Aged in equal thirds in botte, barrique and steel vat, the Massolino 2020 Langhe Chardonnay is a medium-bodied white wine with plenty of fragrant yellow rose, almond blossom, orchard fruit and poached pear. This hot-vintage expression ends with a much needed hint of fresh acidity. Production is 37,000 bottles.

The Massolino 2019 Langhe Chardonnay is plush and almost creamy but not quite. The wine's pretty volume and depth are thanks to the many layers of peach, citrus and exotic fruits found at its core. Those fruit tones are softened and amplified by natural rubber and an almost glossy touch of beeswax that I find very attractive. The mouthfeel is further fleshed out by very well-managed oak tones and light spice. A shellfish risotto would work wonders.

When it comes to drawing out the varietal purity in a grape, Massolino hits the nail on the head. Their 2018 Langhe Chardonnay can be mistaken for nothing else but Chardonnay. The aromas are genuine and pure with orchard fruit, Golden Delicious apple, toasted bread and touches of honey and nutmeg. The wine finishes with freshness, minerality and tangy spice. This is a robust, medium-bodied white that ages in equal parts botte, barrique and cement for 12 months. There is a moment of creamy viscosity on the mid-palate, but the acidity washes through nicely. Some 37,000 bottles are on the market now.

There is a nice fullness and generosity of fruit to the 2017 Langhe Chardonnay, with yellow fruit and good mineral and acidity. This is from various vineyard sites in Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba, and nearly 45,000 bottles of this wine were made. It's aged in four types of vessels: botte, neutral barrique, stainless steel and cement. Malolactic fermentation does not always occur, and in fact, the folks at Massolino try to avoid that second fermentation. This would be a nice choice for a fish stew or seafood chowder.