Winemaker Notes
The Langhe Nebbiolo is produced from the vineyard of Basarin, in the area of Neive.It is an historical and very prestigious vineyard. Its position on the border between the zone of Neive and Treiso, together with the high altitude, give to the wines a particular note of spices with a hint of licorice, as well a great complexity and a considerable structure. The vines are very young, about 14-15 years old, and for this reason the grapes cannot yet express the richness of polyphenols or all the aromas and the “nuances” that an important cru like this could have. That’s why we decided to declassify it from Barbaresco docg to Langhe Nebbiolo.
The Langhe Nebbiolo, due to the severe green harvest done during the summer, has a deep brillant red, an intense, persistent nose of fruits and spices, with some hints of dried rose, cherries and tobacco. On the palate it shows a good, firm body and very refined tannins, with notes of violet, mint and a fresh, vibrant fruit.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sottimano's 2016 Langhe Nebbiolo is a juicy, fruit-forward wine that paints a pretty picture of young Nebbiolo. The wine also makes a great argument for the quality of the 2016 vintage, especially as it pertains to this magnificent grape from Piedmont. It's hard not to be super enthusiastic for a wine with this wide drinking appeal and food-pairing versatility. In truth, this wine shows enough tannic firmness for some near-term aging, although there's no good reason not to drink it now. With 20,000 bottles made, you get phenomenal value here.
Attracting the most glory, prestige and fame to the Piedmont region, Nebbiolo in all of its expressions—Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Ghemme and Gattinara—creates a complex wine, truly unique for its delicate qualities combined with strength and a great potential to improve over time.
But Nebbiolo isn’t all there is to red wine from Piedmont! Barbera is the most planted variety and historically most popular as a dependable, food-friendly, everyday wine.
Beyond these two, a surprising number of red varieties call Piedmont their home. Worth a try include Dolcetto for its bold concentration and aromas of spice cake. Other grapes to investigate include Freisa, Croatina, Brachetto, Grignolino and Pelaverga.