Winemaker Notes
The nose is a study in contrasts: roses, orange peel, mint, and cherry are balanced by tar, earth, rust, and sandalwood like spice. The mouthfeel is light and delicate and then gently rolls into a very firm and long structure.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Nebbiolo is a grape variety that always gets the attention of wine professionals, and the 2015 Idlewild is an excellent example. TASTING NOTES: This wine rivals some of the top producers in Piedmont. Its aromas and flavors of red fruit and earth should pair well with braised meat dishes. (Tasted: September 25, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.