Triacca presents the Chiavennasca, the Nebbiolo of Valtellina

The Triacca estate is one of the most important realities of Valtellina, a territory in northern Lombardy, where Nebbiolo – locally known as Chiavennasca – finds one of its most evocative habitats.
Operating since 1897, the winery has recently undergone a radical transformation, focused especially on a greater technological upgrade of its equipment. At the same time, the vineyard has also been subject to an overall rethinking, with a more intensive clonal research and the replacement of the oldest plantings.

Across the estate's 40 hectares, over 400,000 bottles are produced, many of which vinifying Chiavennasca itself. Therefore, alongside the Valtellina Superiore wines, which come from the well-known subzones Inferno, Sassella and Grumello, the Valtellina Superiore Prestigio is produced, along with the reserve La Gatta and, to complete the range, the Sfurzat San Domenico, the flagship wine of the estate.

We present three of the finest expressions of Chiavennasca from the winery.

Valtellina Superiore Prestigio 2009

Red wine of transparent garnet, nose of great class with prominent notes of rose bud, accompanied by red fruit of marasca cherry and morello cherry, then spiced tones of vanilla, pepper and further leather and liquorice. On the palate a whip of acidity and an extremely silky tannin, not yet fully tamed, foreshadow a long life for this fine wine. Produced with slightly dried grapes, it spends 18 months in first and second passage barriques and a further 12 months in bottle.

Valtellina Superiore Riserva La Gatta 2009

In colour a luminous garnet, we immediately perceive floral hints of fresh rose, wild berries, vanilla, cloves and tobacco. On the palate the biting freshness and tannin prevail over softness and alcohol, although we consider the wine to still be very young and decidedly evolving. Clear retronasal returns of ripe fruit and balsamic notes. Produced with grapes from the eponymous La Gatta vineyard, this wine also ages for 18 months in wood and the same in bottle.

Sforzato della Valtellina San Domenico 2009

Again a garnet hue for this red wine, though deeper compared to the previous two samples. An aristocratic bouquet, where the floral hints are more subdued, while notes of blueberry jam overlay spiced notes of pepper and toasted hints of bitter coffee and balsamic in the finish. On the palate the tannic charge is only partially balanced by a very well-present alcohol. The grapes dry for nearly four months in the drying loft and, after vinification, the wine matures for two years in barrel and one in bottle.

A very long-lived wine, to be tried in a couple of decades. I have a 2000 in the cellar: before opening it, one must wait....