Rob Brobst III

9.4

The 2021 Mazèr Valtellina Superiore DOCG 2021 from Valtellina pours a bright garnet and opens with lifted aromas of red currant, cranberry, rhubarb, and orange peel layered with subtle notes of anise, cedar, and alpine herbs. On the palate it’s medium-bodied and elegant, with lively acidity and firm, chalky tannins that frame flavors of tart red berries, licorice, and a touch of earth and spice. The finish is savory and mineral-driven, showing the cool alpine character of 100% Nebbiolo (locally called Chiavennasca) with a clean, persistent structure that should continue to evolve nicely over the next several years. 🍷  — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Convento San Lorenzo – Vesper Rosso di Valtellina / Nebbiolo / 2021
Valtellina DOC – Lombardy, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A fresh and vibrant 100% Nebbiolo crafted from the sun-soaked terraced vineyards of Valtellina, one of Italy’s northernmost winegrowing regions. This alpine setting gives Nebbiolo a lighter, more graceful expression than its Piedmont cousins.

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red cherries, wild strawberries, and rose petals, lifted by subtle herbal and mineral notes.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied yet structured, with lively acidity and smooth, fine tannins that glide across the palate.

Food Pairings
Bresaola, smoked brisket sliders, or a rustic spread of charcuterie.

Verdict
Pop, pour, and enjoy, this is Nebbiolo at its most approachable and charming, with no need for cellaring.

Did You Know?
Valtellina is one of the few places outside Piedmont where Nebbiolo thrives, locally called Chiavennasca. Its terraced vineyards, carved into steep alpine slopes, are UNESCO-recognized for their cultural heritage.
— a year ago

Severn G

9.3

2016 | Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo)
Motalli Renato; Valgella, Valtellina Superiore
Lombardy; Valtellina, Italy
(92-94; Drink 2026-36)

3H decant, 🤯 — 2 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

Im biased towards Italian mountain reds, so not surprised that I have a crush on this qpr from Lombardy. For about 16$ you get a lithe,medium bodied 90% Chiavennasca (local version of Nebbiolo), 10% merlot with an ease on the palate- ‘suppose that’s the influence of the Merlot. Builds in power & depth with air. Sweet rose hips, wild berries, underbrush. Nice back end length though the sweetness not my thing. For Nebbiolo fiends, a real find. Only about 1800 bottles imported, according to its importer, Wildman. — 5 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.0

Unbelievably light and smooth for a young “Nebbiolo”, but of course this is “Chiavennasca” and we are in Lombardia, not the Langhe. Pretty cranberry and blackberry notes with a hint of of something herbal/vegetal. — 7 years ago

Nikki Goddard, DWS

9.3

Dusty earth, liqueur cherries, candied violet petals, pomegranate, stewed strawberries, leather, anise; acidity is still super bright, fine, powdery tannins. — 8 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Gorgeous on both days. The 2019 Grumello “Rocco de Piro”pours a brilliant, ruby color with a transparent core and a slightly watery rim; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of cool, fresh raspberries, roses with babies breath, Alpine herbs, cedar chest, and rocky earth. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is silky. Such a beautiful and elegant expression of Chiavennasca. Drink now through 2034. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 5 months ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.3

Chiavennasca (alias nebbiolo) of great elegance
Light and super easy
So so pretty
Long and...you just need more — a year ago

Vanessa

9.4

This is the 2013 Ar.Pe.Pe Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva ‘Nuova Regina’. It’s 100% Chiavennasca and aged 39 months in cask.

It is PALE ruby in color with pronounced aromas and flavors of red and black cherry, bright raspberry, mulberry, pomegranate, purple fig, stewed strawberry rhubarb, rose, potpourri, black licorice, black tea, anise seed, fennel, tri-colored peppercorns, peat, vanilla, cardamom, nutmeg, forest floor, and mushroom.

On the palate, this wine is dry, w/ medium (+) acidity, a medium body, medium alcohol (13% ABV), & medium (+) tannins that are smooth and velveteen; it has a lingering finish.

It’s an outstanding wine, incredibly fresh now with runway to age & gain complexity in the bottle. — a year ago

with Deked1

Eric Urbani

9.0

This is mostly Chiavennasca, the local name for Nebbiolo. Cherry, black pepper. Balanced tannins and great acidity. Fermented in a mix of concrete and stainless steel, then aged for 9 months before an additional 3 months in bottle. — 6 years ago

David Kline

9.4

Black Truffle ravioli, heirloom tomatoes, and farm fresh kale went perfectly with this properly aged Valtellina Nebbiolo. It has truffle and aged salumi with baked plum and smoky cherry bursting aromatically alongside violet and briny plum reduction. A corned beef and grilled pork along with ground steak skimming. Amazing. Blood orange dried bing and cran, dried violet, cedar and light tobacco, clove, and lightest graphite. This is elegant as a samurai sword with the blacksmith residue to prove it, Rose petal, and a hemp resin moment tamed by cinnamon. Incredible on all levels. #rainoldi #rainoldivaltellina #valtellina #valtellinasuperiore #sassellareserva #nebbiolo #chiavennasca — 6 years ago

with Courtney

Juan Pelizzatti

8.9

Still fresh in spite of a little oak sweetness, fluid commercial style — 8 years ago

Chip Habegger

9.2

Love it. Dusty, rose petals, and cherry. Easy to keep drinking glass after glass. — 7 months ago

Kland Aida

9.3

Another Valtellinese but a white blend. It even has a bit of Chiavennasca in it.
Light peach and melon but also a bit of oak. Dry and clean finish. July 2025 — 9 months ago

Deborah M

9.6

Made from 100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) sourced from the Sassella sub-zone, this wine is far from light despite its light color. It’s beautifully elegant, with incredible acidity designed for aging. We enjoyed a 2016 that was singing after a short decant. Really loved this one.
— a year ago

Benjamin Hickey

9.3

Light but has depth and persistence — 4 years ago

Darren Dittrich

9.0

Lovely alpine Nebbiolo from a terrific producer. This is a different animal than your Langhe Nebbiolo... there’s some additional ripeness, minerality, and rusticity, an expression of place and perhaps this local derivative of Nebbiolo: Chiavennasca — 5 years ago

Matt Richards

9.0

Not as intense as a Barolo; I would say more balanced. Great with earthy food. — 7 years ago

Markus Von Rottenmeier

9.1

Very nice Sforzato — 8 years ago

Charlie Abbott

Sommelier Casa Mono

9.0

Beautiful, nimble, aromatic Nebbiolo (chiavennasca), supposedly a more structured subzone but still very pretty and feminine. Slightly corked. — 8 years ago