2024 Luigi Pira Nebbiolo Langhe, Piedmont

Luigi Pira has become one of the quiet stars of Serralunga d’Alba, crafting deeply authentic Piedmont wines from some of the region’s most prized vineyards. The estate remains family run, with Gianpaolo Pira building on generations of traditional winemaking while carefully refining the style to highlight purity, perfume and site expression. While best known for serious Barolo, the Langhe Nebbiolo offers a wonderfully approachable glimpse into the house style without losing the soul of the grape.

The 2024 vintage is bright, fragrant and beautifully energetic. Wild cherry, cranberry and blood orange notes leap from the glass alongside dried rose petals, anise and hints of earthy spice. Nebbiolo’s trademark structure is present, though in a softer and more playful form than Barolo, with fine tannins and fresh acidity giving the wine plenty of life and movement. There is a lovely savoury edge underneath the fruit, bringing subtle notes of tea leaf, truffle and crushed herbs through the finish.

This is the sort of red that absolutely comes alive with food. Tajarin pasta with butter and sage would be superb, though it also sings beside mushroom risotto, veal schnitzel or wood fired pizza topped with fennel sausage. Slightly cool the bottle and it becomes incredibly moreish, especially with a table full of antipasti and good conversation. It delivers all the charm and perfume that make Nebbiolo such a captivating variety, just without the need to wait a decade before opening it.