Luigi Ferrando’s Carema Etichetta Bianca 2020 is a 100% Nebbiolo from the steep, terraced vineyards of Carema in northern Piedmont, near the Dora Baltea valley and in the shadow of Mont Blanc. Ferrando is widely regarded as the reference point for the appellation, and Decanter underscores that the estate “remains a benchmark for the DOC today” (Decanter). The house works with a small holding—2.5 hectares of older vines—and this “white label” bottling is the counterpart to the rarer “black label” Riserva (Decanter).

In 2020, the wine shows the classic aromatic lift associated with mountain Nebbiolo. Decanter’s 93-point review praises a bouquet that “shows off the full array of Nebbiolo’s floral aromas, from rose petal to violets and camomile, with ripe red fruit in the background” (Decanter). On the palate, that same review highlights “super-fine tannins and perfect balance,” finishing with a “lovely airy quality and a supple, juicy finish,” calling the wine “Exemplary” (Decanter). That’s an excellent appraisal, especially given the emphasis on balance and finesse rather than sheer power.

Vinous goes even further with an excellent 94-point rating, calling the 2020 “delicate” and “elegant” with “effusive aromatics and fine balance” (Vinous, Antonio Galloni). Galloni notes layers of “sweet macerated red cherry, mint, spice, sweet pipe tobacco and cedar,” and describes the wine as “deceptively medium in body” and “positively stellar” (Vinous). He also points out that it is “on the lighter side,” a structural choice that “accents both acidity and tannin” (Vinous), reinforcing that this is a Carema built on precision and lift.

Ferrando ages Etichetta Bianca for about 36 months in a mix of tonneaux and 20-hectolitre barrels (Decanter), aligning with the wine’s polished tannins and fragrant, airy style.