I had some Nebbiolo cravings tonight and this bottle of "baby Barolo" from La Morra did the trick.
This is the first time I've tried anything from Andrea Oberto. I was reluctant to try a 2015 vintage being so young, but I'm glad I did. This was surprisingly easy to drink. Classic tar n' roses, fresh ripe cherries, strawberries, saffron and turmeric spices. Lovely soft dusty tannins. So delicious!
To think only a decade ago it seemed very difficult to find a nebbiolo d'Alba (or Langhe nebbiolo if it was going then) that wasn't either a simple & stretched steel-aged wine, or something that was clearly cast-off material from Barolo or Barbaresco. These days there appear to be large numbers of great 'basic' nebbiolo wines, in the style of Barolo/Barbaresco, but more approachable / less structured. Good to hear of another good one.
Other makers can perhaps be more vintage dependent on early accessibility. Having said that, entry level wines including the standard Barolo/Barbaresco from makers who also make Crus, tend to be more approachable these days - shorter fermentations, less extraction, less ageing in Barrel or Botte.
To turn the question around, some makers who I think really need some time in the cellar include Gaja, Rivetti La Spinetta, Aldo Conterno, Brovia, Chiara Boschis, Bartolo Mascarello, Burlotto, Bruno Giacosa and the Produttori Crus. Plenty of others I'm sure. Personal view of course Oz.
