ARPEPE Valtellina Superiore Inferno Fiamme Antiche 2022

Ar.Pe.Pe. is a historic Valtellina estate run by the Pelizzatti family, working Nebbiolo on the steep, terraced slopes of this alpine corner of Lombardy near the Adda valley. The Inferno subzone is among the warmest sites, its name a nod to the heat trapped on these south-facing terraces. The granite-origin soils are poor and free-draining, stressing the vines and producing small, concentrated berries, while the mountain altitude and sharp diurnal range preserve the high acidity and perfume that define Nebbiolo here. The wine ages twenty-four months in large wooden vats and barrels, a long, gentle maturation that softens Nebbiolo's firm tannins through slow oxygen exchange while keeping the fruit fresh and the aromatics intact. The colour is pale, translucent garnet. The nose is fragrant, with red cherry, raspberry, dried rose and a savoury note of liquorice and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied but firmly structured, with high acidity and fine, drying tannins that carry a long, earthy finish. This is an ageworthy wine that will gain complexity for years. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted. It suits game and earthy dishes.