The 2005 Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva Vigna Regina is a beautiful and delicate wine. This is a pure expression of the Nebbiolo grape that shows some of the sharper edges and the finer contours of the Alpine environment that characterizes its birthplace. Now, one decade after the harvest, the wine delivers enormous beauty and elegance with pure aromas of honey, dried cassis berry and light touches of licorice. Dusty mineral notes appear on the edges. The mouthfeel is super light weight and polished.

The 2001 Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva Vigna Regina blossoms on the palate with myriad of aromas and flavors. Kirsch, sweet red cherries, tar and licorice dance on the palate in this head- spinning, totally beautiful wine. The Vigna Regina feels like silk on the palate. The overall impression is one of textural finesse, weightless elegance and exceptional polish. Only Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir can deliver this kind of drinking experience. Burnished overtones in the aromas and flavors suggest the fruit might fade faster than the tannins soften, so it is probably best not to wait too long here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. Readers who enjoy traditionally made Nebbioli will delight in these wines from Ar.Pe.Pe, which is an acronym of sorts for founder Arturo Pelizzatti Perego. The Ar.Pe.Pe. wines capture the essence of what makes Valtellina a unique winemaking region. Even better, the estate releases many of these selections with a few years of bottle age, giving consumers the opportunity to drink perfectly stored wines with a measure of tertiary complexity. Importer: Grand Cru Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 974-2500