12/02/2026
Perhaps the rain has settled in for the week. Perhaps the sky is a steadfast shade of grey, and your coat hasn’t quite dried since January. But mentally? We are in Piemonte.
For days like these, we open the northwestern corner of Italy. From right to left:
2020 Barolo Scarzello
2020 Barbera Cascina Borgatta
2023 Langhe Nebbiolo Lapo Berti
Barolo is 100% Nebbiolo, 38 months of patience, 18 in oak, tar and wild berries, rosemary and damson, tannins woven tight and bright. Scarzello does it the old way, long macerations and large botti.
Barbera from Cascina Borgatta, coming from just 2 hectares, is tended by hand by a couple in their 80s. Dark plum with a heft of spice and electric acidity.
Langhe Nebbiolo from Lapo Berti in La Morra with three weeks on skins, over 18 months in barrel, bottled unfined and unfiltered. It’s a slow unfurling of time. Perfumed, savoury and elegant.
and so let it pour.....
