22 Sep Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Elvio Cogno 2020 Montegrilli Langhe Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is the king of Piemonte and is used to make some of the most revered wines in the world. It is known for producing powerful, full-bodied, tannic wines that get better and better with age. But I drank a 2020 Nebbiolo this week that was so fresh and drinkable and that is why the Elvio Cogno 2020 Montegrilli Langhe Nebbiolo is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

Elvio Cogno is located Novello, one of the eleven communes of Barolo. Founded in 1964 by Elvio Cogno, a former restauranteur, the winery has 15 hectares, of which 11.5 are in Ravera, the most well-regarded Cru in Novello. Elvio Cogno produces four Barolos and one Barbaresco, as well as one Langhe Nebbiolo, the Montegrilli.

The Nebbiolo for the Montegrilli is sourced from one hectare in the Pasinotti vineyard in Novello, a vineyard I had the pleasure to visit last week. Pasinotti is a vineyard that has calcareous sandy soils where the Nebbiolo is planted.

The Nebbiolo was vinified in stainless steel, spending time on the lees. But what is unique about this Nebbiolo is that 30% of the grapes underwent carbonic maceration.

Carbonic maceration is when the fermentation starts within the berry instead of pressing the berries and adding yeasts. This is a common practice in Beaujolais in France but this was my first time tasting a Nebbiolo that was partial carbonic maceration.

The result is delicious! The wine is a translucent, bright red color. It has aromas of fresh raspberries, red currants, wild strawberries, and flowers, as well as white pepper, spice, and earth notes. On the palate, the wine has fresh acidity and soft drying tannins.

The Elvio Cogno 2020 Montegrilli Langhe Nebbiolo is a great wine to pair with food ranging from tuna to pastas to cheeses. I enjoyed this wine with Battuta di Fassona (beef tartare) with shaved truffles and with Porcini Fritti (fried Porcini mushrooms).

If you love Nebbiolo, check out the Elvio Cogno 2020 Montegrilli Langhe Nebbiolo. It retails for approximately $27 and is available across the US.