Proprieta Sperino Lessona 2018

The Proprietà Sperino Lessona 2018 is a captivating look at what Nebbiolo can achieve when it’s grown in the forgotten, sandy soils of the Alto Piemonte. While Barolo and Barbaresco often grab the headlines, the De Marchi family (of Isole e Olena fame) has spent years restoring this historic estate to prove that Lessona belongs in the same conversation.

In the glass, the 2018 vintage is all about finesse and high-toned aromatics. It’s a bit more forward than previous years, making it dangerously approachable right now. You’ll find a kaleidoscopic nose of dried rose petals, crushed raspberries, and star anise, backed by that unmistakable streak of alpine minerality—a signature of the region’s acidic, iron-rich sands. On the palate, the wine is silky and surprisingly lithe, but don’t let the elegance fool you; the structure is firm and built to last.

This is a wine for those who love the Burgundian side of Italian reds—bright acidity, transparency of fruit, and a finish that hums with earthy notes of tea leaf and orange peel.