Mamete Prevostini Sassella Valtellina Superiore Marena 2020

Mamete Prevostini Sassella Valtellina Superiore Marena 2020 is a finely etched mountain Nebbiolo that captures the drama of Valtellina’s steep, terraced vineyards in the glass. It combines the finesse and lift of high-altitude winegrowing with the depth and nuance expected from serious Nebbiolo. Named after one of the most historic crus in Valtellina, this wine offers a wonderfully pure and expressive take on the grape, with a character that can feel almost Burgundian in its elegance.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the Marena 2020 shows a luminous, transparent ruby to garnet hue, typical of classically styled Nebbiolo from cooler, alpine sites. The nose is finely detailed and inviting: wild sour cherry, raspberry and redcurrant weave together with dried rose petals, violets and a gentle, graphite‑like minerality. A subtle, smoky note and hints of dried herbs, tea leaves and spice add complexity without overwhelming the fruit. On the palate, this is all about precision and finesse. Juicy cherry and raspberry fruit meet a delicate, slightly tart red-berry freshness, framed by very fine-grained, silky tannins. There’s a light, almost Pinot Noir–like touch, yet the wine retains Nebbiolo’s hallmark energy and subtle grip. A stony, alpine edge runs through the mid-palate, giving lift and definition, while the finish is long, elegant and quietly powerful. Enjoyable now with a short decant, the 2020 has the structure and acidity to evolve beautifully over the next 6–10 years, gaining more tertiary notes of leather, dried flowers and forest floor with time in bottle.

Production
The Sassella subzone lies on the sun‑drenched, south-facing slopes of the Valtellina valley in Lombardy, where Nebbiolo (locally known as Chiavennasca) is grown on dramatic, hand-built stone terraces perched above the Adda River. Poor, rocky soils, steep gradients and strong diurnal temperature shifts create a naturally low-yielding environment that concentrates aroma and freshness. Grapes for Marena are harvested by hand—there’s no other way in these vertiginous vineyards—allowing for strict selection of perfectly ripe, healthy clusters. In the cellar, Mamete Prevostini works in a restrained, traditional style: gentle fermentation to extract fine tannins and aromatics rather than heaviness, followed by maturation in large oak and/or neutral vessels to preserve the wine’s purity, tension and transparency to place. The result is a Valtellina Superiore that is both authentic to its mountain origins and remarkably refined.

Food & Serving
This Valtellina Superiore is a natural partner for elegant, savory dishes rather than heavy, sauce-laden fare. Think mushroom risotto, veal scaloppine, roast guinea fowl, alpine cheeses, or fresh pasta with game ragù and herbs. It also shines with charcuterie, cured ham, and dishes featuring porcini, polenta or truffle. Serve at 16–18 °C (60–64 °F) in Burgundy or Nebbiolo-style stemware to highlight its aromatics. A 45–60 minute decant helps the wine unfurl its floral and smoky nuances, especially in its youth; more mature bottles can be opened and poured with a shorter aeration.

Producer
Mamete Prevostini is one of Valtellina’s benchmark producers, widely credited with helping to bring this dramatic alpine region back into the spotlight for serious Nebbiolo lovers. Based in the heart of Lombardy’s terraced mountain vineyards, the family has been cultivating vines and making wine for generations, combining deep local knowledge with a modern, quality‑driven mindset. Certified sustainable and known for meticulous work both in the steep vineyards and in the cellar, Prevostini has earned a strong reputation in Italy and abroad for crafting precise, terroir‑transparent expressions of Chiavennasca. The estate’s wines regularly feature in top Italian guides and serve as reference points for the elegance and ageworthiness that Valtellina can achieve.

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