ARPEPE

Valtellina Superiore Riserva Sassella 'Rocce Rosse'

100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) sourced from the Sassella subzone
400-500 meters elevation
South/southeastern exposure
Maceration for 69 days in 50-hectoliter wooden vats
Aged 39 months in cask
Refined three years in bottle
Alcohol 13%
1,000 cases produced
First vintage 1984

Info

Producer:

ARPEPE

Vintage:

2002

Country:

Italy

Region:

Lombardia

Appellation:

Valtellina

Variety:

Nebbiolo

Color:

Red

Farming Practice:

Sustainable

Sizes Available

Full Bottle	IT-ARP-23-02	6/750ml
3L (Jeroboam)	IT-ARP-23-02J	1/3000ml

Resources

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Press & Reviews

Decanter

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Vinous

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Wine Spectator

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Kerin O'Keefe

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2024-12-20

"While 2002 was one of the worst vintages in Modern Day mainland Italy, it was excellent in Valtellina and the 2002 Rocce Rosse Riserva is extraordinary. The best of the tasting, it boasts aromas and flavors of sweet red cherry, fruit cake, baking spice, mint, spiced orange zest and salty mineral. It has structure and a smooth texture, with taut, refined tannins and racy tension that gives it finesse and so much life. What a stunner. Drink through 2042. Abv: 13% Kerin O'Keefe December 2024"

REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES

Kerin O'Keefe

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2024-12-20

"Another excellent showing, this is a classic Nebbiolo from the mountains. It has so much verve and so far has the best fruit compared to the previous wines. It boasts great racy tension and freshness, delivering crunchy red cherry, wild strawberry, baking spice and flinty mineral accompanied by taut, refined tannins. Drink through 2036. Abv: 13% Kerin O'Keefe December 2024"

Wine Advocate

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Vinous

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Wine Spectator

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Kerin O'Keefe

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2024-12-20

"Still young, tight, taut and vibrant, this has sensations of dried cherry, dark spice, tobacco, carob, star anise, blood orange and mineral notes recalling rusty nail. It's more mature than 2002 but still very good, with taut, fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2030. Abv: 13% Kerin O'Keefe December 2024"

Vinous

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Wine Advocate

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Wine Enthusiast

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Wine Spectator

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Kerin O'Keefe

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2024-12-20

"From a hot vintage that led to one of the earliest harvests ever in the growing zone, this is more structured than the previous wines. It also has great, rich cherry fruit accented with sensations of tobacco, cocoa, and dried Alpine herb accompanied by firm, close-grained tannins before a salted finish. Abv: 13.5% Kerin O'Keefe December 2024"

Vinous

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Wine Enthusiast

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Kerin O'Keefe

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2024-12-20

Vinous

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2022-03-31

Wine Enthusiast

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2021-12-01

James Suckling

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2024-07-04

"Very flowery on the nose, with fresh violets, roses, red currants, bright fruitiness, licorice and stony minerality. The attack is soft, with a medium body, brilliant crisp acidity and tight yet ripe tannins soaked in fruit. Not an easy wine, more elegant than powerful. It needs time to develop more complexity. Drinkable now, but best from 2026."

Kerin O'Keefe

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2024-12-20

"Tight, taut and very young, this gorgeous wine has intense aromas of Alpine berry, orange zest, camphor and cake spice. On the savory, elegantly structured palate, firm tannins accompany crushed mint, wild strawberry, pomegranate and grilled Porcini. A salty note signals the close while vibrant acidity keeps it balanced. Drink through 2046 Abv: 13% Kerin O'Keefe December 2024"

Wine Advocate

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2024-01-25

"The Ar. Pe. Pe. 2016 Valtellina Superiore Riserva Sassella Rocce Rosse is initially understated with timid primary fruit, blood orange and apricot. There is a pretty spiciness as well, with dried cinnamon stick, nutmeg and tanned leather. The wine needs time, and if you come back to the glass after a little pause, it sings with greater intensity and balance. This is a release of 25,302 bottles that sees 97 days on the skins and 34 months of wood and cement aging."

Wine Spectator

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2024-03-31

"A bright red driven by a tang of salinity and lively acidity aligned with taut, integrated tannins and aromas and flavors of crushed cherry and strawberry, tea rose and crushed pine, revealing an umami hint of dried porcini mushroom. "

Kerin O'Keefe

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2024-12-20

"The nose is still rather closed while the austere, vibrant palate is tight, taut and chiseled, offering cranberry sour cherry, ground clove, orange rind and dark spice set against an acidic backbone and taut tannins. It's also pristine, with racy precision. Drink 2028 – 2036. Abv: 12.5% Kerin O'Keefe December 2024"

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ARPEPE

Valtellina Superiore Riserva Sassella 'Rocce Rosse'