Monti Langhe Chardonnay 2016

Meet northern Italy’s answer to fine white Burgundy. It’s from Pier Paolo Monti, who founded his estate in the Langhe hills in 1996 by purchasing several vineyards and building a state of the art winery. He has 10 hectares growing six grape varieties: Barbera d’Alba, Nebbiolo for his Barolo, plus Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Riesling. Over the years his wines have won numerous medals, which he and winemaker Roberto Gerbino put down to attentive vineyard management, modern vinification and meticulous oak maturation. This Selezione 2016 is pure Chardonnay from the Langhe’s Monforte region and aged for 13 months in French oak. With racy peach, passion fruit and clove aromas and flavours, it’s a fine match for fennel risotto or salmon.