Tucked in between the Orobic and Retic Alps just south of the Italian-Swiss border, you’ll find the terraced vineyards of ARPEPE. At the helm of this storied estate, located in the Grumello subzone of Valtellina in Lombardy, is the fifth generation of the Pelizzatti Perego family. The roots of this blue-chip estate go back to the 1860s, when the current generation’s great-great-grandfather Giovanni founded a successful winery in the area, then known only as “Pelizzatti.” The family re-founded their company under the ARPEPE label in 1984, got back many of their proprietary vineyards from renters, and were able to reclaim their cellar in Grumello. Today, ARPEPE is widely recognized as the single best producer in the appellation (as well as a benchmark producer of Nebbiolo in general).
The fruit slowly dehydrates in the wind, still attached to the plant preparing for winter hibernation. Just before the snowfall, between the middle and the end of November, it is picked, softly crushed and mashed in the vat. When racked, it is completely dry and the acidity remains well in evidence. The slight drying of the grapes mitigates the nervous tannins of the Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva Ultimi Raggi DOCG and the aging in large barrels smooths out the dense texture.
Technical notes -
100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) sourced from the highest point in the Sassella subplot
600 meters elevation
South/southwestern exposure
The grapes were harvested November 13
Maceration for 58 days in 50-hectoliter wooden vats
Aged 39 months in cask
Refined three years in bottle
Alcohol 13.5%
500 cases produced
First Vintage 1988
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