2013 AR.PE.PE. Valtellina Superiore - Sassella Riserva Ultimi Raggi

Community Tasting Notes (11) Avg Score: 92.9 points

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  1/2/2024 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Pretty glorious wine, unique in several ways. There are certain subtle aspects to it (mostly the presence of "dried fruit") that simply aren't my style, but not only are these aspects subtle, they're a super-important part of the experience. Let's say I found it about 20% *somewhat* unappealing (through no fault of its own), and 80% stunning, powerful, and utterly delicious.
  
  Beautiful perfume on the nose, not "explosive" but not shy either, opening up after a couple hours in bottle (no decant.) An interesting combination of fresh red fruits and darker dried fruits, very rare- like fresh alpine strawberries/raspberries mixed with figs and dates. Also, a plethora of complex savory tones- things like leather, untreated wood planks, dead leaves, rose petals, pipe tobacco, and fresh thyme or rosemary. A real kaleidoscope of scents on display. Like I said, I don't usually love dried fruit character, but it was only a part of the whole, and added to the complexity.
  
  The palate was a bit higher-pitched than the nose but similarly complex, lots of sour cherry (a bit tart at first, before getting more air and evening out), as well as plenty of fresh herb, saline notes, a bit of peppery/meaty charcuterie, and surprisingly velvety tannins, just a gentle weight without feeling coarse. The dried fruit perks up again on the finish in a sort of austere way that I didn't love as much, but again, it's only a small part of the experience. As a whole, it was light, elegant, and delicious.
  
  I'm a little more curious to try their "normal" crus than this one again, but there's no denying the beauty and uniqueness on display here.

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  12/11/2023 - dreambeam Likes this wine:

  Served in Zalto burgundy stems. Effortless elegance, seemingly weightless texture. Dried flowers, figs, leather, hint of pine. Medium tannin. Drinking very well and already quite evocative.

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  11/20/2023 - Ralphs Bar Likes this wine:

  Drank alongside 2006 Antonio Vallana e Figlio Campi Raudii. This wine was significantly more elegant and complex. Characteristics they shared were excellent balance, plenty of fruit and tannins.

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  7/17/2023 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 95 Points

  beautiful wines, love this producer

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  5/12/2023 - stet Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Color: medium garnet
  Nose: beautiful purest red cherry, just ripe. Roses, anise, leather, pollen, a very charming wet forest smell, mont, the leaves of blackberries when you pick the berries. Ever-changing
  Palate: medium-high acidity, medium tannins that grip on the tongue. Medium-light body and light mouth feel. It Carrie aromas with good intensity, confirming the nose with a good cherry and anise kick
  Finish: medium-long
  
  Elegant and very evocative of a walk in alpine conifer woods. This is definitely a statement of what nebbiolo from Lombardy can do: i think this would go well with a tartare but it's more of a sipper for my (tannin-lovong, acidity-immune) palate. Are.pe.pe just can't get a wine wrong. I think this can smooth in cellar for another 10 years or more, peak is in the future; still, it is eminently drinkable today and shows complexity at room temp with 2 hours of air

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View all 11 Community Tasting Notes

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