2023 Luigi Pira Nebbiolo Langhe, Piedmont

The Luigi Pira Langhe Nebbiolo is a brilliant introduction to one of Barolo’s most respected names, offering a glimpse into Serralunga d’Alba’s powerful terroir without the wait or weight of full Barolo. Made entirely from Nebbiolo grown in younger vines or select parcels that don’t make it into Pira’s single-cru bottlings, this wine is all about purity, finesse and early approachability, while still carrying the unmistakable stamp of Serralunga’s iron-rich clay soils and high elevation slopes.

Winemaker Gianpaolo Pira, who has transformed the estate since taking over from his father Luigi in the late 1990s, is meticulous in the vineyard and thoughtful in the cellar. Fruit is hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel, then aged in large old Slavonian oak botti for around a year. The result is a wine that speaks clearly of place, without the heavy overlay of new oak or extended tannin extraction.

In the glass, this Langhe Nebbiolo is vivid and fragrant, with aromas of wild cherry, blood orange peel, violet and sweet herbs. There’s a gentle dusting of earth, rose petals and aniseed, backed by fine, silky tannins and a fresh acid line that gives it real lift and crunch. While it has a gentler structure than its Barolo siblings, it’s still unmistakably Nebbiolo—elegant, honest and precise.

This is a wine that loves food: pair it with mushroom risotto, tajarin al ragù, grilled lamb chops or even a rich lentil and sausage stew. It's also a perfect wine to decant for 30 minutes and enjoy over an evening to watch it open up layer by layer. Drink now to 2029.