1995 ARPEPE Grumello Buon Consiglio

The Perego family has been tending vines on these sheer granite terraces in the mountainous Valtellina since 1860. The vines are so far north into the alps they are practically in Switzerland. Only working with Nebbiolo, locally known as Chiavennasca, grown up to 700m above sea level on sheer, south-facing, sunlit vines that dig straight into rock. The resulting fruit is intensely mineral. Production is old-school and the labour is intense, the hills making it very difficult to reach the fruit at all. At 370m above sea level, this dramatic fifty year old vineyard sits directly above the family’s cantina, which is artfully carved into the granite bedrock. After a long maceration with the skins, the grapes are pressed off to large chestnut casks for a long, gentle elevage that lasts four years, sometimes more. Museum release. Tiny quantities.

Varietal: Nebbiolo.

Region: Lombardia, IT.

Viticulture: Sustainable.