Arpepe Il Pettirosso 2017

Ooh, now this is really beautiful.

Red flowers, strawberries, raspberries, and forest floor, with black olives and fried mushrooms layered through. Dried mulberries beautifully woven into the whole thing - not shouting, just present and integrated.

The palate is where it really comes together. Good balance, spot-on acidity, mineral backbone running through everything. The tannin isn't quite ready yet - this could still benefit from more time - but here's the thing: it's already very drinkable and delicious. That's the mark of proper wine, isn't it? Still developing, still improving, but gorgeous right now.

Beautiful-beautiful. This is what Il Pettirosso should be with a bit of age on it. Compare this to the 2021 (which was already very good) and you see what patience gets you - more integration, more complexity, more harmony. Still not fully arrived, but bloody lovely as it is.

This wine features a sophisticated and charming bouquet that elegantly weaves together cherry, ripe strawberry, mushrooms, wet forest floor, salami, rose petals, and an array of spices. Its elegance is further underscored by an almost perfect balance, juicy character, and sheer deliciousness, making it not just a wine to enjoy, but one to ponder over. There is something meditative about this wine. With patience and proper ageing, it can evolve into a truly transcendent experience (and we've witnessed it with 1999).

Kicked off shy, then gradually threw caution to the wind, unveiling a medley of cherry, underbrush, truffles, salami, raw meat, rose petals, black pepper, confiture, and strawberry. A poised elegance in its balance that's nearly spot-on, coupled with a sophistication and juiciness that's just killer. Every sip is a pleasure.

Il Pettirosso

Tasting Notes(3)

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