ARPEPE
Sassella Riserva Nuova Regina 2018
Lombardy, Italy
From the most rocky of their vineyards in the Sassella cru, the vines here dig right into the granite below, making this the most delicate of all of their riservas. This wine spent several months on the skins, before four years of rest in old chestnut casks. A wine of real elegance, which displays a tightrope balance and delicate notes of mature red fruits, minerals and refreshing herbs.
Nebbiolo
ABOUT THE PRODUCER
The Perego family has been growing grapes on the granite terraces of Valtellina since 1860.
They work only with Nebbiolo, or Chiavennasca as it is called in these parts, growing the grapes up to seven hundred metres above sea level on sheer, south-facing, sunlit vines that dig straight into rock. The vines are so far north into the alps they are practically in Switzerland and the resulting fruit is intensely mineral.
Production is very much of the old-school and labour is intense, the hills making it very difficult to reach the fruit at all. Everything across their thirteen hectares of vines is done by hand and in the cantina the family exercises a soft touch with famous patience. Favouring long, gentle macerations, the wines are left to rest in large, old chestnut casks until they are deemed ready for release.
The transparency of the grape, the singular landscape and the Peregos’ gentle hand in the cantina make for wines that are up there with Italy’s greats.