Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Steve Clifton's top-shelf study of this notoriously tough-to-tame grape is redolent with prunes, dried cherries, rose-petal extract and bloody steak on the amazing nose, which is leveled by a chipped slate minerality. Its sanguine character is approachable now, with red currants and cherries, but will drink well through 2025. Cellar Selection
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Another outstanding effort, the 2008 Nebbiolo Rocca has lots of toasted nut, tar, licorice, dried spice and savory red fruits in its evolved, yet beautifully balanced and layered profile. Again, while the aromatics are evolved, the palate has solid depth and density, with high-quality tannin. I suspect this aromatic profile and palate feel are simply a result of the long elevage these wines see, and it should hold nicely in this state for a number of years.
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.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.