The Rare World of Massimo Benevelli
by Anthony Lynch
The Rare World of Massimo Benevelli
by Anthony Lynch
Right outside the picturesque hilltop village of Monforte d’Alba, Massimo Benevelli is humbly carrying on the family winemaking tradition initiated by his father, Piero, in the 1970s. With some of the top vineyard holdings in Monforte—most notably a sizeable plot within the Ravera cru, from which he produces the estate’s flagship Barolo—Massimo is quietly crafting ultra-traditional wines that embody all the best attributes of Piedmont’s stunning Langhe hills.
Benevelli’s three Barolo bottlings span a range of styles, starting with the charming, high-toned Le Coste, which drinks well young thanks to its delicate fruit and fragrant floral notes. His interpretation of the fabled Mosconi cru lies at the complete opposite end of the spectrum: this is a thick, dense Barolo loaded with grippy tannins and dark, intense aromatics—an ideal candidate for cellaring. Ravera is the most regal of the three, offering rich, complex flavors and an elegant, yet powerful, structure that evolves beautifully with time.
In addition to Nebbiolo, Massimo creates delicious, food-friendly everyday reds from the region’s other traditional grapes. Whether it’s a glass of plump, juicy Dolcetto with vitello tonnato, his bright, lively Barbera served with agnolotti del plin, or the deep purple, slightly frothy dry Freisa alongside a heaping plate of local meats and cheeses, these reds have the structure and palate-coating flavors that excel with Piemonte’s hearty cuisine. In fact, Massimo’s sister runs a great trattoria adjacent to the winery where it’s not uncommon to see a bottle of the family’s Dolcetto or Barbera on every table. We’re fortunate to get to do the same in the comfort of our own homes.
Wines In The Collection
Piero Benevelli Italy | Piedmont
One of the most prestigious vineyard sites in his village of Monforte d’Alba, if not all of Barolo.
Italy | Piedmont
One of the most prestigious vineyard sites in his village of Monforte d’Alba, if not all of Barolo.
More Collections
Holiday Sale!
Now through Sunday, December 28th, take 20% off the selections below from France and Italy...
Heartwarming and Spirit-Lifting Chablis
Whatever the weather, Lavantureux’s wines are as heartwarming and spirit-lifting as ever—and still deliver value, considering the craftsmanship that goes into each bottle. We’ve put together a collection of four wines featured in our Holiday Sale—their classic Chablis, the overdelivering single-vineyard “Vauprin,” and two newer bottlings from some of their most exciting vineyard additions in recent years—so you can get them at a discount and savor these beauties in their seasonal element.
From the Cellar: Holiday Edition
We’ve done some digging of our own, and came up with a collection of perfectly cellared bottles that would make for epic companions to anyone’s grandest events. You’ll find whites and reds from numerous French and Italian regions dating back up to thirty-five years, with styles and price points for everyone…
The Kermit Lynch Holiday Gift Guide
When it comes to holiday shopping, the gift of wine is hard to beat— especially when it’s a thoughtfully chosen, hand-crafted bottle from one of our many talented growers in France or Italy. Beyond wine, we have an assortment of other goodies to stuff every stocking on your list, from artisanal olive oil to gift cards to ball caps. You’ll find these items and more in the Holiday Gift Shop—now open!
Annual Dessert Wine Sale
Gingerbread cookies, yule logs, pumpkin pies…Sauternes, Banyuls, Muscat…Whether you prefer your treats baked or fermented, no holiday meal is complete without the final flourish of dessert. Now through the end of December, 20% off per bottle!
Annual Sparkling Sale
With seasonal celebrations and feasts around the corner, now is the time to stock up on sparklers from Champagne and beyond. To kick off our annual sale, we’re shining the spotlight on the KLWM quartet of Champagne growers, each with a distinctive house style that exquisitely translates its unique terroir. Get to know all four, as well as a range of lively offerings from regions like the Loire, Alsace, Veneto, and Savoie…
The Incomparable Jean-Pierre Monier
Pure and honest, Monier’s wines are farmed biodynamically and raised with the bare minimum of intervention. There are many Saint-Josephs out there today: put Monier on your shortlist.
Domaine Tempier: the Wine, the Family, the Exuberance
Domaine Tempier is a wine—it is also a family; exuberance and finesse are the traits common to both,” wrote Richard Olney back in 1984. What’s remarkable about this simple yet spot on-observation is how true it rang then, how true it rang forty years prior to that, when Tempier had just released its first wine, and how true it still rings today, forty years later.
New Arrivals
Here is a collection of recent arrivals. Every week, we’ll be adding a dozen or more new arrivals, so check back often for your favorite classics or new discoveries!
The Carpe Vinum Collection
An ever-changing offering of wines that are just about to sell out; one last opportunity to seize a range of selections before they disappear from our shelves forever.
50th Anniversary Merchandise
When the esteemed French wine artist Michel Tolmer created beautiful artwork for our 50th anniversary, we knew right away that we had to feature it on a few select items of merch. After spending maybe a little too much time researching the options, we landed on a classy, leather-strap cap, a comfortable t-shirt made from 100% cotton, and a tote made with incredibly sturdy, fair-trade, and organic cotton by a certified B corp that invests in the livelihoods of women and farmers of India, featuring three wine sleeves and two other compartments for all of your other needs!
Recent Wine Club Selections
Our five wine clubs feature our best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.
