Italian Nebbiolo

Along with Sangiovese, Nebbiolo is the grape variety most associated with Italy, giving rise to some of the country’s most ageworthy, complex wines, notably from the two great DOCGs of Piedmont, Barolo and Barbaresco. Though it is found intermittently in other Italian regions, and even scattered around the world, it is in Piedmont that Nebbiolo achieves its most profound expression, via an elusive balance of elegance and power. While Barolo, in particular, has a reputation as a wine with firm structure and tannins, in reality Nebbiolo shares a similar profile to that most delicate of grapes, Pinot Noir, being extremely expressive of its terroir, and also susceptible to adverse conditions, making it a challenging grape to cultivate. The finest examples, however, show a wonderful sensuality, often via vivid aromatics and haunting flavours, not least the famous “tar and roses”.