Wines from Piedmont

"Oudeis" has its origins in the Greek name "Odysseus" and means "nobody". And indeed, no one but the outstanding terroir of the Alta Langa is responsible for the complexity of Enrico Serafino's sparkling wines.

Delicate, copper-coloured pink with orange reflections. Elegant and mineral nose, with delicate hints of fruit, yeast and notes of grapefruit and redcurrants. The sensation on the palate is savoury, almost ecstatic, with well-integrated perlage and a perfect balance between spiciness and freshness and an infinite persistence and juiciness. SUPERIORE.DE

"This delicately scented sparkler offers aromas of red woodland berry and brioche. Linear and savory, the elegantly sparkling palate features juicy pomegranate, tart cherry and white pepper before closing on a hint of hazelnut. It's remarkably fresh for the vintage, with bright acidity." Wine Enthusiast

Light ruby red with orange reflections. Fine bouquet of violets, forest floor, cherries and a balsamic camphor note. Marasca cherry, some raspberry, liquorice and a hint of mint on the palate. An animating acidity and the right amount of powdery tannins round off the lively and long final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dense, deep red berry flavours, dark cherries, firmly framed by grippy tannins, still slightly porous in texture, rather a head of character that still needs to round off a little." Weinwisser

"This is a bright and perfumed Barbaresco that shows potpourri, rosehips, dried strawberries and orange peel on the nose. It is medium-bodied, tangy and lively, with firm tannins and crisp acidity." James Suckling

"A lively mix of candied and fresh red fruits, bay leaf, and green herbs, with a whisper of cinchona bark and blooming rose. Dried cherry leads the palate in a tangy, mouthwatering dance with a playful herbal twist. Elegant tannins frame the entire palate as notes of crushed stone and earth finish the wine." Wine Enthusiast

Brilliant dark ruby red colour. Creamy bouquet with delicate hints of dark chocolate and black cherry. Consistent flavour with a delicate, typical bitter note, again black fruit and a wonderfully fresh tangle of acidity and tannin. A perfect and inexpensive introduction to the great wines of Roagna! SUPERIORE.DE

The best plots around Monleale, from which the grapes for the Derthona Timorasso come, cover just 11 hectares. They are located in the Apennine and pre-Apennine hills of the Marca Obertenga, the soils contain mainly marl and clayey layers.

The deep bouquet has green and yellow fruit notes, orange confit, graphite, mint and a hint of camomile. On the palate, it marches straight ahead with that certain exotic something, its pleasantly fresh acidity and fine tannins into a long finish with an attractive citrus peel bitterness reminiscent of Chinotto and a mineral vein. The 12-month contact during fermentation in stainless steel on the lees ensures that it gains in depth and complexity with each year of further bottle ageing. SUPERIORE.DE

"This wine is from the estate that brought Timorasso back from the brink of extinction. Walter Massa continues to craft wines that captivate and energize the soul. This wine opens with pure sunshine, with vibrant apple and yellow-peach aromas dancing alongside wildflowers and hints of fresh herbs. Brace yourself for a tantalizing texture and layers of juicy fruits on a foundation of stone and salt. It's a modern masterpiece that will leave you craving more." Wine Enthusiast

New world meets old world. Exciting Sauvignon Bianco with lots of exotic fruits such as mango and lemon, plus a noble spiciness and notes of green tomato leaves, white stone and quince. Full-bodied and creamy on the palate with a tangy, electrifying acidity on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Transparent straw yellow with silver reflections. Aromatic nose, gooseberry, papaya and elderflower, slightly reminiscent of herbal candy. Juicy and tangy on the palate, subtly creamy, vibrant acidity, animating mouth-watering final." Falstaff

"A very fresh and light-coloured white wine with peaches, honeysuckle and a hint of nougat. Medium body. Bright acidity and a clean finish. Crisp. From the Il Bricco vineyard in Barbaresco and the Bossania vineyard, just outside the region. Energetic." James Suckling

Bernardina is a wine with an interesting history. The Bernardina vineyard was once part of a 600-hectare estate belonging to a noble family who did not care much for wine. When the appellation boundaries for Barolo were established, this family never lobbied to become part of the area now registered for the production of Barolo DOCG. Today, the vineyard is managed by the Ceretto family, who have instead focussed on the production of Nebbiolo d'Alba. Nebbiolo d'Alba is an appellation in which the grapes from the Barolo and Barbaresco wine regions have been declassified and which is becoming increasingly popular.

Fragrant and floral with aromas of rose petals, violets and wild berries. The finish is polished and clean with hints of smoke, liquorice and tar. The wine has had a short maturation period in barriques, which gives it impressive complexity and length. SUPERIORE.DE

New world meets old world. Exciting Sauvignon Bianco with lots of exotic fruits such as mango and lemon, plus a noble spiciness and notes of green tomato leaves, white stone and quince. Full-bodied and creamy on the palate with a tangy, electrifying acidity on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Transparent straw yellow with silver reflections. Aromatic nose, gooseberry, grapefruit, elderflower, somewhat reminiscent of drops. Juicy, tangy and salty on the palate, medium-bodied, clear acidity, lively flavour and balanced final." Falstaff

"Subtle flavours of sliced lemons, green melon and hints of stones and dry earth. Medium body with fresh acidity and a crisp and tangy finish. Classic sauvignon blanc. Subtle, bright and clear." James Suckling

Mimmo is a triumvirate of the wonderful autochthonous grape varieties Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Croatina from vines up to 100 years old on Montalbano and Santuario porphyry soils at an altitude of 500 metres. The Nebbiolo parcels come from the same vineyards as the cult wine Boca and are harvested and processed according to the same quality principles. The division between Boca and Mimmo is made by tasting after two years of ageing in large wooden barrels.

Some lots from the estate's own vineyards in the Boca DOC ripen a little earlier than others, without losing their original character. Together with 30% Croatina, the final result is Mimmo, named after an unforgettable person who has helped to raise the quality level of the Le Piane winery to what it is today. With his approachable manner, he opens the door to the more complex Boca at a more affordable price.

Fine, floral bouquet. Great and precise fruit on the palate. Powerful tannins envelop a core of bright red fruits, tobacco, crushed flowers and liquorice. The flavours and supple texture round off beautifully on the deep finish with well-dosed pressure. It is rightly described as the younger brother of the Boca and is a great choice for drinking over the next five years. SUPERIORE.DE

"Light carmine red colour. Pretty, with red fruit and citrus flavours. Wild, herbal and inviting. Excellent depth of cherry fruit, soft tannins, excellent balance and delicious length." Jancis Robinson

"The 2020 Mimmo, is a little more generous than the 2019 and easier to savour in its youth. Juicy dark red cherry, sage, menthol, liquorice and herbs are beautifully enhanced in a wine that combines fruit intensity with structure." Vinous

La Villa is a casual, feminine Barbera d'Asti that smells of ripe red fruit, flowers and spices. Round and focussed on the palate with a silky texture, lively acidity and good length. This is what value for money ideally looks like! SUPERIORE.DE

"Oudeis" has its origins in the Greek name "Odysseus" and means "nobody". And indeed, no one but the outstanding terroir of the Alta Langa is responsible for the complexity of Enrico Serafino's sparkling wines.

Bright, rich straw yellow colour. The fragrant nose seduces with a salty minerality, a potpourri of country flowers, lime, blood orange and ripe peach. The palate is exciting, fresh and extremely flavoursome, with well-integrated perlage and precisely measured intensity and a texture that is never too heavy or too flat. Oudeis Brut has a very energetic arc of tension and convinces in the remarkable final with a refined interplay of fruit and acidity. SUPERIORE.DE

"This Alta Langa opens with a mix of lemon and orange peel, baked apples, yellow flowers and cake batter. On the palate, it is round with a vinous note that emphasises the character of the Pinot Noir, with cherry and flowers and a mineral finish." Wine Enthusiast

"Alta Langa's Brut Oudeis 2019 is remarkably pretty, with a delicate blend of peaches and young mango accompanied by hints of incense and spice. It shows a round, smooth texture and juicy acidity with a core of tart fruit that creates a nice tension towards the end. The finish is of medium length, leaving a hint of sour citrus and a steely minerality that gives it a tactile edge. The 2019 is beautifully made and shows incredible balance. Well done." Vinous

"Limpid and creamy nose with brioche, lemons, sliced pears and chalk. Restrained but generous, with crisp, fine beads on the medium-bodied palate. Tangy and lightly saline in the finish." James Suckling

"An elegant sparkling wine with a fine mousseux. It offers well-defined acidity and a savoury undertone interwoven with a beautiful palette of yellow peach, grapefruit granita, crushed lemon thyme and notes of white flowers." Wine Spectator

"Enrico's vision in this revealing Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend from 36 months on the fine lees, giving a clear idea of the terroir, nose with notes of white peach, broom and cedar thyme, taut mouthfeel of beautiful complexity and density, finish with a fruity orchestral return." Luca Gardini

Asso di Fiori from Braida is a fine Chardonnay late harvest. Seductive nose with aromas of meadow flowers, yellow fruits and a delicate spicy note. On the palate with great elegance and plenty of personality - absolutely worthy of the reputation of the famous family business. SUPERIORE.DE

A fascinating Pinot Nero with the structure of a Nebbiolo. Fine cherry aroma with well-dosed extract sweetness, plus rose petals, mint and some Asian herbal spice. The wine is prancing on the palate with distinguished restraint, revealing its finesse and structure at the latest with the third sip and with the medium-bodied finish. This is as much a wine for Pinot fans as it is for lovers of enigmatic, subrilegious style - and clearly love at second sight. SUPERIORE.DE

"This is fruity and vibrant with ripe raspberries and cherries as well as roselle flowers and orange peel. Medium-bodied, round and mellow with creamy tannins. Delicious. Drink now." James Suckling

Cesares Langhe Nebbiolo gives us a fresh and transparent insight into this powerful grape variety from Piedmont. Instead of complexity, the wine delivers primary freshness. Instead of longevity, you get an accessible wine that tastes great right from the start. Flavours of cherry, blackberry and lilac follow each other seamlessly. It offers an astonishing straightforwardness and harmony that is the perfect accompaniment to any savoury meal. SUPERIORE.DE

This powerful red wine, characterised by spicy new oak, exudes aromas and flavours of plums, blackberries, fruit cake, almonds and vanilla. Balanced in an exuberant way, with pronounced fruit and a long aftertaste. A Barbera of exquisite intensity, class and beauty.

"A stellar wine, the 2021 Barbera d'Alba Tulin is packed with blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, new leather, espresso and spice. It's a superb example of the heights Barbera aged in French oak can reach. The style won't be for everyone, but readers who want to see what wines of this school are all about will find a fabulous example here." Vinous

Piedmontese rarity. Rich straw yellow colour with green reflections. Approx. 10% white Nebbiolo gives this Chardonnay the ultimate kick to create an exceptional wine. Herbal spice, finely integrated wood and delicate smoky notes enveloped by a citrus flavour and paired with well-balanced acidity round off this powerful yet highly elegant experience. Great Storage potential - this wine gets better every year and is one of our absolute favourites in the entry-level Roagna range! SUPERIORE.DE

Long Now is still a real insider tip for us. Dark ruby colour. Opulent nose with notes of black cherry, smoke, tobacco and liquorice. The palate is full of tension with a breadth and power that is unrivalled. In this exceptional wine, Barbera and Nebbiolo merge into a spectacular blend that is rich, powerful and has a beautiful, long final. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2020 Long Now, Pelissero's Barbera/Nebbiolo blend, is fabulous. The combination of inky, jammy Barbera fruit and Nebbiolo structure works so well here. Inky dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, spice, new leather, licorice and lavender saturate the palate." Vinous

Ceretto's Langhe Rosso Monsordo is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah with fruit from 11 hectares in the Langa area. It penetrates areas never addressed by Ceretto's master grape, Nebbiolo. Monsordo tries to give answers to questions that are rarely asked in the Langa, and he answers them with fine sweetness, fullness and pure extraction.

Monsordo opens with a dark and impenetrable appearance. Dark cherries and blackberries merge with sweet tobacco and exotic spices. Its aromas are heady, determined and intense, especially in this vintage. A very exotic and punchy wine for the Langhe, it virtually comes out of nowhere and leaves a strong impression. SUPERIORE.DE

The still young DOC Colli Tortonesi is probably still one of the least known wine regions in Piedmont. The term Derthona is already used as a generic term. It is the old name for Tortona, a small village in the centre of the DOC. The indigenous white grape variety Timorasso led a shadowy existence for many years, but today some winegrowers are already calling it the "white Barolo". This is due to its great complexity and finesse on the one hand and the excellent ageing potential of the wines on the other. In addition, the grapes often vary in size and ripeness during the harvest, which makes selection a major challenge, just as with the great Nebbiolo crus.

Light yellow in colour, tending towards golden as it matures in the bottle. The nose is very fresh, floral and fruity, with some orange confit, petrol and honey. Rich and deep on the palate, with an almost Riesling-like minerality and fine acid wire. With increasing aeration, it becomes more multi-layered, complex and surprisingly deep, hinting at the great potential of the grape variety. Not an off-the-peg wine, but all the more convincing for those wine lovers who expect character, personality and a high degree of independence from a white wine. For us, Timorasso is THE white grape variety discovery of recent years and Vietti's new addition, alongside the whites from Roagna and Walter Massa, is an excellent example of how Italian white wines can play at the very top of the international league! SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling straw yellow with green reflections. Initially restrained on the nose, with air some banana, hazelnut and lactic hints appear, subtly reminiscent of vanilla yoghurt. More citrus fruit on the palate, fresh and lively, vibrant acidity, salty, lingering final." Falstaff

"The 2021 Timorasso from Vietti is great. The first vintages here were decidedly rustic, but the 2021 shows an extra layer of textural finesse that is particularly evident in its contours. Notes of lemon peel, white flowers, mint and chamomile adorn this multi-layered, expressive white wine. The 2021 was mostly fermented in ceramic and steel, with only one batch aged in wood. I've never been the biggest fan of Vietti Timorasso, but the 2021 might change my mind. It's a great wine in every way." Vinous

"The 2021 Colli Tortonesi Timorasso Derthona shows a brilliant appearance, density and crisp fruit. At this young stage, it is still quite neutral aromatically, but one can expect a slow and beautiful development. The quality of the fruit is precise and clean. I am reminded of a ripe pear sealed with wax. There is a spicy note with white pepper and a hint of paraffin. A tart hint of citric acidity still needs to be ironed out, but it gives the wine the ability to age." Wine Advocate

"This big-name producer from Barolo hit the mark right from its first Timorasso in 2018. This Derthona ferments mostly in ceramic vessels and some stainless steel tanks and large oak barrels. Notes of pear and peach with mineral hints and traces of hawthorn introduce a dry, soft and rich palate of great balance, with a persistent finish." Decanter

"A beautiful Timorasso with aromas and flavours of salted caramel, sliced mango, pear and apple. Medium to full body. Bright and lively acidity on the finish. A nice combination of ripe fruit and wild, crisp acidity." James Suckling

"Timorasso is one of the most distinctive white grape varieties in the Italian canon, and Vietti has hit the bull's eye. Aromas of fresh and baked yellow peaches and spiced pears mingle with hints of petrol, magnolia and dried mango. Wild honey, beeswax and a chalky minerality give this wine volume, complexity and depth, finishing with a fresh and lively acidity." Wine Enthusiast

Barolo Essenze is made from a collection of grapes from six different vineyards: Bussia in Monforte, Annunziata in La Morra, Ravera in Novello, La Volta in Barolo, Scarrone in Castiglione Falletto and Gianetto in Serralunga. The wine has a flawless ruby red colour and a bouquet with a variety of aromas of liquorice and roasted notes. Lively on the palate, confident and luscious on the palate with a present, yet elegant tannin final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Pleasant, approachable Barolo with raspberry-cola aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with some fine-grain tannin that broadens the wine a bit." James Suckling

The Nebbiolo grapes for Matteo's entry-level Barolo come from his three vineyards Serralunga d'Alba, La Morra and Verduno. Bright garnet red colour. Precisely balanced bouquet of wild berries, rose petals and beautiful herbal spice. Bright acidity on the palate, perfectly integrated tannins and beautifully emphasised primary fruit. Already very accessible when young, it will nevertheless gain in complexity over the years. Excellent value! SUPERIORE.DE

"Subtle notes of red fruit, dried orange, spices and a hint of lavender. Medium-bodied, vivid and crunchy with firm tannins. Dry and juicy at the end." James Suckling