2024 Massolino Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont

Massolino has been part of the fabric of Serralunga d’Alba since Giovanni Massolino founded the estate in 1896. Today the fourth generation, brothers Franco and Roberto Massolino, continues the family’s traditional approach, producing some of Piedmont’s most compelling wines. Their Langhe Nebbiolo offers a brilliant doorway into the Massolino cellar, capturing the perfume and savoury character of Nebbiolo without demanding the patience — or price — of Barolo.

Serralunga is famous for its compact, limestone-rich soils, which give Nebbiolo structure, energy and a distinctly earthy character. The 2024 vintage brings bright fruit and aromatic lift, while Massolino’s restrained winemaking keeps the wine focused on varietal character rather than oak. It’s youthful Nebbiolo doing what it does best: fragrant, lively and just serious enough to keep you interested.

Bright garnet with ruby highlights, the nose opens with sour cherry, wild strawberry and redcurrant before rose petal, violet and orange peel appear. With air come liquorice root, dried thyme, black tea and a little warm earth. The palate is energetic and beautifully dry, with crunchy red fruit carried by bright acidity and fine, chalky tannins. Cherry skin, herbs and gentle spice run through the middle before a mouthwatering finish of blood orange, rose and liquorice.

This is crying out for mushroom and taleggio risotto, tajarin with butter and sage, veal cotoletta, pork and fennel sausages or truffle salami with aged Parmigiano. 

Cellaring: Drink now to 2033.