2016 Grasso Fratelli Langhe Chardonnay “Settembrino”

Grasso Fratelli winery

The Piedmont region in Italy’s northwest, where the Apennines end and the Alps begin, is widely regarded as Italy’s version of Burgundy: a complex and varied terroir producing wines of extraordinary power and elegance. This is where you’ll find Grasso Fratelli, run by two brothers, Alfredo and Luigi, who have been farming their property east of Alba since the 1960s, never using synthetic herbicides or pesticides. Just over the line from Barbaresco, their wines deliver much of the same aromatic sophistication and depth as that famous appellation but for a much more reasonable price. We’ve assembled a half dozen of their wines, ranging from a couple of whites — including a stellar chardonnay — to their Dolcetto d’Alba and Langhe Nebbiolo. The Grasso wines are some of the best values in the region, and they’re made with deep respect for the earth.