Langhe, Piedmont, Italy
Prunotto’s 2018 Occhetti is a beautiful Langhe Nebbiolo with the freshness of a young wine and the floral, spice, and transparency of a mature wine. With a rich winegrowing history dating back to 1904, Piedmont’s great Prunotto estate was one of the first in the region to designate single cru wines to spotlight Langhe’s very finest growing sites for Nebbiolo and Barbera. Honoring the legends of Alfredo Prunotto and Beppe Colla, Prunotto crafts this terrific Nebbiolo to be fresh and ready to drink right out of the chute. And look at that color! A beautiful pale orange-rimmed crimson-garnet, just like a lovely mature Barolo. The Occhetti’s bouquet fuses red plums, rose petals, menthol, and dusty soil. Pie cherries mesh with licorice, cinnamon-scented potpourri, mint, and brown spices on the transparent palate. Savory tannins and suggestions of white pepper join the parade to segue the wine to its long, elegant finish. Pair this now and over the coming seven years with just about anything that doesn’t make water its habitat. Pizzas, pastas, casseroles, burgers, roast chicken, and medium-aged cheeses come immediately to mind.
An April 2022 newsletter selection
