2017 Tenute Sella, Lessona "San Sebastiano allo Zoppo"

Tenute Sella is one of the oldest continually operating wine estates in Italy, founded in 1671 in the Alto Piemonte region beneath the Alps. Lessona is famed for its unique marine sand soils—highly acidic, mineral-rich, and iron-tinted Pliocene sands that impart an ultra-silky, high-toned, and ethereal elegance to Nebbiolo (known locally as Spanna). "San Sebastiano allo Zoppo" is a historic single-vineyard site sitting at 300 meters elevation, featuring 40+ year-old vines.

Blended with 15% Vespolina for added spice and floral lift, the 2017 vintage underwent long fermentation in stainless steel before aging for 24 to 30 months in large Slavonian oak casks (botti). The warm 2017 vintage gave the sandy Lessona soils incredible depth and concentration while preserving its signature marine-sand acidity: wild raspberries, dried cranberries, orange peel, crushed chalk, dried rose petals, and spicy white pepper.

Why You’ll Love it

• Sourced from a historic 1600s estate and single vineyard in Alto Piemonte’s prized Lessona DOC.

• Unique acidic marine-sand soils produce a weightless, silky, and highly perfumed style of Nebbiolo.

• Blend inclusion of Vespolina endows the wine with white pepper spice and high-toned rose petal perfume.

How To Serve It

• Serve at cool room temperature between 60°F and 63°F.

• Decant for 45 minutes to let the dried floral and spicy volcanic/marine aromatics open up.

• Pour into burgundy stems to capture its expansive perfume.

• Pair with mushroom tagliatelle, roasted duck breast, risotto con fonduta, or veal cutlets.