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 rather delicious Barolo from Mauro Veglio. Aired for at least an hour, it opens to powerful aromatics of licorice and florals. The palate has firm acidity, very firm tannins and great length on the finish. This wine can be approached now, but will be best in a decade or more. Rating: Very Good. Abv: 14.5%. Price: $85. Website: http://www.mauroveglio.com.
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.
From the highly regarded Bruno Giacosa, the newly arrived 2015 vintage of the Nebbiolo d’Alba is a very good wine. The knowledgeable team at East End Cellars in Adelaide put me in this wine’s direction. In the glass, there are sour cherry and earthy aromas. The palate has grippy tannins softened by an edge of sour cherry fruit, fresh acidity and mid range length. Double decanted several hours prior to serving. I would just decant it next time. Rating: Good to Very Good. Abv: 14%. Price: $80+.
This is a very good Barbaresco from La Ca Nova. The 2014 vintage has rose and floral aromatics. The palate has great length, towards a full body and fresh acidity. I could drink this all day. With a price in the $60s, it’s great value too for the appellation. (Alc: 14%, Region: Barbaresco, Piemonte, Italy, Rating: Very Good, Drink: now to 2027+, Tasted: August, 2017)
Read more:
lacanova.net
Other vintages reviewed:
NA
This is a sound Barbera D’Alba from Conterno Fantino. Barbera seems capable of so many styles, it is difficult to generalise. This one is in the fresh and racy style, and hasn’t seen oak lavished on it. In fact, only second fill French oak barrels are used. It shows. Aromas of plum, olive, chocolate and then, sour cherry. Piquant acidity defines the palate, with a balanced expression of sour cherry that proves very drinkable. Pleasant enough, albeit at $40s in Australia, seems fully priced. (Alc: 13.5%, Region: Piemonte, Italy, Rating: Good, Drink: now, Tasted: August, 2017)
Read more:
www.conternofantino.it
Other vintages reviewed:
NA
This is a well made Barolo from Boroli in Piemonte. My texts do not reveal much on this producer, although you can fossick around on their website at the link below. The 2010 vintage, a great one in the region, tasted here has typical nebbiolo aromatics of roses, dried roses and sour cherry. The palate is balanced in expression, with high acidity and grippy tannins. For circa $50, a good buy.(Alc: 13.5%, Region: Barolo, Piemonte, Italy, Rating: Good, Drink: now to 2031)
Read more:
www.boroli.com/en/
I am developing a bit of an interest in the wines of Barolo. This cannot be viewed as anything other than unfortunate development for my bank balance! I dutifully looked up this producer – Mauro Molino – in my newly purchased Barolo and Barbaresco reference book, The King and Queen of Italian Wine by Kerin O’Keefe (2014, University of California Press) to read a bit more, but if it’s covered it was not obvious. Their website shows that five different Barolos are produced here, this wine being their “Barolo” without further vineyard specification or adornment.
The wine itself? Aromatics of tar, bitumen and perhaps a little chocolate too. It benefits, as most Barolos seem to, from time in the glass and I therefore recommend decanting. Firm acidity on the palate and mouth puckering tannins, this is a structured Barolo with a mid length finish and a good future ahead of it in the cellar.
Rating: Good to Very Good
Abv: 15%
Price: $70s
Vendors and website: http://www.mauromolino.com
Tasted: 2016
This is an impressive Barbaresco from Produttori del Barbaresco. Fashioned from the nebbiolo grape in Piemonte in north western Italy, the wine is sourced from Asili, one of the best vineyards in the Barbaresco subregion. In its drinking prime, the 2001 tasted here has classic nebbiolo aromatics of tar and roses. The palate has fine grained tannins, a medium length finish and a lovely balance to it. I could drink this all day.
Rating: Very Good
Abv: 14%
Price: $140
Vendors and website: http://www.produttoridelbarbaresco.com
Tasted: 2016
I tasted this nebbiolo from Traversa blind among what I must say was an excellent tasting of Barolo, Barbaresco and Brunello wines. It’s a delicious wine that merits your attention. Its aromatics are typical in style, reminding of tar, herbs, violets and rosemary. The palate is fleshy with long length and flavours with characters of earth with hints of raspberry. This is very enjoyable drinking and easy to recommend.
Rating: Very Good
Abv: 13.5%
Price: $80
Vendors and website: http://www.agriturismotraversa.it/inglese/cantina.htm
Tasted: 2016