2018 Dirupi Valtellina Superiore, Lombardy, Italy   

100% Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) from vines that are up to 100 years old. The grapes were carefully harvested by hand and meticulously sorted at the winery. The grapes saw extended skin maceration of 15–30 days, based on the altitude of the source vineyard. The musts were fermented using locally selected yeasts, in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks. The resulting wines were aged for 12 months in neutral French barrels before being blended and bottled. Deep ruby. Enticing aromas of fresh and dried red berries, and crushed rose petals. The palate is remarkably soft and supple, with flavors of red and black cherries, currant and rosewater. The tannin is fine and polished, and in graceful balance with its firm acid core.