Nino Negri Valtellina Superiore - Grumello Sassorosso

Put this through a long decant, which opened up the beautiful nose of cherry and forest floor, a very aromatic wine. The palate is solid, with balanced acidity and slightly stingy tannins.

Corked or cooked, not sure. Oxidized and gross.

Pretty weighty - a mouthful - dense -on the (correct) red fruit side. Just my opinion, but not what draws me to Valtellina, which is a certain elegant red fruit core that isn't particularly dense. This wine I think is Valtellina trying to be something bigger. Not for me.

Annual Tasting Group Holiday Party (Il Foro, Mpls, MN) : Very small pour. Good with some deep red fruits, herbal,;as Brad noted, very good with the pork.

Light scent of black cherry and leather. Lithe body with a sweet core of ripe cherry. Excellent structure with a little oak spice on the finish.

Fresh, young, primary fruited, red-to-dark fruit, silky mouthfeel, smooth and supple, young tannins but friendly and approachable. This is made from Chiavennasca, the local name for Nebbiolo. With Sarah at Landmarc.

Cherries, strawberries, aromatic herbs, cherry liqueur on the nose and the palate. Sweet, serious tannins that need to resolve (this is still very young tasting), but the palate is already balanced, with ample cherry-like acidity and lots of bright red fruit, with a serious backbone of licorice, spices and a hint of wood. Long, sweet-spicy aftertaste. Quite exceptional. Might merit a higher score in future.

pale brick translucent fading to the rim. Persistent rose and other floral notes while bottle was consumed over 3-4 hour period adding more cedar, leather as time passed. medium body, typically nebbiolo with floral, red cherry and cedar coming together. medium alcohol and firm tannins. Under $40 Barolo alt. a good bet.

Nebbiolo from Lombardia. This is not a global wine. Thin and pale color. Leather and red berries, cranberry and moss. Fresh like an autum forest. Quite a long after taste with solid acids.

Great nose with flowers and leather even a little perfumy. Red fruit, tart cherries, typical Nebbiolo. Dominating tannins and acidity yet somehow manages a round smoothness. Enjoyable.