TN: Four Italian Nebbiolos...(short/boring)

WINE TALK
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Tried these four Nebbs over the last few days:

  1. piantagrossa 396 AesculusHippocastanum DOC: Valle d’Aoste (13.5%; ToscoImprts;
    www.PiantaGrossaDonnas.It) Zoppo Ronzero Luciano/Donnas 2017    : Med.dark garnet color; bit reductive at first strong pungent/tarry/mushroomy/truffly some earthy/dusty/OV light floral/Nebb/violets quite fragrant/perfumey beautiful nose; some tart/tangy bit grapefruity strong truffly/mushroomy/pungent fairly smooth light floral/Nebb/violets complex flavor w/ soft smooth tannins; very long/pungent/tarry/truffly/mushroomy earthy/dusty/OV light floral/Nebb/violets complex finish w/ modest smooth tannins; not a high-toned Nebb like B/B but a bit more Valtelline-like but w/ more mushrooms/truffles; a very interesting expression of Nebb that doesn’t have the usual fierce tannins. $29.00 (EVN)
  1. Sandro Fay Tei DOC: Rosso di Valtellina (12%; Nebbiolo) Marco Fay/SanGiacomo di Teglio 2016: Med.light color; strong Nebb/floral/lilacs rather earthy/dusty/bit pungent quite attractive nose; quite tart/tangy some earthy/dusty/pungent light Nebb/floral/lilacs bit complex flavor w/ some tangy tannins; long quite tart/tangy/lean light floral/Nebb/lilacs fairly dusty/earthy/pungent finish w/ some bitey tannins; a quite pleasant Valtelline Nebb that lacks the high-toned Nebb character of Langhe and more earthy/pungent rather than road tar aspects of Nebb. $44.00 (EVN)
  1. Tenuta Scersce Essenza Nebbiolo DOCG: Valtellina Superiore Valgella (12.5%; www.TenutaScersce.It; Harvest Imports/Baltimore) Tirano 2016: Med.light bit orange color; fairly strong floral/Nebb/violets light truffly/earthy/pungent/smokey some complex nose; fairly tart somewhat light bodied fairly floral/Nebb/lilacs/violets light truffly/earthy/pungent/metallic pleasant Nebb flavor w/ light gentle tannins; med.long some floral/Nebb/violets some truffly/pungent/mushroomy/earthy finish w/ light/smooth tannins; a rather peasant lightweight Valtelline Nebb but just that; not that much aromatics and modest tannins; a NinoNegri level of Valtelline Nebb. $42.00 (SFW&S)
  1. Malvira DOCG: Roero Trinita Riserva (14%; www.Malvira.com; IndigenousSlctns) Canale 2010: Med. bit orange color; lovely strong floral/Nebb/lilacs/violets light earthy/pungent/tarry slight herbal quite perfumed bit complex nose; fairly tart/tangy light bodied strong floral/Nebb/vioets bit earthy/tarry attractive flavor w/ light hard/bitey tannins; very long fairly strong floral/Nebb/lilacs/violets slight earthy/tarry finish w/ light hard tannins; quite an attractive expression of Nebb that needs another 3-8 yrs. $38.00 (SFW&S)

A wee BloodyPulpit:

  1. piantagrossa: There is some Nebb grown in the southern end of the Val d’Aosta around Donnas, but you certainly see many of them around. I liked this Nebb quite a lot. Surprising for an Alpine red, it didn’t have the tannins that take your head off that I was expecting.
  1. Scersce: I’m always excited when I find a Valtelline producer that I’ve never encountered before. This is a fairly new wnry owned by CristinaScarpellini, an attourney of international law in Milano. Apparently a hobby wnry after her day job. I thought it was a pretty decent Valtellina Nebb but nothing that knocked my socks off.
  1. This was a pretty decent tableau of Italian Nebbs but nothing that really wowed me. The recent Castelli Estate Nebb I had is a much better & more enjoyable expression of Nebb.
    Tom