Arpepe Sassella Stella Retica

Arpepe's Sassella Stella Retica is a traditional Nebbiolo (locally called Chiavennasca) from the Valtellina region in northern Lombardy, Italy. It's produced by Arpepe, a highly respected family-run estate known for their dedication to classical, slow winemaking methods. The wine comes specifically from the Sassella subzone, one of the most celebrated crus of Valtellina, characterized by steep, rocky slopes that force vineyard work to be entirely manual. Stella Retica is aged for several years in large old chestnut and oak casks before bottling, allowing the wine to develop complexity while maintaining a remarkable sense of freshness and precision.

In the glass, it usually shows a translucent, pale ruby hue typical of mountain Nebbiolo. Aromatically, it’s lifted and detailed, offering notes of alpine herbs, dried cherries, rose petals, crushed rocks, and often a distinct ferrous or bloody minerality that speaks to the iron-rich soils of the region. On the palate, the wine is taut, fine-boned, and elegant, driven by vibrant acidity and fine, chalky tannins rather than overt fruit concentration. It tends to balance savory depth with a luminous, almost weightless character, often finishing with a stony, saline snap. Despite its delicacy, Stella Retica is built to age beautifully, becoming more ethereal and complex over time.