Items not labeled as Rapid Ship or Pre-arrival may require a transfer from the warehouse to our shipping facility before shipping, which can take 4–6 business days. Learn more on the Shipping Info page.
In-store Only Items
These items are available at our location to purchase in-store, or to choose in-store pickup at checkout.
Long-term Pre-arrival Items
Long Term Pre-arrival Definition: Ordering wine directly through us from our supplier partners in Europe in advance of the item’s physical arrival in the US.
Long Term Pre-arrival sales ensure you’re getting the best possible price and that you have also secured the product before it hits the normal retail supply chain. The lead time for Pre-arrival goods is generally 4–8 months, sometimes longer based on supply chain and the logistics of transporting goods overseas. The expectation, from our team, is to communicate to the customer the location of their purchase every step of the way.
This product is offered as a full case purchase option, minimum order quantities may be applicable. When available, multiple case options will be presented. If you are purchasing a Pre-Arrival item you must order a solid case.
Rapid Ship
Items listed as "rapid ship" are in stock and available for immediate pickup or shipment. Those that do not have the "rapid ship" icon are housed with our supplier and must be transferred to our warehouse before they can be picked up or shipped. This requires 4-6 business days but usually occurs sooner. Some products will list both options of availability as there will be a certain number in stock, with the option to order additional bottles to be transferred from the supplier.
We offer FREE ground shipping and discounted upgraded shipping on orders with multiples of 12 qualifying bottles. Solid cases or mix-and-match, look for the yellow 12 FREE badge and save!
Sample image only.Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering, the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description.
SKU 978505
$33.94/bottle
Out of stock
Want to be notified when this product is back in stock?
The 2019 Valtellina Superiore Sassella is laced with black cherry, spice, leather, licorice and incense, all of which bring out the darker side of Nebbiolo. Medium in body, with bright acids and plenty of hillside tannin, the Sassella is an absolute delight.
The Nebbiolo grape varietal is widely understood to be the fruit responsible for Italy's finest aged wines. However, its popularity and reliability as a grape which gives out outstanding flavors and aromas has led it to be planted in many countries around the world, with much success. These purple grapes are distinguishable by the fact that they take on a milky dust as they begin to reach maturity, leading many to claim that this is the reason for their unusual name, which means 'fog' in Italian. Nebbiolo grapes produce wines which have a wide range of beautiful and fascinating flavors, the most common of which are rich, dark and complex, such as violet, truffle, tobacco and prunes. They are generally aged for many years to balance out their characteristics, as their natural tannin levels tend to be very high.
Country
Italy
There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.
Region
Lombardy
The beautiful north westerly wine region of Lombardy in Italy is home to many of the country's most characterful and well respected wines, most of which are grown on the shores of the stunning Lake Garda. The lake itself plays a vitally important part of the region's viticulture, as the climate around the river is cooler than in surrounding areas, thus tempering the heat of the vineyards and allowing the vines which grow there to ripen more slowly. For centuries, Lombardy wines have been considered amongst the finest in Italy, and today, the wine industry of the region is doing very well indeed. With wineries in Lombardy utilizing a successful blend of traditional and modern techniques, they are continually producing wines which express the excellence of the terroir the vines are grown on, and which contain fascinating and unique flavors and aromas.
Appellation
Valtellina
Valtellina is a historic wine region in Italy's alpine Lombardy, stretching along the Adda River valley near the Swiss border. What makes it truly distinctive is its extreme terroir: vineyards cling to impossibly steep, south-facing slopes at elevations reaching 2300 feet, requiring heroic viticulture where much work must be done by hand.
The region is renowned for its elegant Nebbiolo-based wines, though here the grape is called Chiavennasca. Unlike Piedmont's powerful Barrolos, Valtellina's Nebbiolos express a more delicate, alpine character with bright acidity, lighter body, and notes of wild herbs alongside classic rose and tar aromatics. The continental climate—with warm days and cool nights—preserves remarkable freshness.
Five subzones produce Valtellina Superiore DOCG, with Sassella and Inferno being most celebrated. The region also crafts Sforzato, a compelling passito-style wine made from dried grapes. These terraced vineyards represent centuries of winemaking tradition in one of Europe's most challenging—and breathtaking—wine landscapes.
VM91pts
Vinous Media
The 2019 Valtellina Superiore Sassella is laced with black cherry, spice, leather, licorice and incense, all of which bring out the darker side of Nebbiolo. Medium in body, with bright acids and plenty of hillside tannin, the Sassella is an absolute delight.
WS90pts
Wine Spectator
Fragrant with tar, dried tea rose and licorice, this firm, fresh red layers dried cherry and plum reduction notes with taut, well-knit tannins. Light- to medium-bodied, with a spiced finish. Drink now through 2027. 650 cases made, 200 cases imported.
Winery Notes
Ruby red color. Delicate bouquet with a prevalence of mineral and iron notes, hints of spices and dried flowers. On the palate the wine is harmonious, velvety and vibrant.
Ruby red color. Medium-bodied, particularly fresh and fruity: hints of currants, plums, and raspberries. Great drinkability, freshness and versatility in…
