2024 Cordero di Montezemolo Langhe Arneis DOC, Piedmont

A lively and bold sensory profile, it displays notes of hawthorn, jasmine, acacia, and gardenia. Full-bodied, harmonious, and balanced on the palate, it finishes voluminous and very drinkable. Drink now.

92 points winescritic.com

Cordero di Montezemolo Langhe Arneis DOC is a bright, characterful white from the heart of Piedmont, a region better known for Barolo but quietly brilliant with native varieties. The vineyards sit in the Langhe hills, where calcareous clay soils and rolling elevations give freshness, structure and subtle mineral grip. Arneis has long been known as the white that refuses to be overlooked here, and this is a classic, thoughtful expression.

The Cordero di Montezemolo family has been rooted in Piedmont since the fourteenth century, with a deep connection to the Langhe landscape. While the estate is famous for its Barolo from Monfalletto, the same attention to detail and respect for tradition flows through the whites. Arneis is handled gently, with an emphasis on purity, texture and balance rather than overt aromatics.

In the glass, the wine is fresh and expressive. Pear, green apple and white peach sit alongside hints of almond, wild herbs and a soft floral lift. The palate is dry and crisp, but with a pleasing mid palate roundness that keeps it from feeling austere. There is a gentle savoury note on the finish, making it feel very much at home at the table.

This is a superb food wine. It shines with antipasti, seafood, grilled vegetables or classic Piedmontese dishes where simplicity is key. Best enjoyed young for its freshness and charm, though it will hold comfortably for a few years. A beautifully made Arneis that shows why this grape has earned its place alongside Piedmont’s great reds.