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.
Wine Spectator, 95 points: A clean, focused style, this red shows warmth, balance, structure and complexity, offering classic rose, cherry, tar and tobacco aromas and flavors. with plenty of fruit. Features a fine, intense aftertaste of cherry...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 94 points: The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille is also exceptional. Firm tannins support a core of dark, expressive fruit in a wine that impresses for its depth, richness and concentration. Black cherries, tar, licorice, smoke...
Wine Spectator, 93 points: Highly Recommended. A rich, round style, boasting cherry, berry, cedar and licorice flavors. Packed with sweet fruit, this is dense, with dusty tannins clinging to the long finish. Best from 2018 through 2030. 15,000...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 93 points: Dark red cherries, spices, new leather and menthol are woven together in the 2012 Barbera del Monferrato Giulin. Hints of lavender and violets develop in the glass, adding attractive floral overtones. The combination of...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: A Barbaresco that shows unique dried-fruit and warm-stone aromas, like a warm summer afternoon in the vineyards. Full body with velvety tannins and fresh acidity. It's long and intense. Lots going on here. Powerful. One...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: 94+ The 2009 Barolo Costa Grimaldi is painted with broader brush strokes. It delivers immediate tones of black fruit, spice and nutmeg. Give it time in the glass and a background chorus of cola, tar, licorice and...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: This is an incredible wine that reminds me of the perfect 2000 Barolo Rocche del Falletto. Flowers, spices, leather and animals. Dried mushrooms too. Then changes to Japanese ginger and lemon peel. Full-bodied but refined...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: This has superb elegance and depth to it. Full to medium body, ultra-fine tannins and a wonderful length. Exquisite tannins. All about class this year. Grows on the palate. The quality of the tannins! Drink or hold.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Fruit for the 2010 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is harvested at 450 meters above sea level in the Neive township. These conditions shape a radically different character. This wine is precise and sharp with finely etched...
Wine Spectator, 94 points: Elegant, this red is full of spice, currant, balsamic and soy aromas and flavors. The texture is supple and the structure well-integrated, offering firm support and a lingering, energetic finish of mineral and spice. Best...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: This is a fabulous young Barolo with a purity and beauty that is breathtaking. Full body plus a deep and subtle center palate of strawberry, light cherry and hints of citrus. Really superb. Drink or hold.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The 2009 Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto comes from a south-facing parcel with steep slopes for well-draining soils. The vines are approximately 35 years old. There-s a touch of extra ripeness here, even a hint of...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: The 2010 Barolo Cascina Dardi Bussia hits all the right marks with a beautiful sense of elegance and grace that is immediately apparent. The aromas dangle in front of you, delicately and seductively, with ethereal layers...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 96 points: The 2009 Sorì Tildin is a fascinating wine. The vineyard sits just above Costa Russi, separated only by the road that leads to Alba. This is an especially imposing vintage for Sorì Tildin. Over time, the wine's signature...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: This is wonderfully succulent and refined with blueberry, lavender and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Botanical, with some junipers. Medium body, integrated tannins and a long finish. Very pretty. Polished tannins. The...
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