ARPEPE Valtellina Superiore Il Pettirosso 2022

Il Pettirosso is the most approachable of Ar.Pe.Pe.'s Valtellina Superiore wines, named after the robins that flit through the family's vineyards in this alpine stretch of Lombardy. The Pelizzatti family farms Nebbiolo on steep, terraced slopes above the Adda valley, where granite-origin soils are stony and free-draining and force the vines to concentrate their fruit. The mountain altitude and broad diurnal range preserve the high acidity and floral perfume that mark Nebbiolo grown here, giving the wine its freshness and lift. It ages twelve months in vats and barrels followed by twelve months in bottle, a measured regime that softens the tannins through slow oxygen exchange while keeping the aromatics bright and the fruit forward. The colour is pale, translucent ruby-garnet. The nose is fragrant, with ripe cherry, blackberry and dried rose over dried herbs and a savoury earthiness. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and lifted, with bright acidity and fine, gentle tannins that carry a clean, savoury finish. It is the readiest of the range to drink now while still holding for several years. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees. It suits poultry, game and earthy dishes.