Notify me
2020 Langhe Nebbiolo “Villa Gentiana”
Silvio GiamelloKermit Lynch, Marina Camia, Anthony Lynch, Silvio Giamello
Tasting with Silvio Giamello is a meditative experience. Upon greeting you at his door in Barbaresco, Silvio quietly leads you to the small, dark cellar under his house where several large oak botti hold the entirety of his minuscule production. With no distractions in the cool obscurity of the cantina, your senses are entirely devoted to the Nebbiolo Silvio guides into your empty glass. As the wine’s subtle aromas waft toward your nose, they bring to mind the small vineyard on the hillside beside the house that is home to the majority of the family’s holdings.
With only two hectares of vines to his name, Silvio epitomizes the family-run, traditionalist grower, going about his work in the vineyards and cellar the way he learned from his father. As the Langhe Nebbiolo is a selection from Vicenziana, the same parcel that produces the estate’s Barbaresco, the wines share a beauteous finesse on the palate. Giamello’s 2020 Langhe Nebbiolo is fresh and vibrant, evoking cherries, roses, and a touch of tar. Nebbiolo’s natural acidity makes this wine incredibly versatile at table, pairing well with roasted squash, sautéed mushrooms, roast fowl, polenta, and pizza, among many other dishes.
While Silvio may be too humble to say so himself, there’s no question that he crafts wines of purity and structure with authentic Piemontese aromas—the real deal, not to be missed.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Nebbiolo |
Appellation: | Langhe |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Piedmont |
Producer: | Silvio Giamello |
Winemaker: | Silvio Giamello |
Vineyard: | 41-48 years old, 2 ha total |
Soil: | Clay with lime-rich marl |
Farming: | Traditional |
Alcohol: | 14% |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Langhe Nebbiolo
Italy | Piedmont
Deceptively light on its feet, it finishes with an impressive tannin that begs for a hearty stew or your favorite cut of steak.
2022 Roero Arneis
Italy | Piedmont
Arneis has enough luscious, peachy body to satisfy Chardonnay drinkers, along with the mouthwatering zip of a good Sauvignon Blanc.
2022 Vino Rosso
Italy | Piedmont
Finding a wine as tasty and versatile at this price is not an easy task.
2020 Barbaresco “Vicenziana”
Italy | Piedmont
Rich, ripe fruit with the delicacy and floral notes we love in great Barbaresco.
2019 Barolo “Gianetto”
Italy | Piedmont
The Barolos of Serralunga are renowned for their power and longevity, and while Porro’s Gianetto is not the unyielding, tannic beast of old, it will certainly benefit from a few years in your cellar.
2022 Dolcetto d’Alba “La Costa”
Italy | Piedmont
Bone-dry and tangy, with brambly black fruit and a bold, old-school Italian bite.
2022 Langhe Arneis
Italy | Piedmont
This dreamy wine, perfect for aperitivo, reaffirms that we should turn more often to Piedmont not only for our reds but also for our whites!
2020 Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese Rosso “Euli”
Italy | Piedmont
A grape native to the Monferrato hills of Piedmont, Grignolino will surprise you; first with its pale garnet color and then with its rather summery nose of peach and blueberry.
2019 Barolo “Ravera di Monforte”
Italy | Piedmont
Beautiful, classic Barolo nose. Intense depth. Fresh and complex.
2021 Barbera del Monferrato “Rosso Pietro”
Italy | Piedmont
Luscious, mouth-filling cherry fruit, a strong soil signature, and smooth tannins make this the perfect Barbera to cure your weeknight Italian craving.
About The Producer
Silvio Giamello
About The Region
Piedmont
Kermit’s love affair with the great reds of Piemonte dates back to the early days of his career: the very first container he imported from Italy, in fact, featured legendary 1971 and 1974 Barolos from Vietti and Aldo Conterno. Regular visits since then have seen our portfolio grow to now twelve Piemontesi estates, with a strong focus on the rolling hills of the Langhe.
Nebbiolo rules these majestic, vine-covered marl slopes, giving Italy’s most mystifyingly complex, nuanced, and age-worthy reds. When crafted via traditional production methods—long macerations and extensive aging in enormous oak botti—the powerful, yet incredibly refined Barolos and Barbarescos provide haunting aromatics of tar, raspberry, incense, tea, roses, and more. At times austere in their youth but well worth the wait, they pair beautifully with the hearty local cuisine starring veal in many forms, braised beef, pastas like tajarin and agnolotti, and of course, Alba’s famous white truffles.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Piemonte’s climate is continental, with baking hot summers and cold winters. Nebbiolo is only part of the story here: juicy, fruity Barberas and Dolcettos represent the bread and butter throughout the region, and other native grapes like Freisa, Croatina, and the white Arneis are also noteworthy. Value abounds in the Monferrato, while Alto Piemonte also has its share of thrills to provide.
Every corner of Piemonte is rich with tradition, especially when wine is concerned. It’s no wonder we have been singing the region’s praises for over forty years.
More from Piedmont or Italy
2018 Barolo “Vigna Rionda”
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore
Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Italy | Piedmont
2016 Laboro Disobedient
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont
2018 Barolo “Le Coste di Monforte”
Benevelli Piero Italy | Piedmont
2019 Barolo “Le Coste di Monforte”
Piero Benevelli Italy | Piedmont
2015 Barolo “Vigna Rionda” MAGNUM
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
2019 Barolo “La Tartufaia”
Giulia Negri Italy | Piedmont
2017 Barolo “Vigna Rionda”
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
Vermouth di Torino Bianco “Aperitiv dla Tradission”
Bèrto Italy | Piedmont
2019 Barolo “Mosconi”
Piero Benevelli Italy | Piedmont
2022 Langhe Nebbiolo “Camilu”
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
2017 Barolo Bussia Riserva “Cascina Dardi”
Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Italy | Piedmont
2018 Barolo “Vigna Rionda”
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore
Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Italy | Piedmont
2016 Laboro Disobedient
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont
2018 Barolo “Le Coste di Monforte”
Benevelli Piero Italy | Piedmont
2019 Barolo “Le Coste di Monforte”
Piero Benevelli Italy | Piedmont
2015 Barolo “Vigna Rionda” MAGNUM
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
2019 Barolo “La Tartufaia”
Giulia Negri Italy | Piedmont
2017 Barolo “Vigna Rionda”
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
Vermouth di Torino Bianco “Aperitiv dla Tradission”
Bèrto Italy | Piedmont
2019 Barolo “Mosconi”
Piero Benevelli Italy | Piedmont
2022 Langhe Nebbiolo “Camilu”
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
2017 Barolo Bussia Riserva “Cascina Dardi”
Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Italy | Piedmont
Where the newsletter started
Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch