Nebbiolo newbie

[Pippo2096]

Hi Everyone,
Over the last year or so I've been making a conscious effort to expand my wine knowledge and venture into different styles, regions etc and I've decided that nebbiolo is next on the list but don't really know where to start and was hoping that some of you might have some suggestions on producers (local or Italian) good recent vintages to look out for etc. Unfortunately funds wont stretch to Barolo or Barberesco so I'm assuming that I'll be looking looking more towards langhe. Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated
Cheers

[Ian S]

Hi Pippo
Langhe nebbiolo is a superb place to start, as there are plenty of very good ones, and some superb value as well. As distribution won't be as wide as in Italy or the rest of Europe, it might be useful to shout out what you've got access to and we can suggest good options. They're often ready to drink out of the gate, but can often cellar for up to a decade with ease. Amongst others here with good experience, Jamie has strong knowledge of the region and is going to be more up to date on recent vintages than me (I've very much slowed buying in recent years).

Yes, it's always worth trying the Aussie examples out, as places with Stephen Pannell, Primo estate and others have been growing it for a while. Also worth exploring in Piemonte/Piedmont Italy is Gattinara, alongside a plethora of other small regions where nebbiolo is often the majority grape in a blend. It's north of the Langhe, hence cooler, so the wines tend towards the leaner side, but at their best are lithe long-distance runners.

Food to have with it? On the whole very flexible, with only young Barolo/Barbaresco demanding a slab of red meat to tame the tannins. Risotto a classic pairing, with mushroom or truffle a especially good.

A few of the folks here do have mature bottles of Barolo / Barbaresco in the cellar, so if there's an offline that's convenient, it would give great insight if you can grab a seat with them. Personally I like them very mature, indeed still very much enjoy them over-mature, but palate preferences vary quite a bit amongst enthusiasts.

Finally, if you ever get the chance to visit the region, I'd heartily recommend it. The walking is superb, the hospitality gracious, the food another big star, and the wines fit nicely into that.

Regards
Ian

[Waiters Friend]

Hi Pippo
Langhe nebbiolo is a superb place to start, as there are plenty of very good ones, and some superb value as well. As distribution won't be as wide as in Italy or the rest of Europe, it might be useful to shout out what you've got access to and we can suggest good options. They're often ready to drink out of the gate, but can often cellar for up to a decade with ease. Amongst others here with good experience, Jamie has strong knowledge of the region and is going to be more up to date on recent vintages than me (I've very much slowed buying in recent years).

Yes, it's always worth trying the Aussie examples out, as places with Stephen Pannell, Primo estate and others have been growing it for a while. Also worth exploring in Piemonte/Piedmont Italy is Gattinara, alongside a plethora of other small regions where nebbiolo is often the majority grape in a blend. It's north of the Langhe, hence cooler, so the wines tend towards the leaner side, but at their best are lithe long-distance runners.

Food to have with it? On the whole very flexible, with only young Barolo/Barbaresco demanding a slab of red meat to tame the tannins. Risotto a classic pairing, with mushroom or truffle a especially good.

A few of the folks here do have mature bottles of Barolo / Barbaresco in the cellar, so if there's an offline that's convenient, it would give great insight if you can grab a seat with them. Personally I like them very mature, indeed still very much enjoy them over-mature, but palate preferences vary quite a bit amongst enthusiasts.

Finally, if you ever get the chance to visit the region, I'd heartily recommend it. The walking is superb, the hospitality gracious, the food another big star, and the wines fit nicely into that.

Regards
Ian

Ian is on the money. I've also found that the Italian (Langhe) nebbiolos can be found at reasonable prices in Australia. In my experience, the Australian examples at similar price points don't measure up. Happy to be corrected, of course!

[WineRick]

There are a number of good Beechworth Nebbiolos, a lot of them being made by Rick Kinzbrunner. His own Giaconda Neb is pretty handy and I believe Beechworth will become a prominent region for the variety.

[JamieAdelaide]

quote="Ian S" post_id=171041 time=1714300314 user_id=159]
Jamie has strong knowledge of the region and is going to be more up to date on recent vintages than me (I've very much slowed buying in recent years).
[/quote]

Thanks Ian I’ve been out of the game sadly, since COVID. Cost me amazing privileges in Piedmont. I’m easing back into it with a new job that facilitates rebuilding lost ties!

The landscape has changed a lot so quickly. Many wines made for the impatient generations coming through.

Pippo if you are in Adelaide let me know. I’m overdue putting together an event of mature Piedmont wines.

[Pippo2096]

Hi Pippo
Langhe nebbiolo is a superb place to start, as there are plenty of very good ones, and some superb value as well. As distribution won't be as wide as in Italy or the rest of Europe, it might be useful to shout out what you've got access to and we can suggest good options. They're often ready to drink out of the gate, but can often cellar for up to a decade with ease. Amongst others here with good experience, Jamie has strong knowledge of the region and is going to be more up to date on recent vintages than me (I've very much slowed buying in recent years).

Yes, it's always worth trying the Aussie examples out, as places with Stephen Pannell, Primo estate and others have been growing it for a while. Also worth exploring in Piemonte/Piedmont Italy is Gattinara, alongside a plethora of other small regions where nebbiolo is often the majority grape in a blend. It's north of the Langhe, hence cooler, so the wines tend towards the leaner side, but at their best are lithe long-distance runners.

Food to have with it? On the whole very flexible, with only young Barolo/Barbaresco demanding a slab of red meat to tame the tannins. Risotto a classic pairing, with mushroom or truffle a especially good.

A few of the folks here do have mature bottles of Barolo / Barbaresco in the cellar, so if there's an offline that's convenient, it would give great insight if you can grab a seat with them. Personally I like them very mature, indeed still very much enjoy them over-mature, but palate preferences vary quite a bit amongst enthusiasts.

Finally, if you ever get the chance to visit the region, I'd heartily recommend it. The walking is superb, the hospitality gracious, the food another big star, and the wines fit nicely into that.

Regards
Ian

Ian is on the money. I've also found that the Italian (Langhe) nebbiolos can be found at reasonable prices in Australia. In my experience, the Australian examples at similar price points don't measure up. Happy to be corrected, of course!

I'm in Australia too. Any imported producers that can be sourced here that you would recommend seeking out ?

[Pippo2096]

quote="Ian S" post_id=171041 time=1714300314 user_id=159]
Jamie has strong knowledge of the region and is going to be more up to date on recent vintages than me (I've very much slowed buying in recent years).

Thanks Ian I’ve been out of the game sadly, since COVID. Cost me amazing privileges in Piedmont. I’m easing back into it with a new job that facilitates rebuilding lost ties!

The landscape has changed a lot so quickly. Many wines made for the impatient generations coming through.

Pippo if you are in Adelaide let me know. I’m overdue putting together an event of mature Piedmont wines.
[/quote]

I'm in Sydney unfortunately Jamie. Interesting that you say the landscape is changing so quickly unlike some other areas of Europe

[Ian S]

Looking at Wine searcher in Aus shows a healthy 141 matches for langhe nebbiolo.

Safe bet - Produttori del Barbaresco. For me, not the value they used to be, but still a safe bet for the quality. Useful if also getting a Barolo based langhe nebbiolo, as this might show a subtle contrast.

Mini-barolo - Cavalotto. I love their wines across the range, and they seem to be consistently good on their cheaper wines (their vigna scot dolcetto also worth a try).

Under the radar - I see Boasso (Gabutti) listed. A good, but very much under the radar traditionalist producer, whose Barbera I love. I don't recall tasting his langhe nebbiolo, but would absolutely take a chance on it.

Fly the flag - Fletcher wines are run by an Aussie out of an old train station in Barbaresco area. I've not tried the wines yet, but have seen positive comments from others

Could still be good - Alberto Ballarin is one half of a split of Cascina Ballarin, whose langhe nebbiolo used to be a lovely mini-Barolo, sometimes with a hint of white truffle.

[Pippo2096]

Looking at Wine searcher in Aus shows a healthy 141 matches for langhe nebbiolo.

Safe bet - Produttori del Barbaresco. For me, not the value they used to be, but still a safe bet for the quality. Useful if also getting a Barolo based langhe nebbiolo, as this might show a subtle contrast.

Mini-barolo - Cavalotto. I love their wines across the range, and they seem to be consistently good on their cheaper wines (their vigna scot dolcetto also worth a try).

Under the radar - I see Boasso (Gabutti) listed. A good, but very much under the radar traditionalist producer, whose Barbera I love. I don't recall tasting his langhe nebbiolo, but would absolutely take a chance on it.

Fly the flag - Fletcher wines are run by an Aussie out of an old train station in Barbaresco area. I've not tried the wines yet, but have seen positive comments from others

Could still be good - Alberto Ballarin is one half of a split of Cascina Ballarin, whose langhe nebbiolo used to be a lovely mini-Barolo, sometimes with a hint of white truffle.

Thanks for the suggestions. Will start hunting

[Sigmamupi]

As Sam the site owner is not a retailer, it's probably allowable now to mention a retailer.

Paul Kaan of Wine Decoded in Melbourne (he ships) is on top of the Piedmont market and has email offers on all the Langhe nebbiolos that are decent and commercially available.

As to Australian nebbiolo, I haven't exhaustively tried them but Giaconda (Beechworth) and Luke Lambert (Yarra Valley) have been the best for me. You should find them instore at the better independent retailers in Sydney. Traviarti (Beechworth) is supposed to be good but has recently been sold so I am not sure what the future holds there.

[Ian S]

As Sam the site owner is not a retailer, it's probably allowable now to mention a retailer.

Paul Kaan of Wine Decoded in Melbourne (he ships) is on top of the Piedmont market and has email offers on all the Langhe nebbiolos that are decent and commercially available.

They stock antoniolo who I rate very highly. Antoniolo wines aren't cheap, but IMO they are very good. Also good to see the Carema co-op riserva wine listed, a good one to try the more northerly profile for Nebbiolo. They're the ones listing Boasso/gabutti langhe nebbiolo, and that's one I'd absolutely take a chance on (and I absolutely recommend their barbera d'alba as well). No Cavalotto langhe nebbiolo, but I will recommend the vigna scot dolcetto (I rarely enjoy the grape, but theirs impressed me). Also notable they have a nascetta white, a grape rare in the Langhe, and I don't believe grown anywhere else. Even more to my tastes, a decent selection of Timorasso whites (any from Massa or Mariotto are good). It's a grape that does a wonderful job at straddling the red/white divide when matching food, and has become one of my faavourite white wine grapes.

That is certainly a wine enthusiast's wine store, and it's got wonderful specialisation in Piemonte.

[Pippo2096]

As Sam the site owner is not a retailer, it's probably allowable now to mention a retailer.

Paul Kaan of Wine Decoded in Melbourne (he ships) is on top of the Piedmont market and has email offers on all the Langhe nebbiolos that are decent and commercially available.

They stock antoniolo who I rate very highly. Antoniolo wines aren't cheap, but IMO they are very good. Also good to see the Carema co-op riserva wine listed, a good one to try the more northerly profile for Nebbiolo. They're the ones listing Boasso/gabutti langhe nebbiolo, and that's one I'd absolutely take a chance on (and I absolutely recommend their barbera d'alba as well). No Cavalotto langhe nebbiolo, but I will recommend the vigna scot dolcetto (I rarely enjoy the grape, but theirs impressed me). Also notable they have a nascetta white, a grape rare in the Langhe, and I don't believe grown anywhere else. Even more to my tastes, a decent selection of Timorasso whites (any from Massa or Mariotto are good). It's a grape that does a wonderful job at straddling the red/white divide when matching food, and has become one of my faavourite white wine grapes.

That is certainly a wine enthusiast's wine store, and it's got wonderful specialisation in Piemonte.

Thanks Ian. I will definitely hunt so of these out as give them a try

[asajoseph]

I think there are some very good Aussie nebs these days, including on the more aromatic end of the spectrum (my preference). Luke Lambert is my personal favourite, though this can be hard to find these days as it usually sells through. Giaconda too, and I've always had a soft spot for the Georgia's Paddock neb from Jasper Hill in Heathcote. So I think the aussie examples are worth seeking out, maybe at the slightly higher price points.

Also, don't forget nebbiolo from outside the Langhe- less common in Aus, but I've found nice recent examples from Val D'Aosta and Valtellina (Ar.Pe.Pe!). Again, at what I'd consider to be mid-range pricing, so you'll find cheaper Langhe Nebs, but probably less expensive than any Barolo's you'll find that are worth drinking.

[saturn5519]

I was watching a video on Yarra Valley wineries and a big mention of Lambert wines stood out.The opinion was that
the Nebbiolo was in the top 3 in Oz.Not cheap after checking cellar door price and also not many cases produced.

[Rossco]

I'm in Australia too. Any imported producers that can be sourced here that you would recommend seeking out ?

There are many good onew around, however
The two that I have found to be very knowledgeable, generous with their time...and just good people are:

Rody - Ethereal Wines
http://www.etherealwines.com.au/

Paul - Wine Decoded
https://winedecoded.com.au/

Alto Piedmont, Valtellina & Gattinara can still offer great value (although prices are creeping up) so have a look there

I would also look at Etna / Nerello Mascalese

Tuscany for some chantai classico / sangiovese

[Ian S]

I had a quick look at Ethereal, and yes a good selection, and a very interesting focus on northern piemonte (aka alto piemonte). One I'll call out for Pippo to try (but indeed would recommend in general) is Gaudio's Grignolino at AUD 42. Very much a benchmark producer for the variety, and a wine that for me overdelivers interest/enjoyment for the price.

[Rossco]

I had a quick look at Ethereal, and yes a good selection, and a very interesting focus on northern piemonte (aka alto piemonte). One I'll call out for Pippo to try (but indeed would recommend in general) is Gaudio's Grignolino at AUD 42. Very much a benchmark producer for the variety, and a wine that for me overdelivers interest/enjoyment for the price.

Cheers for that recommendation Ian. I will hunt the Grignolino out and give it run.