2021 Castello di Verduno Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont 750 ml

Castello di Verduno is making huge waves. 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous said he was “so impressed” by their Barbarescos that he called the winery “one of the great recent success stories in Piedmont.” He’s also touted their “insane value” and even urged Vinous readers who like classically styled Nebbiolo to seek them out. 

But this 2021 Verduno isn’t one of their Barbarescos.

The label only says “Langhe Nebbiolo”—but if you could peek inside at the grapes that go into this wine, you’d see nothing but Barbaresco. In fact, this bottling is sourced from two of the region’s most famous crus, Rabajà and Fasét.

Antonio Galloni rates Fasét as an “outstanding” vineyard, and it adjoins Asili, one of the two most famous sites in the comune of Barbaresco. Rabajà is even a step up: It’s the other of the two most famous vineyards in the town, and one of the top three sites in the entire appellation, rated as “exceptional” by Galloni. 

From proprietor Marcella Bianco and winemaker Mario Andrion, this is an electric bottle of Nebbiolo that captures the essence of Barbaresco, but with a more approachable profile, thanks to a slightly shorter maceration—which limits tannins—and less barrel aging, which preserves a fresher fruit profile.

That’s why Verduno labels this as Langhe Nebbiolo: They want people to know it’s more of a “right now” bottle to be drunk before their Barbaresco—and believe us, we’re happy to oblige. Open this anytime you want pure, uncut Piedmontese character delivered with the easygoing texture and personality to make it a charming dinner companion.