Sori Della Sorba Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 2021

Carlo Mondavi’s been on quite the tear of late...and if you scored any of this winery’s unique blend from a couple weeks back – you’re already loading up the cart!! A 94-point Piemonte nebbiolo partnership with Giovanna Bagnasco!

This is only their third-ever vintage, and already building a fearsome following with great nebbiolo that likely grows your perception of Piemonte beyond the realm of Barolo and Barbaresco. Sorì della Sorba is based in the Langhe, in the small village of Diano D’Alba. Here, in the foothills of the Italian Alps, Carlo and Giovanna are focused on a single vineyard – a south-facing amphitheater surrounded by an oak forest (with white truffles!) atop limestone and clay soils at over 1500 feet in elevation. Sorì essentially means “cru” referring to the highest and best-exposed vineyard, where the alpine snows melt first and the sun is the strongest. Here, in a vineyard that has plantings going back to the 1950s, the pair farm just over six acres. Everything is farmed organically and biodynamically, yielding just two wines – and this straight nebbiolo is among our favorite new finds of the year!

The first whispers of nebbiolo in this region goes all the way back to the 1200s, and the grape has been the king of Northern Italy for centuries. Only 455 cases of estate nebbiolo were made of this fantastic wine – and you simply have to try this to believe it! 80% of the grapes are fermented whole cluster, taking a light and ethereal wine and granting it a level of spice, intensity, and structure that ensures it will age gracefully over the decades. The result is compelling and thought-provoking, with James Suckling calling it “Racy and vivid.” Classic nebbiolo markers of tar and roses join alongside notes of crushed gravel, morello cherries, pine forest, and a medley of fresh, wild mushrooms – porcini, matsutake, and even whispers of Alba’s famous white truffles. Uplifting notes of orange peel and hibiscus tea help to make this a treat even in its youth, yet make no mistake...the best is yet to come! Best price in the USA – and a worthy addition to any collection!

PAIRING IDEAS: A buddy of mine showed me the glory of milk-braised pork shoulder, and that is what I’d serve with this. A side of roasted fennel, atop a creamy, parm-infused polenta – and you’ll never want winter to end. Here’s a good recipe to start: Maiale al Latte.