Piedmont, Italy
Langhe DOC Chardonnay 'Educato'
| SKU | 182683 |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Type | White |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Listing | Speculative |
| Case Config. | 6x750ml |
| Available In | BC |
Colour
Clear medium yellow.
Aroma
Aromas of apples, citrus, toast, minerality.
Flavour
Flavours of fresh apples, citrus, some minerality, toast; fresh acidity and a clean finish.
Food Pairing
Pairs well with roast chicken, turkey, quiche, cheeses.
More Info
Elio Grasso uses only estate-grown grapes from 14 hectares of vineyards of varieties traditionally grown in the Langhe hill country near Alba.
The vinification procedure for Langhe Chardonnay "Educato" involves fermentation in French oak barriques. After completing malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine matures in new barriques of French oak for 7 months. Bottling normally takes place in April-May.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jan/2025
2023 -
"The Elio Grasso 2023 Langhe Chardonnay Educato is a lovely wine. The Educato is often my go-to choice when I am looking for a refreshing white from the red wine-dominated Langhe region. Aged in French oak, it delivers a creamy expression of the grape with medium-plus intensity. With fruit from a site with sandy limestone soils, it shows a pretty bouquet with yellow rose, peach and sweet grapefruit. Production is 10,000 bottles." - Monica Larner
Jeb Dunnuck, May/2024
2022 -
"A bright silver/straw color, the 2022 Langhe Chardonnay Educato offers fresh aromas of ripe candied apples, candied lime, and a delicate custardy touch, but it remains fresh and lifted. Medium to full-bodied but light on its feet, it’s ripe and juicy without getting heavy and has a kiss of sweet fruit, with a silky texture and a light warmth on the finish. This would be best enjoyed over the next 4-5 years."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Aug/2023
2021 -
"The Elio Grasso 2021 Langhe Chardonnay Educato is a mineral-driven white wine from a parcel that sits at a cool and breezy 460 meters above sea level. The canopy is very high off the ground, with loose clusters, allowing air currents to keep the fruit disease-free. Gianluca Grasso jokes: "The vines look like little Christmas trees." This wine has a glossy quality that I absolutely love. I get aromas of honey, beeswax, peach, spice and latex. No malolactic fermentation takes place, and there is an elegant dusting of salty mineral on the close."
Wine Spectator, Apr/2023
2021 -
"A rich white, bordering on creamy in texture, with a dash of vanilla joined by peach, apple and pastry aromas and flavors. Reveals vibrant acidity, with a hint of bitter citrus on the finish. Drink now."
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Jun/2019
2017 -
"In 1985, Elio Grasso planted these Chardonnay vines, and the first vintage came out in 1990. Fermented partly in wood and partly in steel, the 2017 Langhe Chardonnay Educato has some great freshness, very intentionally, as they harvested in the first few days of September to get the early fruit. The harvest was done in the cooler hours of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., and there is no batonnage here. You can taste the calcareous minerality that this Chardonnay mirrors from the white clay and limestone soils the vines are planted in. This wine should be enjoyed within the next few years."
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Jun/2018
2016 -
"Chardonnay is the only grape not planted by Gianluca Grasso's grandfather, but by his father. The 2016 Langhe Chardonnay Educato sees fruit from one of the estate's highest vineyard sites at 500 meters above sea level. The first year this wine was produced was 1990, and today some 6,000 bottles are made annually. Educato is made in stainless steel and does not undergo malolactic fermentation. As a result, you are treated to a zesty, nervous and vibrant expression with salty mineral tones and tangy citrus. Fruit was harvested in the wee hours of the morning before sunrise. I just love this refreshing style of Chardonnay."