Deborah M

9.6

Made from 100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) sourced from the Sassella sub-zone, this wine is far from light despite its light color. It’s beautifully elegant, with incredible acidity designed for aging. We enjoyed a 2016 that was singing after a short decant. Really loved this one.
— 5 days ago

Zach D

9.0

Magnum format, was saving to drink with a good friend who lived around lake Como and introduced me to inferno docg. Look, this was a 9.1 nose, 8.8 palate to be honest. Had nice dried rose petal and light tar, strawberry aroma which intensified after an hour or so, and was delicate and refined; palate never caught up; light bodied with short finish; some shitaki mushroom and just fallen leaves; not much complexity on the palate. Rating inflated as we enjoyed it together with parmigianno, Comte, pecorino. Who cares, memories are a huge part of why I enjoy certain wines. — 3 months ago

Aaron Tan

9.2

The 16’ Ultimi Raggi, though impressive, just had to bow out to the Vrana Petra. Both shared vibrant red fruit aromas and dried florals, but the Ultimi Raggi leaned into richer, plummy notes with chocolate, nutty warmth, and a balsamic edge. On the palate, both wines were similarly intense, yet the Vrana Petra’s mineral-driven elegance outpaced the Ultimi Raggi’s richness. Towards the end of the night, the Ultimi Raggi’s austere tannins became very pronounced, rendering it a bit more challenging to drink. Both excellent wines, but in it was the Vrana Petra that took the cake at this stage with its clarity and poise. I can’t say this wasn’t expected though, given the Ultimi Raggi’s late-harvest nature. If anything, it did provide excellent context for the “Barolo of Greece” claims attached to the Vrana Petra. — 5 months ago

Vanessa

9.4

This is the 2013 Ar.Pe.Pe Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva ‘Nuova Regina’. It’s 100% Chiavennasca and aged 39 months in cask.

It is PALE ruby in color with pronounced aromas and flavors of red and black cherry, bright raspberry, mulberry, pomegranate, purple fig, stewed strawberry rhubarb, rose, potpourri, black licorice, black tea, anise seed, fennel, tri-colored peppercorns, peat, vanilla, cardamom, nutmeg, forest floor, and mushroom.

On the palate, this wine is dry, w/ medium (+) acidity, a medium body, medium alcohol (13% ABV), & medium (+) tannins that are smooth and velveteen; it has a lingering finish.

It’s an outstanding wine, incredibly fresh now with runway to age & gain complexity in the bottle. — a month ago

with Deked1

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

Last wine for 50th. Zero memory. But great. — 4 months ago

Carter White

9.2

Light but powerful, I think it has room to grow. — 7 months ago

Matt Perlman

9.2

Beautiful wine, cherry, black tea, soil and floral tones, soft and generous for a Valtellina nebbiolo, a bit overshadowed by the more structured Sassella bottling — 9 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium garnet , ruby , with medium wide garnet ruby rim . Quite aromatic with sweet red fruits , touch of rose , floral hints . A little alcohol showing . Quite rich and dense , with a touch of medicinal , dried summer fruits . Herbal hints and anise , dried spice . Slightly grippy tannin , less prominent acidity , and alcohol a little more noticable. This has a slightly shorter , less elegant finish than the other wines, but more forceful . Still showing well , this could be drunk now and over the next 5-8 years . — a month ago

Jerry Dixon

9.1

We had this with Dewey and Dozieie at Erb Saint in New Orleans. Excellent. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Beautiful, engaging nose. Full bloom, pink & red roses, cherry hard candy, layered, soft spice, dark cherries, strawberries, raspberries, light herbal notes, hint of bubble gum.

Pretty, ripe, juicy palate. Fruits are light; raspberries, cherries, strawberries and blackberries & black raspberry hues. Wet river stone, dry limestone powder, more pronounced dark, dry tannins, dry herbs, dark spice with some heat, light, dry tobacco notes, barrel dust, bright red & pink roses, magnificent acidity with a very pleasant elegant, polished finish that lands on spice and lasts 90 seconds.

Really good value and one to pick up. — 5 months ago