Mamete Prevostini Valtellina Superiore Sassella 2009
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Purple-red in colour, with a bouquet exuding blueberries and blackberries, manifests a bold and well-defined flavour, robust yet silky and with a refreshing liquorice and almond finish.
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Wine Spectator
Expressive, with a floral note, hints of aromatic anise and dried thyme, and ripe black raspberry and wild strawberry flavors. Shows fine-grained tannins and a smoky base note that pushes through on the fresh finish.
The background story to Mamete Prevostini is very much that of a cellar which began its great love affair with wine and its production more than 70 years ago and which is inexorably linked to a particular geographical area: that of Valtellina, which represents one of the most important Italian mountain locations occupied by terraced vineyards.
Back in ancient times and right up to the present the area remains a vital junction as far as communication and transport is concerned: it essentially links Italy with Switzerland and thus the whole of northern Europe. A route undertaken over the centuries by peoples and civilizations who have all left their individual and particular mark, recognisable easily through the customs, traditions, culture and of course the products typical of their labors.
One of the most important, and which featured prominently, was wine production which still today forms an integral part of the culture through the tradition of producing prestigious and quality wines thanks very much to one of the most influential grapes in the world: the Nebbiolo. Perhaps it’s appropriate today to allow the real stars themselves – the great wines of Mamete Prevostini - to express their own qualities, their own individuality, style and character. I suspect they accomplish it far better than words can.
Italian Red Wine
While picturesque hillsides, endless coastlines and a favorable climate serve to unify the grape-growing culture of this country. The apparent never-ending world of indigenous grape varieties gives Italy an unexampled charm and allure for its red wines. From the steep inclines of the Alps to the sprawling, warm, coastal plains of the south, red grape varieties thrive throughout.
The kings of Italy, wines like Barolo and Barbaresco (made of Nebbiolo), and Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino (made of Sangiovese), as well as Amarone (mostly Corvina), play center stage for the most lauded, collected and cellar-worthy reds. Less popular but entirely deserving of as much praise are the wines made from Aglianico, Sagrantino and Nerello Mascalese.
For those accustomed to drinking New World reds, the south is the place to start. Grapes like Negroamaro or Primitvo from Puglia and Nero d’Avola from Sicily make soft, ammicable, full-bodied, fruit-dominant wines. Curious palates should be on the lookout for Cannonau (Grenache), Lagrein, Teroldego, Ruché, Freisa, Cesanese, Schiopettino, Rossese and Gaglioppo to name a few.