Giovanni Almondo Rosso 2022

It's been said that the true value of a winemaker can be found on the dining room table of another. When meeting with producers, it is always illustrative to see what wines they are pouring at home. Time and again, when speaking with different Italian wine producers, Domenico Almondo and his wines are mentioned. And that is just about the greatest reference any winemaker can receive. (In fact, Gianlucca Grasso trades bottles of his superb Barolos for Domenico's stellar Bricco delle Ciliegie Arneis.)

The Almondo family has grown grapes in Roero for over 300 years. Though, it wasn't until 1980 that Domenico made the decision to bottle his own wine. More importantly, he made the ground-breaking choice to craft top-flight white wine in a region nearly completely devoted to the production of red. Today, Domenico organically farms the sandy hillside soils of Roero, along with his two sons, Federico and Stefano, producing world-class Arneis, along with Nebbiolo, Brachetto and a small bit of Barbera.

Almondo's Roero rosso is made from 100% Nebbiolo, the grape that makes the great wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. The wine is light ruby in color with garnet highlights. Gorgeous floral and red fruit aromas explode from the glass and grow more intense and refined with air exposure. On the palate, the wine is sharp and well-defined with smooth, mouth-coating tannins and a precise acidity. While not as powerful as Barolo or Barbaresco, this elegant Nebbiolo showcases the lighter style of the grape, perfect for everyday drinking. Pair with grilled meats, roasted poultry, broiled salmon or goat cheese.