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.
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: This is very beautiful. Lime-skin, light-pear and lemon aromas and mineral undertones. Full-bodied, dense and very intense with layers of fruit and flavor. Extremely long finish. Fantastic density and richness, yet always...
Vinous, 93 points: The 2015 Barolo Mosconi is striking in this vintage. The natural richness of the year seems especially well suited to this Monforte site, where the wines tend to be born with a natural sense of textural breadth and...
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...
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...
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...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit...
Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: Woodland berry, blue flower, sunbaked soil and a whiff of dark spice shape the nose. Structured and extremely elegant, the focused, impeccable palate doles out juicy red cherry, strawberry, baking spice and star anise set...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: Incredible aromas of violets, roses and blue fruits. So perfumed. Never smelled a wine like this before. Full body, perfectly integrated tannins and bright, vivid acidity. Extremely long and endless. A seamless and great...
Vinous, 95 points: The 2014 Barolo Via Nuova is a blend of six sites - Liste, Terlo, Ravera di Monforte, Mosconi, Gabutti and Baudana - all of which are bottled as vineyard designates by other growers. There is something about the art of...
Wine Enthusiast, 98 points: Dark-skinned berry, pipe tobacco, a hint of menthol and a whiff of blue flower slowly take shape in the glass. Full bodied, with the firm's hallmark finesse, the smooth savory palate boasts succulent morello cherry...
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, 99 points: Aromas of asphalt and tar that turn to dried strawberries, plums and citrus fruit. Full body, yet agile and very refined with a beautiful balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. Extremely persistent and focused finish. All...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: Wow, this is really quite a wine. The 2010 Barolo Riserva Ginestra is guided by three lucky stars: First, it is made by an excellent producer. Second, it comes from an excellent vintage. And third, it comes from an...
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.
Wine Spectator, 94 points: Exotic aromas of rose, peony, raspberry and kirsch are shaded by juniper, wild thyme and tar accents. This is an elegant red, firmly structured yet balanced and long, with a persistent, detailed finish. Best from 2022...
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