Conrad Green

9.0

Very intense pure fruit. Plum, pencil lead, iron. High in flavor and alcohol. Punchy. — a month ago

with Jonathan, Paul and 1 other

Adriana Fabbro

9.7

My nomination for Wine of the Year and it’s… a Napa Chardonnay?!? This wine challenged and expanded my beliefs about what this region, site and variety could be.

Also, we seem to be catching this wine at exactly the right point.

This Spring Mountain estate was focused almost entirely on white wines until recently and has some of the region’s oldest Napa plantings of Riesling and Chardonnay. (Of course now that they’ve been acquired by some PE group for an absurd sum, Cab is being planted everywhere but that’s a story for another day)

Their Chardonnay is idiosyncratic — no malo and low abv (the 2012 vintage is a mere 13%), but you wouldn’t know from its richness.

Mindblowingly complex and - most importantly - indulgently delicious (in other words, I blew my wine budget for two months on two bottles good).

Initial aromas of plastic / petrol (like riesling) that take on more of a toasted vanilla / caramel flan with air. On the nose and palate: pear and lemon, salt and stone. The flavors are concentrated and intense on the attack and yet the wine has such a light touch on the palate and a graceful finish — toasted hay, salty and flirting with bitter marzipan — that just goes on and on and on.

It brings me back to that afternoon on Spring Mountain with the perfect fall light, changing leaves and the coyote we saw crossing our path as we made our way up the winding drive way.

Absolutely fucking brilliant. — 10 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Another 2017 Arpepe winner. Stunning nose. Classic Nebbiolo. Stunning. Aromas of rose petals, tar, some earth, but dried earth, leather and just so deep and so good. Classic. Like MGM classic. Wow. Palate is a dream. Succulent and supple with just insane juiciness and balance. Pure. All red fruit and just perfect balance and sweetness. Sappy and long. And my goodness is this elegant. Maybe the most elegant non riserva I’ve had from ar pe pe. Genius wine. Utter beauty. — 2 years ago

Mark

9.4

At Locale in Tucson. Oak with acidity. Not a lot of Howell mountain Chardonnay. All around excellent. Check it out.  — 2 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Many of you that see my posts know I don’t open a Napa Cabernet this young. However, this was selling at my Costco for $69.99. K&L Wine Merchants $99.99. Delectable at $115. So, I had to buy a four. I coravined this bottle for a Somm friend last weekend who likes his Napa reds young. 🤷‍♂️

While this has seen a bit of bottle evolution, it still needs another 6-8 yrs before I open another and has the potential to pick up another point or two then.

Nose shows; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, anise, dark, rich, turned earth and withering, dark, slightly candied flowers.

The palate expresses some evolution. It is rich, ripe; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries, hints of blueberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Tarry, dry medium plus tannins. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice with a touch of heat, mixed darker berry cola, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, black tea, anise, mixed fresh & drier herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, barrel shavings/dust, a hint of black pepper, moist, grey clay, dry top soil, dry river stone and withering, dark, red, slightly candied flowers with violets, very round, phat acidity with a well; balanced, big structured, tensioned, lush, elegant and nicely layered & polished finish that lasts a full 90 seconds. Still kind of in its primary stage.

This is made by Chris Carpenter who also makes; Lokoya, Cardinale, La Jota, Hickinbotham (Australia) made at Yangarra. Sofia & I tasted at Yangarra and after tasted his Hickinbotham with him in 2017.

Photos of; staff picking on Mount Veeder, Chris Carpenter in the cellar and scenic shot of Mount Veeder. — 8 months ago

Daniel Bloom

9.4

N:Very savory nose, leather and dried plums, rose petals, smoke. deep cherries. Keeps changing.( 2 hrs decant)
P: Dry…Leather, tree bark, mushrooms, cherries,( but concentrated dried)
These notes before Bolognese, so I’m expecting some change. The mouthfeel and delicato of this mountain Nebbiolo is ridiculous.
We love AR PE PE
Thanks@ FassSelections
— 2 years ago

with Sarah

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.1

A much more serious take on Merlot than most do in Napa. Graphite, blackberry, cacao. — 5 months ago

David White

9.1

Consistently good Hunter Shiraz
After long period it has new PE owners
Hoping that they will maintain the standards — 8 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2022 | No pretentions weekdaywine that is jolly good 🫶 paired with a schnitzel and beansalad | from Jurançon — a year ago

Deborah M

9.4

Yes, last Friday was a great night. My first Ar. Pe Pe. Another one that made me smile. — a year ago