Almondo’s Bricco Ciliegie, has, over the past few vintages, become the benchmark against which we measure all other Roero Arneis, and doubtless, if you are fan of great Italian whites, you have a few bottles kicking around your own wine fridge. Recently, though, I have discovered another ‘important’ Arneis; one I’ve only rarely seen here in the states. It’s grown and made by the Monchiero-Carbone family in Canale, on the Roero side of the Tanaro river. The Monchieros decided, way back in 1990, to focus on Arneis and take on the mission of elevating the quality of their own farming and winemaking to make it better. In the process, they established one of the most delicious and reliable examples available- a cuvee called Recit. ReCit, in Piemontese dialect, means ‘Little King,’ but, because of the wine’s elegance and pure style, it’s more a ‘Little Queen.’ 

Sourced from Monchiero family-farmed sites in the hills surrounding Canale, Vezza and Priocca, Ground Zero for quality Arneis these days, it sees no wood and falls more into the light-and-lacy category as opposed to some of the heftier versions we also like. Focused on its fresh Asian pear-like fruit, it has a lot of Arneis’ signature fresh chopped fennel and sage-y herb notes with a bit of green almond that mingles nicely with its florals and mineral. A very vivid, immediately-appealing example of the Arneis grape- all of its treble notes seem amplified. 

A year in bottle has smoothed out its edges (why does Arneis always taste better in its second year?) and those looking for a lively, crisp but extremely satisfying and food friendly northern Italian white will find a lot to love here. Very highly recommended for all kinds of antipasti, sheep’s and goat’s milk cheeses, creamy risottos and the like as well as drinking all on its own. A fine value!