TN: Fabio Gea Back Grin 2017

[winetastic]

Buried beneath hand dipped wax, a label tied on with string and a (reusable!) glass stopper and all contained in a hand blown bottle (no you are not drunk) lurks the 100% Grignolino offering from Fabio Gea, located in Barbaresco.

As soon as I removed the stopper I was assaulted with fresh strawberry and floral aromas, pour it into a big glass and its a wild ride: fresh strawberry and cranberry, pine needles, Christmas bakery, bitter herbs and maybe even some chocolate. The palate is lithe and poised, think the delicacy of gamay yet with silky tannin structure approaching that of a Langhe Nebbiolo. Great acid balance, a smashable and intellectual wine. My better half tasting it blind said it tasted like Barbaresco, yet different at the same time (I am suitably impressed).

[michel]

Interesting
Never heard of this grignolino before

[winetastic]

Interesting
Never heard of this grignolino before

By the time we reached the end of the bottle, I had declared it my wine of the year so far. Interest levels are off the charts.

[Gavin Trott]

Interesting
Never heard of this grignolino before

By the time we reached the end of the bottle, I had declared it my wine of the year so far. Interest levels are off the charts.

Really glad you liked it, these are unique and fabulous wines.

.

[JamieBahrain]

Interesting
Never heard of this grignolino before

You are off to Piedmont for the first time I recall ? You will mismatch magnificent Barolo and Barbaresco with the tourist spread of local cuisine.

Other native grapes are very interesting and once a regular less of a risk to experiment with summer cuisine especially. I recall having Olek Bondonio's grignolino with his extended family over a multi-course but very local dinner- paired with lamb's brains and local herbs perfectly whereas a heavy B or B would have been smashed.

[Wizz]

Interesting
Never heard of this grignolino before

Next offline theme will be "grapes Michel has never heard of".

[Ian S]

Very well said Jamie