Sforzato Black Edition Valtellina DOCG 2019 - Plozza x 6

The Power of Dried Nebbiolo: The Monumental Vision of Plozza Black Edition

The Plozza Black Edition Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG 2019 stands at the absolute pinnacle of premium Italian mountain winemaking as a model of extraordinary opulence, noble rigor, and structural depth. This historic Retiche winery conceived the "Black Edition" selection to reinterpret the ancient and proud practice of Sfursat, where the Nebbiolo grape (locally named Chiavennasca) undergoes a slow natural drying process in drying rooms before vinification. The agronomic project merges the sugar concentration induced by grape dehydration with the solid austerity of alpine rock. The Black Edition commands attention in the glass as a monumental still red wine, explicitly built to deliver a majestic sensory experience and challenge decades of bottle aging within prestigious international collections.

Agronomic Notes: The Sfursat Technique and Extended Rest in Drying Rooms

The clusters originate from old vine rows grown on steep stone-walled terraces characterized by loose soils with a strong matrix of weathered granitic rock and fine sands. The manual selection is exceptionally strict: in early October, only perfectly healthy and loose clusters are harvested, then laid out in boxes within ventilated drying rooms for approximately three months. During this slow rest, the berry loses around 40% of its weight, concentrating polyphenols and clean dry extracts. The 2019 vintage benefited from an optimal seasonal trend that brought an extraordinary extractive richness. In the cellar, protective vinification involves fermentation in temperature-controlled vats followed by a structured aging path in oak barrels and new barriques—a protocol rigorously calibrated to stabilize the important alcohol content of 15.50% Vol.

Sensory Profile and Organoleptic Assessment

The exclusive dialogue between the natural concentration of the drying rooms and extended horizontal rest in fine wood outlines an organoleptic framework of imposing tertiary complexity for this precious.

• Blend and Classification: 100% Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) / Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG (Sfursat) / Still red wine from dried grapes.
• Analytical Data (2019 Vintage): Alcohol Content: 15.50% Vol. / 3 months natural drying / Extended oak maturation / Volume: 750 ml.
• Visual Assessment: Deep, dark ruby red color of imposing chromatic density, enriched by warm, brilliant garnet highlights upon swirling in the glass, demonstrating a dense viscosity and significant extractive thickness.
• Olfactory Framework: Broad, tight, and beautifully complex tertiary bouquet. A refined profile emerges on the nose, dominated by consistent scents of blackberry jam, prune, wild cherry in alcohol, and dried figs, perfectly integrated with intense notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee powder, sweet pipe tobacco, leather, licorice, background balsamic puffs, and a deep graphite mineral trace.
• Palate Characteristics: The tasting reveals a dry, warm profile endowed with an enveloping mouthfeel of imposing breadth. The progression displays a robust, full, and extraordinarily structured body where the exuberant alcohol power is masterfully supported by a vibrant acidic backbone that adds dynamism and removes any trace of heaviness. The tannic texture is tight, silky, and perfectly polished, guiding development toward a monumental, savory finish of extraordinary persistence.

Service Advice and Gastronomic Pairings

The thickness of the structural architecture, balanced tannins, and aromatic richness of this Sforzato Black Edition qualify it as an ideal companion for fine dining, succulent land-based cuisine, or as a superb meditation wine.

• Stable Pairings: It pairs magnificently alongside second courses based on prominent baked red meats, complex roasts, rich stews, slow-cooked braised dishes, and structured preparations featuring furred game, such as wild boar or venison stew. It excels paired alongside traditional regional recipes like local Valtellina pizzoccheri rich in butter and long-aged alpine hard cheeses, historical Bitto, or aged Valtellina Casera. It finds a magnificent match at the end of the meal if consumed on its own or paired alongside high-percentage dark chocolate.
• Serving Method: To promote the development of the rich tertiary profile and ensure proper tannin integration, opening the bottle and decanting it at least two hours in advance is recommended, using a wide tasting glass and a serving temperature of 16 - 18°C.