Ar.Pe.Pe, "Rosso di Valtellina 2015" [1.5L (Magnum)]

This is alpine Nebbiolo like you've never had before -- finessed, smooth, the more delicate side of the grape made famous for its power in Barolo. This bottling is from the awe-inspiring, fifth-generation 13-hectare Ar.Pe.Pe estate in northern Italy's Valtellina, Lombardy (on the border with Switzerland).

Tasting: Slightly herbal on the nose, there is meadow scrub and mountainous aromatics reminiscent of fennel and wet rocks (for lack of a better descriptor) before a beautifully finessed palate equal parts berry and woodsy, with some slight rose and dark chocolate on the finish. Minerally from start to finish with a hedonist's view toward cherries and blueberries, dappled throughout, this is truly a perfect dinner red for the summer. 

Vinification: 100% Nebbiolo (or as it is known here, 'Chiavennasca'), hand-harvested from south-east-exposed vines grown at an altitude of 350/400m elevation. The grapes are macerated over the course of 100 days in 50hL wooden vats before a 9-month élevage in a combinaton of 50hL barrel, concrete, and finally a short maturation in bottle. Unfined, unfiltered, with a minimal addition of SO2. 12.5% ABV