Elio Grasso Chardonnay "Educato" '24

Monforte d'Alba is renowned for its Nebbiolo - no surprise there for an historic commune in the heart of Barolo. But as with everything in the wine world, there's more here than meets the eye, and certainly a wider grape growing tradition than just Nebbiolo, as stunning as that Nebbiolo might be.

Acclaimed Barolo producer Elio Grasso made a name for himself with a precision in the vineyard and the cellar, a careful respect for tradition, and a lifelong pursuit to learn ever more about his home in Monforte d'Alba. In this spirit, he planted a vineyard to Chardonnay in the 1980s. Chardonnay ripens significantly earlier than most other grapes grown in the region, and Grasso hoped an experiment with this international varietal would instruct him on another facet of his vineyards in the kaleidoscopic world of "terroir." Thus, "Educato."

The end goal here is to preserve the delicacy of the fruit, so while it spends 7 months in French barriques, there is no battonage, and the end result shows the restraint of the process beautifully - lemon oil and fresh bartlett pear, a nip of florals, and the beautifully textured, ever-so-slightly creamy mouthfeel - kept aloft with a still bright acidity - that Chardonnay produces in the Côte de Beaune. This is so delicious with pan seared scallops, or even something a bit richer, like an herb crusted pork chop.