunny days until conditions improved in late September which allowed for near-perfect conditions to raisinate the grapes and this saved the vintage. The... Leggi tutto
Sfursat 5 Stelle 2004 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	10/28/14	Daniele Cernilli	An abundant harvest, not too hot, with picking delayed to October 20 due to the rain that month. The color is a bright and compact garnet, while the aroma is a bit simple, intense and heady with... Leggi tutto
Sfursat 5 Stelle 2005 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	10/28/14	Daniele Cernilli	A cool but regular growing season with little rain, similar to 1995. Here the color is an intense and bright garnet and the aromas are complex, very Burgundy-esque, defined, with notes of wild... Leggi tutto
Sfursat 5 Stelle 2007 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	10/28/14	Daniele Cernilli	The weather this year was more ‘southern’ with harvest starting October 5, similar to 1997. This has a bright and intense garnet color and the bouquet is very fruity with clear scents of... Leggi tutto
Sfursat 5 Stelle 2009 Valtellina Superiore	Nino Negri S.p.A.	10/28/14	Daniele Cernilli	A good, regular year with important temperature variations during ripening and excellent weather while the grapes raisinated. The color is an intense and youthful ruby-garnet while the aroma is... Leggi tutto