Another inviting white, the estate’s 2010 Langhe Sauvignon wraps around the palate with expressive peaches, sage and tomato leaves. The 2011 is a gorgeous wine with lovely varietal character and plenty of textural depth. It, too, is quite beautiful. I also tasted the 2006, which is still gorgeous and shows no signs of fading. Frankly, it was eye opening as to what can be done with Sauvignon in this part of Piemonte. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. It was great to go back to Correggia, as a few years had passed since my last visit. Ornella Correggia’s children, whom I remembered as young, are of course now grown up. Her son Giovanni looks set to continue the work of his late father. Longtime winemaker Luca Rostango has also pretty much grown up at the winery. In recent years, the estate has introduced large casks for a portion of their Barbera and Nebbiolo, marking a slight change in style that is now quite the norm throughout Piemonte. I also tasted a handful of older wines. While there is little question that the Correggia wines can age for years, whether they improve materially in bottle or not is another question, and a much more complex one to address. One of the myths of French oak is that it would “integrate” over time. The reality is that oak has to be perfectly integrated at the outset for wines to age well and gracefully. Various American importers, including: Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; (516) 677-9300; Robert Houde Wines, Elk Grove Village, IL; tel. (847) 430-3887; Giuliana Imports, Boulder, CO; tel. (303) 449-5477; Cavatappi Distribution, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 282-5226

The 2008 Langhe Bianco (Sauvignon) is a revelation. It possesses gorgeous varietal character and a textured, caressing personality that is all class. Frankly, it puts to shame most Sauvignons being made in Italy, even those from regions that are much more closely associated with this grape. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015. Even with the recent emergence of a number of growers in Roero, Correggia remains a reference-point winery. This year marks the tenth anniversary of Matteo Correggia’s untimely passing. In a decade that has seen such a huge explosion of quality in Piedmont and Roero it is only natural to wonder what kind of wines Correggia might be making if he were alive today. But you can’t live in the past, and the reality is that this is a very fine set of wines from the estate. As is often the case, many of the true jewels lie among the simpler offerings. Various American importers, including: Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; (516) 677-9300, Robert Houde Wines, Bensenville IL; (630) 422-1119, AHAWines, Portland, OR; tel. (503) 806-4472, Estate Wines Ltd., San Rafael CA; (415) 492-9411