Tasting Notes: The Barbacan Valtellina Superiore Valgella Sol shows raspberry curd and new leather on the nose, followed by crushed strawberry. Light-bodied, with berry fruit up front, but firm tannins on the finish. A great example of Alpine Nebbiolo; fruity enough to match with food, but enough tertiary to allow it to develop in the glass. A wine made for hearty Alpine fare.
Estate History: Barbacàn is Angelo Sega and his sons Luca and Matteo. They grow and collect Nebbiolo, Chiavennesca as the locals call it, from their 3 hectares of vineyards in San Giacomo di Teglio in Valtellina on the border of Switzerland in the Italian Alps. The Sega men are grower-producers, the vanguard of Valgella, with a passion stronger than the mountains they work. It is not easy land to work, nor does the climate assist. Steep terraced vineyards 400+ meters above sea level that involve tremendous amounts of hard, back-breaking work to obtain and maintain, 'heroic viticulture' as the Italians call it. From vineyard to bottle, their strength, passion and hard work is evident. They practice organic viticulture and are waiting to be certified. Replanting comes from the cuttings of their own vines to maintain and the preserve the authenticity of their particular clone of Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca). Cellar work is minimal; the wines are allowed to mature at their own pace.
