Marena Sassella 2019

Grown from small terraced vineyards between 330m-600m of Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo as we call it in Australia) in the Lombardy region of Valtellina Superiore DOCG and the subzone of Sassella. The wine is floral with lilac and blackberry bush. Raspberry meets bilberry, a hint of blue plums and cherry liqueur. Licorice root, candied quince and dried cherry skin. The palate is awash with sappy pomegranate seed tannins, not astringent or gritty. There is a rosehip, tea leaf bitterness and an almost creamy feel to the red berried fruit, like Frûche yoghurt, yes it still exists. It has a lofty, floral feel with good flavour density and youthful crunch of acidity. Drinking very well now and will age another 4-6 years. This is unlike many wines you’ve had before, it’s alluring and intriguing. Just as wine should always be. A great pairing for pink peppercorn crusted rib eye.

Shanteh Wale

Contributor at Wine Companion

Shanteh cut her teeth at Sydney’s Award-Winning Quay restaurant where she worked for over a decade and was Head Sommelier from 2018 till 2022. She has been nominated for the Good Food Guide Sommelier of the Year award on three occasions and claims that her experience as a Len Evans scholar as one of the highlights of her career. Shanteh hosts her own weekly podcast ‘Over A Glass’ with the Deep in the Weeds Network and spends her time writing for various publications and judging at numerous wine shows across the country.

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