Piedmont
Piedmont
The north-west corner of Italy, at the foot of the Alps. Piedmont is where Italy makes its longest-lived red wine, and it does so from a single difficult grape: Nebbiolo.
Nebbiolo and the rest
Barolo and Barbaresco are both Nebbiolo, from neighbouring zones in the Langhe hills — Barolo the bigger and slower, Barbaresco usually the earlier-drinking of the two. Langhe Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo d'Alba are the same grape without the long ageing requirement, and are the cheapest way to learn the flavour. Alongside them, Barbera is the region's everyday red — high acid, low tannin, made to be drunk young — and Dolcetto is softer still. In white, Gavi is dry Cortese; Moscato d'Asti is the sweet, barely-sparkling one.
What to expect
Nebbiolo is pale in colour and heavy in tannin, which surprises people who expect dark wine to be the tough one. Young Barolo is genuinely hard work; a bottle with ten years on it is a different wine. If you are buying to drink this month, buy Langhe Nebbiolo or Barbera. If you are buying to keep, Barolo is one of the few reds that reliably repays it.
Serving
Nebbiolo at 16–18°C, decanted well ahead — two hours is not excessive for a young Barolo. Barbera and Dolcetto need nothing. Gavi at 10–12°C, Moscato d'Asti at 6–8°C.
Filters
COCCHI Brachetto NV (1x75cl)
Brovia Barolo Ca' Mia DOCG 2011 (1x75cl)
Brovia Roero Arneis DOCG 2014 (1x75cl)
Silvio Grasso Barolo Bricco Manzoni 2020 (1x75cl)
Silvio Grasso Barolo Bricco Manzoni 2019 (1x75cl)
Silvio Grasso Barolo 2020 (1x75cl)
Silvio Grasso Langhe Nebbiolo 2023 (1x75cl)
Silvio Grasso Langhe Nebbiolo 2022 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO / PIEDMONT Barbera d'Asti DOCG ""Le Orme"" 2022 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO / PIEDMONT Gavi DOCG ""Le Marne"" 2022 (1x75cl)
CASTELLO BANFI Rosa Regale Brachetto 1.5L (100% Brachetto, Semi Sweet Sparkling) 2020 (1x150cl)
CASTELLO BANFI Rosa Regale Brachetto (100% Brachetto, Semi Sweet Sparkling) 2022 (1x75cl)
CASTELLO BANFI Téner Brut (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay) NV (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Barolo DOCG ""Cannubi"" 2017 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Barbaresco DOCG ""Asili"" 2021 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Barbaresco DOCG ""Asili"" 2015 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza DOCG ""La Court Vigna Veja"" 2016 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Barbera d'Asti Nizza DOCG ""La Court"" 2020 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Barbera d'Asti Nizza DOCG ""Cipressi"" 2021 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Moscato d'Asti DOCG ""Nivole"" 375ml (Semi Sweet) 2024 (1x37.5cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Moscato d'Asti DOCG ""Nivole"" (Semi Sweet) 2024 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Barolo DOCG ""Tortoniano"" 375ml 2020 (1x37.5cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Barolo DOCG ""Tortoniano"" 2020 (1x75cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Barbera d'Asti DOCG ""Le Orme"" 375ml 2022 (1x37.5cl)
MICHELE CHIARLO Gavi DOCG ""Le Marne"" 375ml 2023 (1x37.5cl)
Rivetto Langhe Nascetta DOC "Vigna Lirano" 2021 (1x75cl)
Gaja Sperss 2020 (1x75cl)
Gaja Barbaresco Sori Tildin 2021 (1x75cl)
Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo 2021 (1x75cl)
Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi 2021 (1x75cl)
Gaja Barolo Conteisa 2020 (1x75cl)
Gaja Barolo Dagromis 2020 (1x75cl)
Gaja Alteni di Brassica 2022 (1x75cl)
Gaja Barbaresco 2021 (1x75cl)
Clerico Dolcetto Langhe Visadi 2023 (1x75cl)
Clerico Barolo Percristina 2014 (1x75cl)
Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 2020 (1x75cl)
Luigi Tacchino Dolcetto di Ovada DOC 2017 (1x75cl)
Luigi Tacchino Barbera Monferrato DOC 2017 (1x75cl)
Fabio Oberto Langhe Nebbiolo D.O.C. 2021 (1x75cl)
Ca' del Baio "Luna d'Agosto" Chardonnay Langhe D.O.C. 2023 (1x75cl)
Ca' del Baio "Asili" Barbaresco D.O.C.G. 2021 (1x75cl)
Vietti, "Rabaja", Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
Vietti, "Roncaglie", Barbaresco DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
Vietti Roero Arneis DOCG 2022 (1x150cl)
Vietti Monvigliero Barolo DOCG 2020 (1x150cl)
Vietti Barolo Cerequio DOCG 2020 (1x150cl)
Vietti Barolo Ravera DOCG 2020 (1x150cl)
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