A surprise find under screw cap, this Langhe Rosso from G.D. Vajra and the 2017 vintage presents in a regional style. It’s actually a blend of nebbiolo, barbera and dolcetto, with a few others too. There are aromas of cherry and firm, chalky acidity and structure. This wine can be approached now, but it will suit a couple of years in the cellar. Rating: Good. Abv: 13.5%. Price: $30. Website: http://www.gdvajra.it/en/homepage. Reviewed: October 2019.
This is a good Langhe nebbiolo from Benevelli, particularly at $28. An aroma of sour cherry, chalk and potpourri. Fruity, for nebbiolo. The palate has good length, firm acidity and a youthful spritz. A quibble: one bottle corked (four tasted). Rating: Good to Very Good. Abv: 14%. Price: $28. Website: n/a.
When nebbiolo works it is just such an attractive wine. This one from Malvira from the Langhe region in north western Italy is a great example. It has floral and bitumen aromatics. The palate has medium length, grippy tannins and a lovely balance to it. One to buy.
Rating: Good to Very Good
Abv: 13.5%
Price: $40
Vendors and website: http://www.malvira.com
Tasted: 2016
From the Langhe DOC in north western Italy, this 100% nebbiolo wine from Pio Cesare provides some glimpses of its more highly decorated neighbouring appellations, without ever really challenging.
The wine is a medium intensity ruby in colour in the glass, with plenty of fast moving tears on the side. It has aromatics of cherry, earth and strawberry which initially were a little simple and disappointing, but settled to something more serious and enjoyable with time. The palate is dry, and the tannins are powerful and perhaps a little hard. Flavours are cherry and earth dominant and the length is just shy of medium. Overall, this is a pretty good wine that delivers at its price point but no more, with some length, some fruit and some complexity. It will benefit from decanting. Good
Abv: 14%
Price: $30
Vendors: Check http://www.wine-searcher.com/
Website: http://www.piocesare.it
Tasted: 2013
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In short, I find most Gaja wines to be very good. This wine is a blend of 35% nebbiolo, 35% merlot and 30% cabernet sauvignon. A somewhat beguiling aroma of cherries, was met with a palate that had depth, good fruit, tannins and acidity. A very enjoyable wine. 89+ points.
Abv: 13.5%
Price: around $85