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, 94 points: Delicate floral and red fruit aromas and flavors peek through the eucalyptus, tar and tobacco notes and muscular profile of this red, though it will take some time for them to emerge and occupy center stage. This version...
Vinous, 94 points: The 2015 Barbera del Monferrato Superiore Bricco Battista is fabulous. Black cherry, espresso, leather, smoke and licorice all meld together in this vivid, super-expressive Barbera from Accornero. Deep, aromatically...
Vinous, 94 points: The 2012 Lessona Riserva is ample, creamy and voluptuous, and yet it also avoids some of the excess heaviness and ripeness found in other wines of the year. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, dried flowers and anise...
Vinous, 96 points: A classic, old-school, the 2014 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina is focused and very tightly wound, and yet the wine pulses with captivating energy. Chalk, white pepper, mint, cranberry and sweet tobacco give the...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: The E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2016 Barolo Mosconi is a little wider and richer compared to the Cannubi, with bigger fruit, more sweetness, spice, grilled oregano and a touch of crushed hazelnut. Despite the wide net of aromas...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: A dense and velvety red with lots of chocolate, berry and spice character. Hints of mushroom too. Full body. Chewy and rich finish. Needs four to five years to soften. Great richness. Wonderful Cannubi.
Vinous, 94 points: The 2015 Barbaresco Montestefano fleshes out in all dimensions, as it does in all the best years. Warm, rich and inviting, the 2015 is a wine of pure and total pleasure. Black cherry, plum, sage, lavender, menthol...
Vinous, 96 points: The 2016 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is outrageously beautiful. Dense, powerful and rich, the 2016 races out of the glass with huge fruit to match its classically mid-weight profile. Super-ripe red/purplish berry fruit...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: The fruit and depth of this wine is very pretty. With brightness and transparency. Plums, and cherries with dried flowers and spices. Medium to full body, bright fruit and acidity. A powerful finish. A fantastic 2014...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: So enticing with aromas of ripe strawberries, violets, lavender and raspberries that follow through to a full body and very chewy, powerful tannins. Firm and intense. Very spicy in the finish with beautiful fruit. Needs...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The 2015 Barolo Ginestra shows real complexity and depth. It exudes a profound nature in general. Mineral tones lead the clean, fresh entry, followed by more savory notes. This is from Paolo Conterno's home vineyard cru...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: The E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2016 Barolo Cannubi is a gorgeous wine that affirms the classic beauty of Nebbiolo. This wine is like a statue of a Grecian goddess with perfect proportions and feminine aesthetic appeal. The...
Vinous, 100 points: In my opinion, the 2016 Barolo Via Nuova is the single greatest Barolo Chiara Boschis has made in her storied career. A monumental, thrilling wine, the Via Nuova captures all the best the vintage had to give. Explosive in...
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