Ronco del Picchio Sforzato made like Amarone style. It is rich, hedonistic and intense and a true Vino da Meditazione. (Meditation wines).
Sforzato truly represents the greatness of Nebbiolo in the Valtellina. Fay's top wine has to be one of the best in the area, grown at 750 meter elevation, on steep terraces. Roncho del Picchio is a labor of love for young wine maker Marco Fay. The wine has unique style and personality with a rich layered profile from ripe Nebbiolo. The palate is both powerful and warm but maintains freshness and great finesse. A stunning Nebbiolo, a rival for many in Piemonte and one of Italy's great red wines!
To produce Sforzato, the Nebbiolo grapes are picked during the first week of October, left to dry in a drying room until the first half of December after which the grapes then go through fermentation in stainless steel tanks for 20 days with maceration for 10 days, and then through malolactic fermentation and aging for 12 months in half new barriques.