2005 Matteo Correggia Roero

Prices for Piedmont’s most sought-after wines, Barbaresco and Barolo, keep rising. The exchange rate is, of course, part of the problem. But if you’re looking for a polished Nebbiolo at a budget price, look no further than the 2005 Roero from Matteo Correggia. It’s all Nebbiolo, but comes from vines grown on the other side of Italy’s Tanaro River, north of the two more prestigious appellations. And this bottle is a great basic for your cellar.

You don’t have to wait to drink this beauty, it’s ready now. Bursting with bright, spicy fruit, Correggia’s 2005 achieves a fine balance and elegance. It’s perfect to break out for a bowl of tagliatelle with a meat ragu or wild mushroom sauce. It’s perfect with chops and grilled sausages too.

--S. Irene Virbila

Quick swirl

Region: Piedmont, Italy

Price: About $20

Style: Supple and elegant

Food it goes with: Pasta dishes, chops and grilled meats

Where you find it: Elvino Wines in Venice, (310) 396-9705, www.elvinowines.com; Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463, www.hitimewine.net; Silverlake Wine in Los Angeles, (323) 662-9024, www.silverlakewine.com; the Wine Country in Signal Hill, (562) 597-8303, www.thewinecountry.com; and Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454 and (800) 76WINEX, www.winex.com.