2023 Seghesio Nebbiolo Langhe DOC, Monforte d’Alba Piedmont

Seghesio is firmly rooted in Monforte d’Alba, where the family has been growing vines for generations and bottling its own wines since the 1960s. Today brothers Aldo and Riccardo Seghesio continue the family story, producing traditionally minded wines from some terrific Monforte vineyards. Their Langhe Nebbiolo is the approachable younger sibling to the Barolos, carrying plenty of the family character without requiring years in the cellar before dinner.

Monforte sits on the eastern side of the Barolo zone, an area renowned for Nebbiolo with structure, savoury depth and firm tannins. The 2023 Langhe bottling captures that personality in a more immediately accessible form. There is lovely aromatic lift and juicy red fruit, but underneath sits the dried herb, tea and earthy character that tells you exactly where you are.

Bright garnet ruby, the bouquet opens with sour cherry, wild raspberry and redcurrant, followed by violet, dried rose and blood orange. Liquorice root, fennel seed, black tea and a little warm earth appear with air. The palate is lively and medium bodied, with crunchy cherry and raspberry framed by fine, dusty tannins and mouthwatering acidity. Orange peel, anise and dried herbs gather through the middle before a dry, savoury finish.

At the table, think pork and fennel meatballs in tomato sugo, mushroom and fontina arancini, duck and shiitake dumplings, veal cotoletta or a spicy salami and Taleggio pizza. Our pick is the arancini. Crisp crumbs, earthy mushrooms and molten cheese alongside Nebbiolo’s cherry, rose and tannin is a fine argument for opening the bottle early.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2033.