Marco Ferrari Valtellina Superiore Inferno 2022

Inferno is one of the five historic crus of Valtellina, an Alpine valley in Lombardy, and takes its name from the heat its steep, sheltered terraces trap in the growing season. Marco Ferrari farms Nebbiolo, here called Chiavennasca, on these vertical slopes, each metre of vineyard claimed by hand, stone by stone, with exposures and microclimates that shift from one terrace to the next. The altitude and the wide day-to-night temperature swing preserve acidity and perfume even as the warm cru ripens the fruit fully. Twenty-four months in barrel, longer than the Sassella, allows slow oxygen exchange that rounds the firm Nebbiolo tannin and adds spice and savoury complexity. The colour is bright ruby. The nose leads with strawberry and raspberry, warm cinnamon and a delicate scent of wildflowers, over dried herbs and earth. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh, with crisp mountain acidity, fine grippy tannin and a long, savoury finish marked by liquorice and stone. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant young. It suits roast and braised meats, game and mushroom dishes.