1999 Nino Negri Valtellina Superiore - Sassella

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 91 points

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  1/5/2020 - forceberry wrote:

  A blend of Nebbiolo (90%) and other local varieties (10%). 13% alcohol. Tasted blind.
  
  Deep, developed and relatively little translucent maroon-ish red color. Developed and somewhat oxidative nose with tertiary aromas of wizened sour cherries, sweet raisins, some meat stew, a little bit of rubber glove, light nutty notes of oxidation, a hint of pungent sweat and a touch of soy sauce. The wine is dry, medium-bodied and very tertiary on the palate with flavors of raisins, some sour cherries, a little bit of salty soy sauce, light pruney tones, a hint of leather and a tart touch of lingonberry. The wine is high in acidity with moderately resolved and slightly grippy tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is dry, long and oxidative with intense flavors of sour cherry bitterness, some beef jerky, a little bit of tart lingonberry, light oxidative notes of soy sauce, light gamey tones, a hint of earth and a touch of raisin.
  
  Compared to the wine I had half a year ago, this wine felt noticeably more evolved and oxidative with rather pronounced oxidative notes of dried meat and soy sauce. The wine is still drinkable, but lacks the nuance and refinement of the previous bottle. Going steadily downhill and although the wine is not falling apart completely at the moment, I have no doubts it will be in a few years. Perhaps not worth the 20€ anymore.

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  6/8/2019 - forceberry wrote: 91 Points

  13% alcohol.
  
  Dark, moderately translucent cherry red color with a developed maroon core that turns brick-orange towards the rim. Somewhat developed and slightly tertiary nose with restrained aromas of wizened red cherries, some roasted earthy spices, a little bit of burnt hair, light autumnal notes of damp leaves, a hint of loamy earth and a touch of plummy fruit. The wine is medium-bodied, silky and quite juicy on the palate with moderately ripe flavors of sweet dried red fruits, some meaty umami, a little bit of aged coffee character, light iron notes of blood, a hint of sous-bois and a touch of wizened tart dark berries. Bright acidity with firm and textural medium tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is dry, somewhat tannic and long with developed, savory flavors of wizened dark berries, some gamey tones, a little bit of tertiary dried fruit, light salty-umami notes of soy sauce and beef jerky and a hint of loamy earth.
  
  A classic developed Nebbiolo from Lombardy - feels somewhat lighter and more delicate than its weightier counterparts from Barolo and Barbaresco. Although not yet going downhill, the wine feels surprisingly evolved for its age - many a Barolo, Barbaresco or Alto Piemonte would be still far away from their peaks at this age, while this wine is hitting its apogee very soon. An enjoyable, tertiary and complex effort with wonderfully layered, savory taste, but surprisingly little potential for future development. Drink now or soon. Great value at 20€, though.

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