Elio Grasso was the first in his family to vinify the grapes his predecessors had sold in bulk, establishing his estate in Monforte d'Alba in 1978. His son Gianluca now works alongside him, farming eighteen hectares within the Barolo UNESCO World Heritage site. The Gavarini Vigna Chiniera comes from south-facing slopes at three hundred fifty to four hundred meters elevation on limestone-based soil—Grasso's more traditional expression, aged in twenty-five-hectoliter Slavonian oak botti rather than French barriques. The warm 2007 vintage delivered radiant, intensely perfumed Barolo with textural richness and gorgeous length—seductive and generous yet never heavy. Expect ripe cherry, leather, pine resin, and violet character with fine, granular tannins and fresh supporting acidity. Now entering its prime at roughly seventeen years old, this is Monforte d'Alba at its most approachable and expressive.