Winemaker Notes
Aromatically it’s a twist on the classic "tar and roses" adage; think more violets and pencil shavings with a whiff of cardamom from some silky oak. But this is far more red fruited and juicy than your average Nebbiolo, with ripples of strawberries and crushed black olives over the top of a pitch perfect balance of fresh acidity to fine grain tannins.
Blend: 44% Nebbiolo, 39% Sangiovese, 13% Merlot, 4% Pinot Nero
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of crushed plums, violets and black cherries. Medium-bodied with fine, slightly firm tannins. A fun, juicy palate with white pepper spice. Oregano, too.
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.
Adelaide refers to the diverse super zone in South Australia containing the Mount Lofty Ranges Zone (Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains and Clare Valley), Fleurieu Zone (Currency Creek, Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale, and Southern Fleurieu) and Barossa Zone (Barossa Valley and Eden Valley).
The Adelaide Hills region is distinguished and beautiful, offering a cool respite in the summer for Adelaide city dwellers. With vineyards planted fairly high in elevation at 1,500 to 1,800 feet, it is known for particularly fine, citrus-driven Sauvignon Blanc.
The Adelaide Plains is a hot region northwest of the Adelaide Hills that produces approachable, value-driven wines.