Arpepe Sassella Rocce Rosse Riserva 2016

Ar.Pe.Pe. is the acronym of the founder, Arturo Pelizzatti Perego, of this winery jewel in the Valtellina, nestled between the Rhaetian and Orobie Alps, one of the most beautiful and dramatic regions in the world, in northern Lombardy. Heroic viticulture has been practiced on steep granite terraces since the Romans. The fourth generation of the family, the inspired siblings Isabella, Emanuele and Guido, has shown how sensational a great mountain Nebbiolo can be, endowed with pristine purity, supreme elegance, complexity of tertiary aromas, freshness and mineral sapidity.

Rocce Rosse is an old vineyard in Sassella, 400 meters above sea level, extremely rocky and steep. So steep that it requires a suspended cart to transport the grapes without putting the workers at risk. The grapes macerate for 97 days in 50 hl wooden containers, followed by a 34-month ageing period in the same containers + a few months in cement tanks.

Points: 96 Robert Parker
"There is a pretty spiciness as well, with dried cinnamon stick, nutmeg and tanned leather."