"If Pinot Noir is the world's most tantalising grape, Nebbiolo runs it a close second – for very similar reasons… Perhaps the most wonderful thing about Nebbiolo is its perfume. The wine is typically intensely aromatic, developing the most extraordinarily haunting bouquet in which, variously, roses, autumn undergrowth, woodsmoke, violets and tar can often be found – together with a greater variety of other ingredients than most other grapes." - Jancis Robinson MW
Who else can put it better than Jancis! We love all things Nebbiolo here at The Wine Emporium, and with the cooler weather finally starting to kick in, we wanted to pop open some new arrivals and showcase the amazing diversity Nebbiolo can offer.
We will start it all off by first comparing two distinctive styles of Langhe Nebbiolo - a pretty, fragrant and expansive style from the north-west of Barolo (around La Morra), and the richer, deeper, more baritone efforts found around Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba. The Cordero di Montezemolo and Giovanni Rosso respectively show this difference faithfully, and are comfortably among the finest examples currently on the market.
We then step it up to the rare Nervi Conterno Gattinara, adding an Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo for comparison betweem two village (AKA Classico, or Comune) bottlings from two of our favourites, Fratelli Alessandria in Verduno and Luigi Pira in Serralunga d'Alba.
To finish, we explore some single vineyard expressions - and compare winemaking styles - with a more traditionally-made Giacomo Fenocchio, and the more contemporary works from Conterno Fantino! We're completely thrilled with this tasting and what we think you'll glean from it! See you Saturday ?
Further Special
12.5% off all Italian Nebbiolo wines on our website!
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Any and all wines from our website's Italy section here will have an automatic discount when added to the cart! (Valid until Friday 19th April)
Barolo Brilliance - A Deep Dive into Piedmont
Tasting Lineup - Saturday 13th April
Running 12pm to 2pm
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2022 Cordero di Montezemolo Langhe Nebbiolo - $52 per bottle; $59 RRP
"The 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo is deep, fleshy and super-expressive. Crushed rose petal, cinnamon, sweet red berry, leather and cedar all meld together. This rich, heady Nebbiolo will be very versatile at the dinner table." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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2021 Giovanni Rosso Langhe Nebbiolo - $49 per bottle; $56 RRP
"Giovanni Rosso makes a fine, entry-level red. The 2021 Langhe Nebbiolo is slightly spicy and tart with a wide range of fun aromas from wild berry to bitter almond and blue flower. These elements make for a vibrant bouquet. There is aniseed and blood orange too. The varietal detail that can be achieved with a youthful wine like this is amazing." - Monica Larner, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
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2020 Nervi Conterno Gattinara - $205 per bottle; $230 RRP
Legendary Nebbiolo practitioner Roberto Conterno (of Giacomo Conterno) began working with the historic Nervi estate from the 2014 vintage, eventually acquiring it in 2018. The Gattinara region in Alto-Piemonte - at the foothills of the Alps, 90-120 mins drive north of Barolo - makes distinguished Nebbiolo with a slightly different feel to Barolo. The wines are highly complex, cooler in feel, and have a distincticly different granitic/quartz mineralité compared to a more calcareous austerity in Barolo. Conterno's wines are utter class, don't miss this - Our Notes
"The 2020 Gattinara is elegant and lifted. Crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon and orange peel grace this ethereal, nuanced Gattinara. Bright saline notes and sweet red-toned fruit build into the long, persistent finish. Understated and silky, the 2020 is exquisite. All this needs is a few years to soften." - 94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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2019 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo 'Commune di Verduno' - $119 per bottle ; $135 RRP
One of our favourite Barolo producers is Fratelli Alessandria, based in Verduno in the north Of Barolo. The wines have a gorgeous, authentic feel, and they're outstanding value - Our Notes
"These village-specific wines are growing in popularity, and among the various expressions on the market today, this wine from Verduno is really quite special thanks to its highly distinctive floral aromas and its delicate sense of inner balance. A new project being inaugurated with this vintage, the Fratelli Alessandria 2019 Barolo del Comune di Verduno shows a fine, streamlined mouthfeel with polished tones of river stone, crushed rose and licorice root." - 95 Points Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Also Available -
2019 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo "Gramolere" (96 Pts, Larner) - $182 on special
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2019 Luigi Pira Barolo 'Comune di Serralunga d'Alba' - $106 per bottle ; $120 RRP
A perpetually great-value wine, Pira's 2019 Comune di Serralunga Barolo bottling is both versatile and cellar-worthy. The depth and power of Serralunga is evident, yet polite, even at this early stage - Our Notes
"These are some of the very best wines I have tasted from Giampaolo Pira. What an exciting range this is. Pira's straight Barolo has long been terrific, as it is once again this year. The 2019 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba is dark, sumptuous and super-expressive. A burst of dark red/purplish fruit opens first, followed by rose petal, lavender, blood orange and spice notes that add character. This is a superb village wine. Don't miss it." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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2019 Conterno Fantino Barolo "Ginestra - Vigna del Gris" - $229 per bottle ; $260 RRP
Conterno Fantino have been on the improve for a number of years now, with the son Fabio dramatically cutting back on the new oak, and honing the balance. Their suite of 2019's is gorgeous, but limited - Our Notes
"I was blown away by the wines I tasted at Conterno-Fantino. The 2019s are nuanced, transparent and wonderfully expressive of place... The 2019s are simply stellar. The '19 Barolo Ginestra Vigna del Gris is another terrific wine from Conterno-Fantino. Crushed flowers, cedar, pipe tobacco, mint, dried flowers and worn-in leather give the 2019 striking aromatic presence. Here, too, Fabio Conterno has done a terrific job in taming the Monforte tannins." - 94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Also Available -
2019 Conterno Fantino Barolo "Mosconi - Vigna Ped" (97 pts, Galloni) - $272 on special
2019 Conterno Fantino Barolo "Castelletto - Vigna Pressenda" (96 pts, Galloni) - $245 on special
2019 Conterno Fantino Barolo "Ginestra - Sori Ginestra" (96 pts, Galloni) - $272 on special
If you wish to purchase any of the wines in this offer, please use the link above ? Otherwise, if you have any questions, please contact us on (07)32521117 or email sales@thewineemporium.com.au // Special price valid until COB Friday 19th of April