A Few Piedmont Wines
From the wine doctor (here is the link)
Piedmont …(may be) the most significant Italian wine region, for it is the origin of perhaps the greatest Italian red wine, Barolo. This is a frequently age-worthy wine made from the Nebbiolo grape, which may be searingly tannic in its youth. Many of the wines produced deserve ten or fifteen years of cellaring. Many producers now bottle single vineyard cuvées as well as basic bottlings.
My top wines: The cream of the crop include Aldo Conterno, Giacomo Conterno, Enzo Boglietti, Pio Cesare, Vietti, Elvio Cogno, Mascarello, Luciano Sandrone and Angelo Gaja. Other good producers I have experienced include Fontanafredda, Michele Chiarlo, Prunotto, Poderi Colla (one-time owner of Prunotto), Luigi Einaudi, Marcarini and Massolino (Vigna Rionda).
Nearby is Barbaresco, another red wine made from Nebbiolo, which is more approachable in youth and may also more affordable - although top examples still command a high price. Barolo and Barbaresco may be designated as Riserva if aged in barrel for four years or three years respectively. Both Barolo and Barbaresco are DOCG wines.
My top wines: Marchesi di Grésy can turn out some good wines, Angelo Gaja leads on quality and price.
Bravisima! Though a bottle of Gaja’s best aint cheap my friend!
And if you were wondering (also from ercps, link above)
Cooking here is done with butter. A popular dish is fonduta, a melted cheese dip of milk, eggs and white truffles (tartufi bianchi). Polenta is a staple. Cardi (chards) are prepared alla bagna cauda, i.e. with a hot sauce containing oil or butter, anchovies, garlic and truffles. Monferrato produces the famous Gorgonzola cheese and delicious wines: Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Grignolino, red Freisas, white Asti, still or sparkling (spumante). with a strong flavour of grapes.