Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I found textbook Nebbiolo characteristics in the 2018 La Dama del Abrigo Rojo, a pale and somewhat evolved color, notes of dry flowers, tar and a fine thread on the palate. It was foot-trodden with full clusters and fermented in 500-liter plastic bins for 21 days, finishing in 225-liter oak barrels and matured in well-seasoned and neutral barrels for 11 months. This is one of the most impressive Nebbiolos I've encountered outside of Piamonte. Rating: 93+
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 winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.