Corte Della Meridiana Valtellina Superiore

PRODUCER: Conti Sertoli Salis	VOLUME: 750ml
COD: Italy	ALCOHOL: 13%

Colour: moderately deep ruby red, with light notes of purple and a trace of orange.

Bouquet: scents of dried hazelnut mixed with liquorice and vanilla. Raspberry and black cur-rant with warm, round notes.

Taste: very smooth, with a full and long-lasting sensation of liquorice and vanilla, a warm and full quality. Hints of dried fruit and almonds.

The vinification of this special and very elegant wine goes back to the ancient and still valid concept of the practice of “Rinforzo”. According to this wine-making tradition, which was widespread in the past in Valtellina, after the harvest, a part of the grapes is left to dry in the lofts until the end of the autumn. The remaining grapes are carefully selected and made into wine while they are fresh. In December the grapes are pressed and added to the wine which was produced at the beginning of November. Fermentation begins again, and when it is completed the wine undergoes repeated decantations. In the period of the waning moon in April/May the wine is removed from the large cask and is placed in “carati” (small oak casks) of 450/500 litres. Here it remains for over a year and a half, and it is regularly decanted and topped up.

When this refinement in the new wood is finished, and during the period of the waning spring moon in the second year after the har-vest, the wine is bottled. The bottles are stored for a period of ageing fo at least 6 months.

In the autumn following the ageing period, it already expresses character and elegance. However, it is a wine with a long life which will continue to improve, perfecting its characteristic for many years (10-15 or even 20 years).
This wine can be easily treated to a very long period of ageing, until it becomes a very rare personal and private “Reserve”.

Suitable for all kinds of meat, in particular with wild fowl, and full fat cheeses. It can also be enjoyed on its own for pure pleasure.

Canua Sforzato di Valtellina

PRODUCER: Conti Sertoli Salis	VOLUME: 750ml
COD: Italy	ALCOHOL: 14.5%

Colour: deep ruby red, frequently with carnet reflections.

Bouquet: light for its high alcohol content. A marked scent of marasca cherry, complex mixed spicy notes with undertones of cinnamon and liquorice.

Taste: very smooth, with all the body to be expected in a fine wine. The fruit and spicy notes of the scent are confirmed in the taste. An exceptionally pleasant wine which lingers in the mouth.

The grapes are removed manually from the “mantavole” and pressed in a roller press without separating them from the stalks, which are now dry and woody.

The must which is obtained has a concentration of sugar (25 – 28%) and for this reason, and because the temperature is still very low, fermentation is always very slow. The must ferments in contact with the skins for about 15 / 20 days. After this it is pressed and the drained must is recovered. Fermentation continues without the marc until the sugars have completely disappeared, finishing with an alcoholic content of 15°-15,5°C.

Decantation is completed between April and July, and the wine is transferred in 450 litre casks of French oak for the refinement and smoothness of the bouquet. This is always carried out during periods when the moon is waning.
The wine is then put into bottles, where it rests for at least 6 months.

This wine is already extremely good as soon as it is put onto the market. However, it keeps well when bottled because of its particular characteristics. After 6 – 7 years it has great body and smoothness. When older it acquires great complexity and refinement. Long ageing can be planned, even for several decades. Serving suggestions

Always serve at a temperature of 18°C. After medium ageing (5 – 6 years) it can accompany elaborate game dishes (venison, boar etc.) or full fat soft cheeses. As it ages, it becomes exclusively a wine to end a meal or to savour in contemplation.

Il Saloncello

PRODUCER: Conti Sertoli Salis	VOLUME: 750ml
COD: Italy	ALCOHOL: 12.5%

Colour: Moderately deep ruby red with some purple reflections, lively and shiny

Bouquet: Elegant and variegated, strongly reminiscent of blackberry, black currant and raspberry, and finally clear peppered notes with a hint of spices.

Taste: Initially fully vinous and smooth. However, it is a wine of great breeding and excellent body which combines its immediate freshness with a complexity of characteristics which guarantees a noteworthy longevity. The tannic impression is well balanced. The taste is very pleasant and the aftertaste has a good consistency.

10% of Merlot grapes. At the moment, it is necessary to present this wine as “geographically indicated table wine” only because of the method of production and the shorter ageing process.

According to an ancient Valtellina tradition (which is confirmed by G.F. Massara in a text dating 1834) the perfectly healthy whole grapes are placed in vats with a little fermenting must. Only after several days (6-10) they are delicately squeezed in a grape press with the same pressure as when they were pressed by hand or by foot. The temperatures of the fermentation of the whole grapes and of the subsequent turbulent fermentation are constantly checked and regulated for the cooling and heating of the must.
After this real turbulent fermentation begins, and the marks are repeatedly immersed.

When fermentation is completed, a final hot maceration and then the drawing off follows. The new wine is first conserved in stainless steel vats, where the malolactic fermentation is completed. Repeated decanting follows, strictly in the period when the moon is waning. In the last quarter of the moon in the month of March, part of the wine is transferred to 50 HL oak casks, and another part to small oak casks, “Barriques”, of 550 litres where it is refined until the following August/September.

In this period it is bottled and it begins its development in the bottle where it will improve for many years.

It reaches a high finesse of expression within only a few months of being bottled, when its freshness and youthful fragrance can be appreciated. However, thanks to its constitution it is capable of a long ageing (10-12 years and even more), so it can be kept in a suitable cellar for several years until it becomes an authentic and special private reserve.

This wine is suited to many dishes which vary according to its age. It is particularly appropriate for first courses with complex, spicy and strong but sweet flavours, and both white meat and poultry.

Grumello

PRODUCER: Conti Sertoli Salis	VOLUME: 750ml
COD: Italy	ALCOHOL: 12%

Colour: ruby red, with purple reflections when young.

Bouquet: penetrating, variegated. Hints of green hazel-nut, raspberry, vanilla and nutmeg.

Taste: a good initial smoothness on a pleasant tannic note. Full, with touches of spices, evident nutmeg and almond.

After the separation of the stalks, the grapes are pressed and the must passes, together with the skins, to the alcoholic fermentation phase.
The fermentation occurs through the maceration of the marc, which is constantly soaked in the must. The maceration lasts about 15-20 days and the temperature is kept controlled at about 28°-30°C, to obtain the best results in aromas and structure.

This is followed by decantings to the reach the best limpidity, two years of refinement in oak barrels and, at the end, the wine is put into the bottles, where it remains another 6 months to complete its maturation.

Up to 5-6 years in bottles lying in cool, dark cellars, at a constant temperature.

This wine, especially when 2 or 3 years old, goes particularly well with the typical dishes of the Valtellina (pizzoccheri, polente etc.). When older, it is suitable for every type of meat.

Salis 1637

PRODUCER: Conti Sertoli Salis	VOLUME: 750ml
COD: Italy	ALCOHOL: 13%

Colour: ruby red, with good intensity and carnet reflections, lively and shiny.

Bouquet: Elegant and variegated, strongly reminiscent of blackberry, black currant and raspberry, and finally clear peppered notes with a hint of spices.

Taste: Initially fully vinous and smooth. However, it is a wine of great breeding and excellent body which combines its immediate freshness with a complexity of characteristics which guarantees a noteworthy longevity. The tannic impression is well balanced. The taste is very pleasant and the aftertaste has a good consistency.

After the separation of the stalks, the grapes are pressed and the must passes, together with the skins, to the alcoholic fermentation phase. The fermentation occurs through the maceration of the marc, which is constantly soaked in the must. The maceration lasts about 7-10 days and the temperature is kept controlled at about 28°-30°C, to obtain the best results in aromas and structure.
This followed by decanting to reach the best limpidity, two years of refinement in oak barrels and, at the end, the wine is put into the bottles, where it remains another 6 months to complete its maturation.

It reaches a high finesse of expression within only a few months of being bottled, when its freshness and youthful fragrance can be appreciated. However, thanks to its constitution it is capable of a long ageing (10-12 years and even more), so it can be kept in a suitable cellar for several years until it becomes an authentic and special private reserve.

This wine is suited to many dishes which vary according to its age. It is particularly appropriate for first courses with complex, spicy and strong but sweet flavours, and both white meat and poultry.

Inferno

PRODUCER: Conti Sertoli Salis	VOLUME: 750ml
COD: Italy	ALCOHOL: 12%

Colour: ruby red, with some carnet reflections. With ageing, orange nuances appear.

Bouquet: full, persistent, characterized initially by floral notes, recalling violets. Some hints of spices and wild berries.

Taste: pleasantly tannic, warm, harmonic. Good smoothness, with touches of liquorice and blackberry.

After the separation of the stalks, the grapes are pressed and the must passes, together with the skins, to the alcoholic fermentation phase.
The fermentation occurs through the maceration of the marc, which is constantly soaked in the must. The maceration lasts about 15 – 20 days and the temperature is kept controlled at about 28°-30°C, to obtain the best results in aromas and structure.
This followed by decantings to reach the best limpidity, two years of refinement in oak barrels and, at the end, the wine is put into the bottles, where it remains another 6 months to complete its maturation.

Up to 7 – 8 years in bottles lying in cool, dark cellars, at a constant temperature.

This wine is particularly suitable for meat, both red and white, and after 4 – 5 years of ageing, it is perfect with game, too.

Sassella

PRODUCER: Conti Sertoli Salis	VOLUME: 750ml
COD: Italy	ALCOHOL: 12%

Colour: ruby red, taking on a hint of orange with ageing.

Bouquet: ethereal, variegated, with persistent notes recalling dried hazelnut and, less noticeably, withered rose.

Taste: it starts with a light, pleasant and well harmonized tannin. It is a refined, full-bodied wine, expressing a good variety of sensations: a mix of toasted and candied spices.

After the separation of the stalks, the grapes are pressed and the must passes, together with the skins, to the fermentation phase.
The fermentation occurs through the maceration of the marc, which is constantly soaked in the must. The maceration lasts about 15 – 20 days and the temperature is kept controlled at about 28 – 30°C, to obtain the best results in aroma and structure.
This followed by decanting to reach the best limpidity, two years of refinement in oak barrels and finally the wine is put into the bottles, where it remains another 3 months to complete its maturation.

Up to 7 – 10 years in bottles lying in cool, dark cellars, at a constant temperature.

This wine goes particularly well with meat, both red and white. It is also very well suited to tasty first courses (polenta) and medium seasoned cheeses.