2015 ArPePe Grumello Rocca de Piro (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Valtellina Superiore, Lombardy, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Attention Nebbiolo fans – if you haven't yet discovered the captivating wines of Ar.Pe.Pe. from the tiny Valtellina region north of Piedmont, you're in for a real treat. Considered one of the most impressive producers in the region, Ar.Pe.Pe.'s highly rated Valtellinas offer fresh, racy fruit with bright acidity in richly complex red wines that Vinous critic Antonio Galloni declares "will leave lovers of translucent Nebbiolo weak at the knees."

More than a decade after the winery was sold off in a family dispute, fourth generation Arturo Pelizzatti Perego launched a new winery in 1984, buying back family vineyards and the original Pelizzatti family cellars and renaming it Ar.Pe.Pe. Now run by Arturo's three children, Ar.Pe.Pe. (pronounced "Arr-Pay-Pay") crafts its wines in the traditional method with the localized clone of Nebbiolo known as Chiavennasca, fermenting with native yeasts and extensively aging the wines in large chestnut and oak casks. Rising up south facing slopes at altitudes up to 2,500 feet above sea level, Ar.Pe.Pe.'s steep terraced vineyards are reminiscent of Germany's Mosel and Portugal's Douro, located in two distinct terroirs at higher elevations: Sassella, known for powerful wines of bold intensity and minerality, and Grumello, exhibiting fruit-driven elegance and finesse, all balanced with lively acidity.

Blended from these two terroirs, an exploration of Ar.Pe.Pe.'s wines begins with the lush 93pt 2016 Ar.Pe.Pe. Petrirossa boasting fresh, juicy fruit with bright acidity and earthy hints of Alpine herbs. Produced from their top vineyards, the ageworthy 2015 Ar.Pe.Pe. selections offer rich, palate-coating fruit and deeply layered nuances of violet and spice typical of Nebbiolo, while the lushly complex 95pt 2013 Riservas are single vineyard wines of exceptional longevity produced only in the best vintages, released an astounding eight years after harvest and expressive of each "cru."

Known for crafting the region's most highly acclaimed wines, critic and leading Italian expert Galloni declares "Ar.Pe.Pe. shows just how pedigreed the wines of Valtellina can be," earning their place among Italy's top Nebbiolos and delivering exceptional value. With the majority of Valtellina's wines historically consumed within 100 miles of the surrounding valley, Nebbiolo lovers already familiar with Ar.Pe.Pe. know to act fast – these hard-to-find, value priced gems will be gone in a flash.

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Fruit for this wine comes from the high altitudes of the Rhaetian Alps, where decomposed granite soils make for a dark contrast against brilliant white ice and snow falls. The Ar. Pe. Pe. 2015 Valtellina Superiore Nebbiolo Grumello Rocca de Piro reveals a long succession of dried raspberry, cassis, pressed violets, iron ore and crushed stone. This wine promises to make a terrific pairing with a simple plate of thinly sliced Valtellina bresaola. Some 30,000 bottles were made.

93 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Issue # 253 - Feb 2021)

An elegant light- to medium-bodied red, with fine tannins creating a supple frame for flavors wild strawberry, black tea leaf and a ferrous, minerally underpinning. It's fresh and focused, with a lingering, lightly spiced finish. Drink now through 2030. 520 cases made, 175 cases imported.

92 points, Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator (May 2021)

Initially shy, the subtle nose eventually reveals new leather, Alpine herb and wild berry. The savory palate has an understated elegance, offering Marasca cherry, pomegranate and graphite alongside refined tannins. Drink through 2027.

92 points, Kerin O'Keefe, Wine Enthusiast (Oct 2020)

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$49.98

1 bottle in stock. Ships in 1 to 2 business days.

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