Giuseppe Mascarello Langhe Nebbiolo 2021

The Mascarello family has made wine in the Langhe of Piedmont, in north-west Italy, since 1881, and Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio still works here today. This Langhe Nebbiolo comes from the Perno vineyard on the Santo Stefano hill in Monforte d'Alba, the same commune as the estate's Barolo. Nebbiolo ripens late on the region's calcareous marl soils, and the cool continental climate with warm days and cold autumn nights builds its high acidity, firm tannins and perfume. The wine spends around 12 months in large old foudres, which soften the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and add savoury depth without the flavour of new oak. The colour is a pale garnet with an orange rim. The nose shows red cherry, dried rose, dried herbs and hints of leather and tobacco. The palate is classic and structured, with firm, fine tannins, bright acidity and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits braised beef, game and mushroom dishes, and aged cheese.