Valtellina Superiore Riserva Grumello 'Rocca de Piro' Ar.Pe.Pe. 2022
"Rocca de Piro" is an elegant and full-bodied expression of Valtellina Superiore Grumello Reserve: an intense red wine aged for 24 months in large oak and chestnut barrels. Aromas of cherries, violets, berries, licorice, and sweet spices harmonize elegantly and precisely. The sip is full-bodied and rich, with vibrant freshness and savoriness.
The Grumello Rocca de Piro tells the deep bond that unites the Ar.Pe.Pe. winery to the rugged territory of Valtellina, where the rows of the Chiavennasca grape, an indigenous ecotype of Nebbiolo, lean out from the lush terraces painstakingly carved over time by the heroic work of local winemakers. The production history of Ar.Pe.Pe resembles this jagged territory, having risen among the greats of Valtellinese winemaking since the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, only to fall into the hands of foreign investors due to inheritance disputes and later return to its former glory thanks to the founder's grandson, Arturo Pelizzatti Perego (from whose name the company acronym derives).
Choosing the more difficult path, Arturo has reconstituted part of the ancient family property, returning to vinify in the historic cellars of Buon Consiglio built at the behest of his father using counter-current techniques, which involve long aging periods significantly exceeding the requirements for Nebbiolo in order to ensure an optimal evolution and a correct expression of the terroir before its market release.
All of this applies to the Grumello Rocca de Piro, which takes its name from the historic promontory where the vineyards of Ar.Pe.Pe. climb just above the family winery and next to the medieval castle of the same name that dominates the surrounding landscape: expressing with resolute elegance the most authentic characteristics of the Nebbiolo grape, the Grumello Rocca de Piro by Ar.Pe.Pe. remains surprisingly vibrant in its notes of fresh sapidity, with a skillfully measured acidity.