An informal Piemonte theme seems to have developed here on Purple pages this week. I have accordingly compiled below a slew of tasting notes of wines from the region, taken throughout last year. Nebbiolo must be the toughest variety to taste when young - but thankfully there were some mature examples, and some interesting whites, to ease the pain. Gianni Gagliardo told me that Barolo is impossible to make for below €10 ex-cellar, due to low yields from green harvesting, plus the combined costs of staff and hillside viticulture. That is far from an easy buck or ten, though. In fact, because production volume has doubled to 11.5 m...