Picchioni Arfena 2021 2023

Picchioni works in D.O.C. Oltrepò Pavese in southern Lombardy, the hilly stretch of northern Italy that is one of the country's main homes for Pinot Noir. Arfena is a varietal Pinot Noir, farmed organically and made under the Slow Wine philosophy, which sets sustainability and respect for the land at the centre of the work. The Apennine foothills bring cool nights and well-drained marl and limestone soils, conditions that suit Pinot Noir and keep the fruit fresh and aromatic at a moderate 13.5% alcohol. The wine spends twelve months in barrel, where slow oxygen exchange settles the tannins and adds gentle spice and earthy depth without overwhelming the delicate fruit. The wine is bright, pale ruby. The nose shows red cherry, redcurrant and wild strawberry with violet, dried herbs and a forest-floor earthiness. The palate is light to medium-bodied and elegant, with fresh acidity, fine silky tannins and a savoury, mineral finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees. It suits roast poultry, game birds and mushroom dishes.