Massimo Clerico, Lessona Riserva 2013

Massimo Clerico, whose family winemaking roots in Piedmont go back to the 1700s, makes this deeply savory nebbiolo a 90-minute drive north of Barolo. But taste it blind, and Barolo is exactly where you’ll assume it’s from. Made using traditional methods in exceptionally small quantities, the ‘Lessona Riserva’ consistently ranks among the best values in all of Italian wine. That’s especially true of a hallmark vintage like 2013.

Tastes like: Black cherry, dried roses, mushrooms, licorice. 

How to drink: Decant for an hour before pairing with braised meats or mushroom agnolotti.