Product Description
97 points Wine Enthusiast
"Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this radiant red opens with enticing scents of woodland berry, forest floor, smoky flint and wild Alpine herb. The still youthful palate shows tension and finesse, featuring ripe sour cherry, strawberry compote, tobacco and a mineral vein of graphite. Firm, refined tannins and bright acidity lend balance and structure, while an almost salty saline note lingers on the close. Drink through 2034." *Cellar Selection*
96 points Decanter
Valtellina has some of the most challenging vineyards in Italy, most located on steep terraces at around 500m above sea level. Vigna Regina is a Chiavennasca with a 42-day maceration on the skins after fermentation. A bright, pale ruby-garnet in colour, it shows an extremely restrained character of smoky woodland and liquorice alongside a savoury blood-orange flavour. It’s pretty well extracted on the mid-palate, emerging with a stern structure yet refined tannins and huge freshness which should see it age well for decades. Drinking Window 2018 - 2040.
95 points Vinous Media
"The 2009 Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva Vigna Regina is laced with hints of raspberry, white truffle, mint, pine and orange peel. Deep, resonant and also light on its feet like only Nebbiolo can be, the Vigna Regina hits all the right notes. Chalk, white pepper and a whole range of bright, saline notes extend the finish. In 2009, the Vigna Regina is arrestingly beautiful."
Vinous Reverie Notes
“These wines from ARPEPE (an abbreviation of founder Arturo Pelizzatti Perego’s initials) are among the most impressive I tasted… From top to bottom, the wines are deserving of serious attention. The super-traditional style will leave lovers of translucent Nebbiolo weak at the knees… Perhaps most importantly, ARPEPE shows just how pedigreed the wines of Valtellina can be.” ~ Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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.” Over 150 years of history have passed since then, including the dark days of the 1970s during which the current generation’s grandfather fell ill, and the family was forced to sell the Pelizzatti brand along with some of their vineyards. The more recent history of the estate is an almost deus-ex-machina turn of events: 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.
