Ronco del Picchio Sforzato made like Amarone style. It is rich, hedonistic and intense and a true Vino da Meditazione. (Meditation wines). Ruby red with garnet inflections. The color is deep, like the perfume. Reminiscent of ripe cherries, strawberries, morello cherries, green tea and dark chocolate. It has a soft and enveloping body, finished by a tannic contrast of great excellence. Very fresh and pleasantly savory.
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 winemaker 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.
Wine Spectator 93 points, Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri 3/3, Veronelli 94 points, Vitae AIS 3/4, Bibenda 4/5
What a wine a real Sforzato!! 
