2013 Rainoldi Rosso di Valtellina

2013 Rainoldi Rosso di Valtellina $12/48

Where: Valtellina, Lombardy

Who: Aldo and Peppino Rainoldi

What: 100% Nebbiolo (called Chiavennasca in this part of Italy but same exact grape)

Tastes like: very perfumed nose, classic red fruit (red cherries, ripe cranberries) and dried flowers, with a powerful backbone of minerality and dried herbs. Rich mouth feel, bigger than the Nino Negri Nebbiolo, with some ripe fruit. Still a relatively light wine (I would say medium body.)

Alcohol: Med (12.5%), Tannin: Med+, Acidity: Med +, Sugar: low

What to pair with: Charcuterie for sure, also lighter red meat dishes, pork, chicken, mushrooms.

“Peppino Rainoldi and his nephew Aldo make wines with strong personalities…bringing out the best of the various terroirs where Nebbiolo rules supreme.” – Gambero Rosso Italian Wines 2010

“This producer based in Lombardy’s Valtellina makes a number of delicious, value-priced reds.” – Antonio Galloni

Founded in 1925 by the current proprietor’s grandfather and great-grandfather, respectively, Casa Vinicola Aldo Rainoldi is THE flagship estate in the Valtellina, the heart of Lombardy’s heralded Nebbiolo-growing region. The northernmost wine region in Lombardy, vineyards in the Valtellina are located at extremely high altitudes (600+ meters) and are protected from cold, harsh winds by the nearby mountain peaks, which also trap the heat in the valley. The stony schist-based vineyard soils also retain heat and release it during the night to warm the vines. These conditions provide a long, slow growing season for Nebbiolo, known locally as Chiavennasca, allowing it to fully develop its flavors over a long, slow growing season. Vines here are cultivated exclusively by hand on the impervious (but optimally exposed!) steep slopes along the north bank of the valley.