Buffet, a good friend and Sassella Nino Negri

On a midsummer night..

This time it's my turn..
We could have gone to the bar in the square, nice, welcoming.
There was also the wine bar near home which wasn't a bad idea, it's cool inside.. no way.
Tonight we're meeting at my place!
Okay, then I'll go do some shopping, the fridge is crying!
The wine is brought by Antonio, dear friend, colleague and great drinker, not to be underestimated!
The heat doesn't allow the use of the stove, so we're going with cold cuts, cheeses, green olives, some preserved vegetables in oil, bruschette (I had to cook something, right?), tarallucci and some mozzarella which must never be missing.
A convivial, familiar atmosphere, the right way to have a chat comfortably seated on the sofa.
Keeping us company this time is the Sassella Valtellina Superiore di Nino Negri.

Easier said than done.

In 99% of cases, those who drink wine, enthusiast or professional alike, look exclusively at the finished product without ever keeping an eye on the history of said product. A history that is always made up of men who daily interact, collaborate and struggle with the land and its fruits to give us emotions enclosed in a bottle. The question we should constantly ask ourselves is: How did the wine end up in the bottle? This way we avoid hasty and sometimes merciless judgments (which is certainly not the case with this wine; it's complicated to find flaws or blemishes in the product in question).
The answer to this fateful question in this case opens up scenarios that are nothing short of incredible.
Just look at the territory dedicated to the cultivation of nebbiolo, chiavennasca, from which this wine comes to life.
Splendid terraced hillsides south of Sondrio overlooking unique views.
Challenging terraces, however, so much so as to not allow the use of any machinery. The work lies entirely in the arms of man, so much so that one speaks of heroic viticulture!
The harvested grapes, often transported by helicopter, will rest 2 months in steel, 18 in barrels, and finally in the bottle.
The Sassella wine presents a vivid ruby color with clear garnet reflections. On the nose a complexity still entirely in the making stands out; very delicate hints of withered flowers, enveloping fruit preserves. It releases its aromas with a certain cadence, memories of resin, soft cloves; it must be questioned but without haste. In flavor dry, warm, full, extremely well-balanced and persistent. There is an adjective on the back label that captures all our sensations and describes this wine better than any other word: austere. Austere in its color devoid of excess, austere in its complex bouquet, austere in all its gustatory and olfactory sensations.
If the temperatures had been milder I could have attempted a red meat roast, perhaps game, but also lamb. It seems to me, however, that Antonio appreciated my small buffet, so, if one day you should come to dinner at my place don't complain; perhaps make sure first of the possible weather conditions!