2006 Valtellina IGT Ca' Brione Terrazze Retiche

A wonderfully well-structured and mouth-filling flavoured white wine from the Valtellina area in northern Lombardia. Nino Negri is one of Italy's greatest wineries.

The previous vintage of this wine was awarded Two Glasses in the current version of the major Italian wine guide, Gambero Rosso.

Tasting Notes
Clear, golden yellow colour, very intense bouquet, with strong notes of lychees, ripe melon, raspberries, vanilla, mineral hints (flint stone) and musk and suggestion of aromatic herbs; rich, full flavour, velvety but well structured, particularly savoury with an elegant, lingering aftertaste of exotic fruits and spices.

Matching
Fish, shellfish, pates, terrines and galantines; cold white meats.

Winemaking Notes
The black grapes, harvested around the middle of October and very rich in acidity and aromas, undergo a gentle pressing and are vinified by the white wine method. Part of the white grapes is picked and dried for a couple of weeks in the cellar, and part is allowed to dry in the vineyard; then they are vinified separately by the white wine method with a gentle pressing. The musts ferment in barriques and remain in wood until the end of June, then follow the blending and cold sterile bottling. The wine rests for a suitable time in bottle before it is introduced for consumption.