E. Pira & Figli Langhe Nebbiolo 2022

E. Pira & Figli Langhe Nebbiolo 2022 comes from organically farmed vines in the Ravera di Monforte cru in Monforte d'Alba, one of Barolo's most respected vineyard sites, planted on calcareous clay soils at around 400 meters elevation. Chiara Boschis harvested the fruit in mid-October from 15-year-old vines, including grapes from the fasce di rispetto — the buffer rows bordering non-organic neighboring parcels. After fermentation in stainless steel, the wine aged roughly 14 months in second-passage French oak barriques, followed by two months in bottle before release, a careful regimen that preserves the transparency Nebbiolo is known for while building structure. Chiara Boschis runs E. Pira & Figli, a historic Piedmont estate where she was one of the first women to bottle her own wines in Barolo. The Ravera cru sits in Monforte d'Alba, a commune known for producing some of the most structured and age-worthy expressions of Nebbiolo in the region. The calcareous clay soils here lend minerality and grip to the fruit, and Boschis farms organically, a commitment reflected in the clarity and vitality of the wine. Annual production of this Langhe Nebbiolo is around 650 cases, making it a small-batch window into her approach and a compelling entry point to Nebbiolo before stepping up to her Barolo bottlings. The 2022 vintage shows a vibrant ruby red with garnet and violet reflections in the glass. The nose is fresh and inviting, offering raspberry, wild strawberry, and cherry fruit alongside floral violet notes, sandalwood, and a touch of earthiness. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied and silky, with fine, well-knit tannins, balanced acidity, and a juicy, persistent finish that leans slightly saline. It earned 90 points from Jeb Dunnuck and 91 points from Treve Ring at Gismondi on Wine, with critics praising its clarity, freshness, and approachability. Pair it with braised beef, mushroom risotto, cured meats, or aged cheeses like Castelmagno, and while it's approachable now, the structure will carry it for several more years in the cellar. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.