How to explain what happened on Tuesday? First, there was the cold, rainy weather that made treacherous roads even more slippery. Then, one of the pre-race favorites crashed out; another blew away his competition on an impossibly steep climb; and the showstopping newcomer finally had an off day. That said, the fight for the Maglia Rosa has tightened, ensuring a spectacular close to the 108^th Giro d’Italia.

Wednesday offers no respite for weary legs. The route includes three categorized climbs, all long and arduous. With razor-thin margins separating the top contenders, every attack must be answered, and team support will be critical. Richard Carapaz seemed the strongest on Tuesday, launching himself past rivals like Simon Yates, Egan Bernal, and Isaac Del Toro, none of whom could respond.

Spectator Sip: 2021 Mamete Prevostini “Corte di Cama” Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG

Valtellina lies in northern Lombardia, along Italy’s border with Switzerland. Vines are prevalent here, especially Nebbiolo, known locally as Chiavennasca. The best plots rise from the Adda River on steep, south-facing slopes, allowing maximum exposure to sunlight – an important quality here in Italy’s northernmost wine region. Most Valtellina wines are classified as DOC, with DOCG status awarded to Valtellina Superiore (from specifically identified subzones) and Sforzato di Valtellina.

Known as Sfurzat in local dialect, Sforzato is a full-bodied, dry red made from Nebbiolo grapes that have been dried for three months and then aged for at least 20 months, including 12 months in barrel. Not unlike Amarone di Valpolicella from the Veneto.

I recently attended the Taste of Lombardy hosted by Gambero Rosso in NYC, and had the chance to taste two flights of wines from the region, including the Sforzato “Corte di Cama” from Mamete Prevostini. It was the first Sforzato I’d tasted outside of an academic setting (i.e., WSET Diploma class) and I was so taken with it!

Here are my notes:

Color: Medium garnet, slightly paler and more of a copper shade at the rim (this is Nebbiolo, after all!) It’s number 10 in the photo above.

Nose: Fresh, ripe black and red berries; a not unpleasant note of volatile acidity; dried cherry; rose petals; dried rosemary. My first words were, “WOW! Super-complex!”

Palate: Similar fruit profile as the nose; dry with medium+ acidity; high alcohol; full body. There is structural balance despite the warmth of the alcohol and weighty texture. My exact words were, “Not as syrupy as some Amarones I’ve tasted. Somehow it all works. BALANCE!”

My favorite wine of the tasting!

If you haven’t tried a Sforzato di Valtellina wine, I urge you to seek one out.

About Mamete Prevostini Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG (15.5% abv; about $55 retail)

100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) from the Valtellina Superiore districts of Berbenno, Sondrio, and Montagna e Teglio, where vineyards lie between 350 and 500 meters above sea level.

The bunches, collected in small boxes, were left to dry naturally in the fruttaio for about 60 days. After a careful selection of the grapes, which were destemmed and gently pressed, alcoholic fermentation followed in stainless steel containers with 18 days of maceration on the skins. The wine then spent 12 months in oak barrels of different capacities and a further 10 months in the bottle prior to release.

I’ll check in tomorrow with recommendations for Thursday’s Stage!