The Society's, Exhibition Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont, Italy, 2018

Langhe Nebbiolo as a category can be a great – and great-value – discovery for those who treat themselves to the occasional bottle of Barolo or Barbaresco, but would like to drink the Nebbiolo grape more often. New to the Exhibition range, this is sourced from younger vines in Barbaresco-certified vineyards. The wine is aged for 12 months in large oak before release, and the oak is well integrated. Translucent in the glass, the 15% alcohol comes as a surprise. The heady cherry and rose perfume leads to a chewy, food-friendly wine with good acidity, red fruit flavours, and a little warmth on the finish. This would happily pair with sausages, steak, hard cheese or even some Asian-spiced dishes.