ARPEPE
Sassella Riserva Rocce Rosse 2018
Lombardy, Italy
From a unique terroir, even by this dramatic valley’s standards, a plot of fifty year old vines planted over red granite near the top of Sassella at nearly 500 metres above sea level. The grapes were macerated for four months in tini and the wine rested in large chestnut casks for four years before bottling. Complex and intense, a wild, sanguine note from the iron in the soils offers both complexity and intrigue. Wonderful now, it will reward drinkers for many years to come.
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.