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.
Massimo Rivetti Langhe, "Arneis Aurelia" 2018 (1x75cl)
Prunotto Bussia 2019 Barolo DOCG (1x75cl)
VIETTI Freisa Vivace Langhe DOC 2019 (1x75cl)
VIETTI Freisa Vivace Langhe DOC 2018 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Docg Ravera 2019 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Docg Ravera 2018 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Cerequio DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Cerequio DOCG 2018 (1x75cl)
Sordo Sordo Nebbiolo D'Alba 2018 (1x75cl)
Sordo Sordo Garblet Sue Langhe Bianco Chardonnay 2018 (1x75cl)
Sordo SORDO BAROLO DOCG RISERVA PARUSSI 2009 (1x75cl)
Sordo Sordo Barbera D'Alba 2021 (1x75cl)
Sordo Sordo Barbera D'Alba 2020 (1x75cl)
Pelissero Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 2019 (1x75cl)
Pelissero Dolcetto D Alba Munfrina DOC 2021 (1x75cl)
Pelissero Dolcetto D Alba Munfrina DOC 2019 (1x75cl)
Pelissero Barbaresco Vanotu DOCG 2017 (1x75cl)
Luigi Baudana Langhe Rosso Dragon 2020 (1x75cl)
Luigi Baudana Langhe Bianco Dragon 2022 (1x75cl)
Bruno Rocca Langhe Nebbiolo Fralu 2020 (1x75cl)
Bruno Rocca Langhe Nebbiolo Fralu 2016 (1x75cl)
Bruno Rocca Barbera d'Alba 2020 (1x75cl)
Bruno Rocca Dolcetto d'Alba Trifole 2021 (1x75cl)
Bruno Giacosa Roero Arneis 2022 (1x75cl)
Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche Riserva 2016 (1x75cl)
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