Now this I paid attention to. Mainly because I was forced to - being paired with the duck course - but also because it was quite brilliant. Needs a decant though to open up that nose. Very rosey, red cherry driven, with some spicy, savoury intrigue (balsamic vinegar, mint, rosemary, liquorice, mushroom, a little game) and maybe some oak (hint of vanilla?). Like the other Nebb's in the dinner, the palate's elegant, but I guess that's the only way CW would have it. Some might call it light even, but for me, it's got great presence and makes it the more drinkable Nebb during the night. Again red fruits, orange oil, smoke, earth, tabacco leaf, mineral. Long finish with a very refined structure.
NB: From BBR - Mario decided not to make a Barolo del Comune di Castiglione Falletto in the 2014 vintage, so this is very much a “super-Barolo”, with a higher percentage of Castiglione Falletto (75 percent) than in 2013 when it made up 60 percent. The remaining 25 percent comes from their La Morra Giachino vineyard. — 5 years ago
Cellared a few bottles of this a while back.
Pulled one out when friends came over last night. Every bit as awesome as I recalled.
— 6 months ago
Beautiful Nebbiolo colour, obv. Floral, berry, and cedar on the nose. Nice structure, well balanced - fruit on the palate with some spice. Nice tannins. Alcohol is a bit prominent maybe? Elegant wine. Can’t buy Barolos all the time so not able to rate on a Barolo basis but I def like this wine. Lots going on. — 3 years ago
Tannins have softened a lot more than I expected. Mellow nose, hint of leather, dried black fruit. Lots of fruit throughout, with tannins softening, fruits more dominant. Structure is not quite there. — 6 years ago
White lily flower and peach notes, then a lot of mint and marigold around the cool, herbal center. Beautiful deep gold color in the glass. Great length and lean but intriguing texture; some light curry notes develop with time. I love how this variety balances the floral and the mineral, reminding me of pond lilies. Lean and juicy like fresh white peach juice. — 3 years ago
I liked it but too sweet for Warren — 5 years ago
Paul Weil
This is another Lugana wine, 100% Turbiana. It differs from the “Clay” in that it’s 100% stainless steel, whereas the Clay has 10% of the grapes aged in (old) oak barrels. This is a common practice in the Lugana region; one wine release is “fresh”, aged in all stainless steel, made for immediate drinking, whereas the reserve release has up to 10% of the grapes in restrained oak, and is intended to be aged a bit, like a Riesling.
This “fresh” wine has stronger flavors than the Clay. It really reminds one of a top-tier New Zealand SB. The citric flavors are there, but not overpowering; however, the finish has that bright acidic buzz. The body has the grassy tones that I am coming to associate with this region/style. There’s a touch of sweetness, easy to miss, which comes to the fore when paired with spicier foods.
I wish these wines were easier to procure in the US! They’re made primarily for the German market, hence the similarities to Riesling. — 6 months ago