Sfursat di Valtellina DOCG Fruttaio Cà Rizzieri 2015

Fruttaio is the name of the loft where we keep grapes during the appassimento, and Cà means house in Valetellina dialect. Rizzieri was the name of the old owner of the building. Sfursat is made by using the "appassimento" process. The word "sfursat" literally means to force the grapes to give their best. Around 32% of water is lost during the drying proccess, leading to eleveated sugar levels, intensified aromas, color and structure. 

About the Vineyard

In the northern Italian Alps, a patchwork of steeply terraced vineyards spans the northern side of a valley in Lombardy that stretches 25 miles east to west. The vineyards, all facing south, receive optimum sun exposure and are ideal for growing grapes. Winemaking here dates back to the first millennium and today, Valtellina is the only well-established and recognized wine region almost completely dedicated to growing and making Nebbiolo.

Tasting Notes

Intense aroma, with hints of fruit preserve in alcohol, quinine and tobacco. Big in mouth with strong but well-balanced tannins thanks to a rich flesh. Endless finish.

Food Pairing

This wine pairs very well with mature cheeses, in particular “Bitto” cheese. Excellent also with red meat and game.

Vineyard & Production Info

Soil composition:

Silt and Sand

Training method:

Guyot Arch-trained

Exposure:

Southern

Average Vine Age:

55 years

Harvest time:

late September, early October

First vintage of this wine:

1995

Bottles produced of this wine:

12,900

Winemaking & Aging

Varietal composition:

100% Nebbiolo

Prefermentation technique:

Cold maceration

Time on its skins:

60 hours

Fermentation container:

Stainless steel tanks

Length of alcoholic fermentation:

30 days

Fermentation temperature:

71 °F

Maceration technique:

Punchdown and Pumpovers

Length of maceration:

25 days

Fining agent:

Animal based

Type of aging container:

Barriques

Size of aging container:

225L

Age of aging container:

80% new, 20% second use

Type of oak:

French

Length of aging before bottling:

18 months

Length of bottle aging:

12 months

Analytical Data

Alcohol:

15.6 %

pH level:

3.7

Residual sugar:

4.5 g/L

Acidity:

5.8 g/L

Dry extract:

35.2 g/L