This is another terrific set of new releases from Le Pianelle, an estate that has been on a roll of late. Readers will note the addition of a new wine, the Bramaterra Robino. Although Alto Piemonte has been a net beneficiary of climate change so far, today's conditions require a different approach. Winemaker Cristiano Garella told me he was inspired to start experimenting with whole clusters because of the intense heat of 2017. In 2018, he vinified Robino, a relatively cool southeast portion of the estate, with 100% stems for a new Bramaterra and also used a good amount of whole clusters for the existing Bramaterra bottling. The results speak for themselves. Both wines saw 30+ days on the skins and were aged in cask, with no fining or filtration prior to bottling. Le Pianelle is a compelling example of the new Alto Piemonte. A decade ago, the estate did not really exist. Today it produces world-class wines.

Varieties: Nebbiolo 80%, Croatina 10% and Vespolina 10%