The Estate

Founded in 1978 by Piero Benevelli, the father of current proprietor Massimo Benevelli, the estate has been going from strength to strength in recent years. Having trained to make wines in his teens, Massimo now produces the classic wines of the Langhe that are great reflections of their origins. From Fresia, Dolcetto, and Barbera, to the three Barolo crus, each cuvee of the Estate exhibits their own character, with elegance and balance a common theme across the wines. The vineyards are mainly on the hillsides of Monforte, a commune at the south eastern boundary of the Barolo DOCG producing zone. The winery and cellars are in Le Coste di Monfote, and the focus is always in the vineyards, in order to produce the best grapes to make great wines.

After initially selling off grapes and bulk wines, the estate bottled a blended Barolo in the 1990s, and the first single vineyard wine of Ravera di Monforte was born in 2008. With a relatively short history of bottling their own wines, the estate was under the radar until recently, but attention from critics and the market alike meant the reputation of the estate is catching up to a level that the wines deserve. The estate now bottles three Barolo Crus of Le Coste di Monforte, Mosconi, and Ravera di Monforte, all very distinctive wines despite their proximity to each other, and tasting them side by side is a great study of terroir. All the wines are made in such a way that they are approachable young, but with plenty of potential to develop.

Viticulture and Vinification

The estate follows organic principles without certification, and all the grapes are hand-harvested and fermented in stainless steel tank with temperature control. Only indigenous yeasts are used, and fermentations are started spontaneously. The Barolos spend around 20 days in fermentation with daily pump overs, followed by extensive (20-30 days) submerged cap maceration, and aged typically in the first year in tonneau, and then old botti for another year. A judicious amount of sulphur is used during vinification and before bottling. Wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Wines Produced

la costa dolcetto d’alba doc

The vineyards that produce this wine are located in Monforte. The wines are aged in stainless steel for an average of 6 months and then a further 3 months in bottle. The resulting wine is dark-fruited, flavourful, and concentrated, with good balance but approachable young, A great food wine, and an average of 10,000 bottles produced annually.

Bricco del pilone barbera d’alba doc

The Pilone vineyards lies within Ravera di Monforte. This wine is typically aged for 6 months in old barrique and then another 6 months in Slavonian botti, before spending 3 months in bottle before release. The wine is a step up in concentration compared to the Dolcetto, with dark fruit, balance, and depth. Built to age, but approachable in youth too. 5,000 bottles produced annually.

Langhe nebbiolo doc

This wine is produced from grapes in Le Coste di Monforte, and is aged on average for 6 months in stainless steel and then a further 3 months in bottle before release. This entry level Nebbiolo has good typicity, exhibiting dark red fruit, tar, and rose on the nose, and a cool red fruited wine with balance and freshness on the palate. 15,000 bottles produced annually.

le coste di monforte barolo docg

The estate holds 2.5 ha in this cru with a south west facing aspect, and is on the hillside to the west of Ravera di Monforte. This wine typically has a floral and complex bouquet of rose, tar, and tobacco, exhibiting great Barolo typicity. The palate is red-fruited and concentrated, with a medium body but silky mouth feel. Built for 20y and longer ageing, but approachable young with aeration. From vines that are of an average age of 20y+. 10,000 bottles produced annually.

mosconi barolo docg

The estate’s 0.6ha holding lies to the north of Le Coste di Monforte and Ravera di Monforte, and is more protected from the wind from the south. The first vintage was made in 2016, and the initial version of this wine has a darker fruit profile with power and concentration that is immediately attractive. The vines are 15 years old on average. This is built for the long haul, but currently the more approachable Barolo of the three. A maximum of 3,800 bottles produced annually.

ravera di monforte barolo docg

The estate has 2 ha of vineyards on the east facing hillside of Ravera di Monforte, opposite to the famous vineyards of Francia and Arione. With blue marl soil, this vineyard has an interesting micro climate with the warm climate by virtue of being at the southern boundary of Barolo counteracted by the 400m+ elevation, and exposure to the wind and cool air from Alta Langa to the south. The resulting wine does not taste like a product from a warm climate, but a more red fruited and focussed wine with energy, elegance, and medium body. A maximum of 4,800 bottles produced annually.

Critical Praise

“I am often asked who the up and coming stars are in Piedmont. Massimo Benevelli is surely one of them.”

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com

GENERAL INFORMATION

Country:  Italy

Region:  Piedmont 

Appellation:  Monforte d'Alba

Founded:  1978

Annual Production: Around 4,000 cases

Farming: Traditional