Poderi Luigi Einaudi “Nebbiolo”

langhe, ITALY  |  2021

Piedmont, located in Northwest Italy is one of the most important appellations for red wine, not just in Italy, but the world. The name Piedmont means “at the foot of the mountains,” and it is this proximity to the Alps that makes Piedmont a diverse landscape. The various changes in exposure, even soil type make it difficult to generalize about its grapes.

The King of Piemontese varietals is Nebbiolo. A noble grape, that is wonderfully aromatic, sometimes quite tannic, with the requisite freshness to balance it all. While the DOCG’s of Barolo and Barbaresco are at the top of the pyramid when it comes to quality Nebbiolo, their price point never fall into the “everyday” price category. 

The good news is, there are plenty of great value Langhe Nebbiolo to enjoy on an “everyday” basis. Here is one such example.

Poderi Luigi Einaudi was founded in 1897 by Luigi Einaudi, who would later go on to be Italy’s first democratically elected president. Today the estate is run by his great-grandson Matteo Sardagna and winemaker Giuseppe Caviola. The family owns 358 acres spread throughout the heart of the Langhe. The home base is San Giacomo in Dogliani, an area that sits just south of the Barolo DOCG. While Dogliani is most famous for its expression of the Dolcetto grape, Nebbiolo and Barbera also thrive.

The 2021 Luigi Einaudi Langhe Nebbiolo is produced from grapes grown in vineyards in Dogliani and Neive. It is fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete tanks. The wine is racked off its skins after only 8 to 10 days. This shorter maceration time lends itself to a softer expression of Nebbiolo. A further short aging in large oak barrels, also adds to the balance. 

Beautiful aromas of wild cherries, currant and spice can be found on the nose. Medium bodied, with soft tannins, and a bright, balanced finish. A great wine to pair with food, try the classic Tajarin pasta with a meat and porcini tomato sauce.