Piedmont (or Piemonte) wines are made in the northwestern corner of Italy. With the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Alps to the north and west, the Piedmont region enjoys a continental climate. This means cold winters and very warm, dry summers, with dense fog common in the fall. Most of the highly acclaimed Piedmont wines are from the south-central, Alba area, and also from the Asti and Alessandria, slightly farther east and north.
The region’s most lauded wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, come from the Nebbiolo grape, whose ancestral home is Piedmont. The best Barolo and Barbaresco wines are produced in small quantities on a number of mostly south-facing ridges sitting above the October fog (nebbia) in the Langhe hills around Alba (also the country’s white truffle capital). The considerably less expensive reds Dolcetto and Barbera have garnered wide acclaim in export markets in the last ten years--due in part to the elevated price tags of Barolo and Barbaresco.
The growing popularity of Piedmont gastronomy has also contributed to the interest in local wines. The innate acidity and taut structure of Piedmont wines make for an invigorating backdrop to the region’s hearty meat dishes. The wines’ complex earthy/ floral personality also works amicably with the other local star, the truffle. As the worlds of good wine and good food continue to merge, an area known for both is bound to prosper.
In terms of whites, Gavi is the most popular from Piedmont and it’s also the most widely available in the U.S. Gavi is produced almost entirely from the Cortese grape planted in the province of Alessandria, in the region’s extreme south. Gavi di Gavi wines are produced in vineyards bordering the town of Gavi. Most all of these whites are very dry, and feature a mid-level complexity and concentration. The best of them are crisp but they commonly come up short on verve and grip, and are best enjoyed early.
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 95 points: Dark cherry, plum, lavender, mint, wild herbs and smoke infuse the 2013 Barolo Bricat. Dark, powerful and brooding, but also very much medium-bodied in structure, the 2013 is wonderfully complete and full of allure. There...
Wine Spectator, 93 points: A muscular style, but not rustic, offering cherry, leather, eucalyptus and cigar box aromas and flavors. Balanced and expressive, with a fluid profile punctuated by dusty, well-integrated tannins. Best from 2022 through...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 94 points: A huge, thrilling wine, the 2011 Barbera del Monferrato Superiore Bricco Battista is endowed with magnificent depth and tons of personality. Layers of intense Barbera fruit burst from the glass in a racy, opulent wine...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: This is very ripe with a dried berry, almost raisin character and Asian mushroom undertone. Full body, chewy tannins and a long finish. Needs time to soften. Better in 2017.
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 95 points: The 2013 Barolo Castelletto is another superb wine from Manzone. Beams of Castelletto tannin and bright acidity give the wine its super-distinctive feel. A wine of focus and drive, the Castelletto will appeal most to...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The 2013 Barolo Ginestra shows grace and purity, with significant power at the back that is partially fueled by the wine's well-integrated alcohol (recorded at 15%). The wine's texture is compact, and the flavor knitting...
Wine Enthusiast, 98 points: Cellar Selection. One of the best expressions from the classic Cannubi vineyard area, this fragrant red is all about finesse, opening with enticing scents of perfumed berry, iris, rose, chopped herb, baking spice and new...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: A very clean and focused 2012 with ultra-fine tannins that are ripe and polished. Full-bodied, dense and balanced. Wonderful harmony. Drink or hold.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: From Castiglione Falletto, the 2012 Barolo Villero is a fine and elegant wine that reflects the delicate and floral nature of the loose and white soils that characterize the Villero cru. At 22 hectares, this vineyard is...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: This is a terrific and flexible expression of Nebbiolo that can adopt to almost any dinner party setting. The 2014 Barolo Castiglione was designed for people who want to enjoy Barolo in an easy and direct manner. This...
Vinous, 94 points: The 2013 Barbaresco Manzola is soft, succulent and inviting for a young Barbaresco. Mid-weight, gracious and supple, the 2013 speaks to balance above all else. High-toned aromatics meld into a core of sweet red cherry...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: Aromas of oyster shell, blackberry and black truffle follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and lots of dark fruits. Flavorful finish. Needs three our four years to open but already excellent. Drink in 2021.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90 points: (90+) Crisp and luminous, the 2016 Langhe Rossj-Bass is Chardonnay enhanced with a tiny part Sauvignon Blanc. This second grape only constitutes 5% of the blend, yet its presence is felt in a big way. The wine presents...
Wine Enthusiast, 98 points: This isn't just a great wine for what was a notoriously cool, wet vintage, it's quite simply a magnificent wine. Perfumed and loaded with finesse, it opens with scents of woodland berry, iris and baking spice while the...
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