TN:2017 Produttori Langhe Nebbiolo - New Balloons

A few nights ago I opened up a 2017 Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo. The nose of the wine was unmistakably and solely “rubber from an unblown up balloon”. The wine itself didn’t taste horrible, but it also didn’t taste like the previous bottles I’ve had. Ultimately, I drank 1 glass and the rest of the bottle went down the drain on day 2 when the nose and taste didn’t improve.

I categorize the bottle as flawed, but I’m wondering what would cause that nose and what the flaw was. Can someone give me some insight?

TW

Maybe it had some riesling mixed into it.

It’s an odd descriptor for what could possibly be mercaptans?

Dan Kravitz

This is what my googling seemed to indicate, but I’m not sure I know what a mercaptan smells like otherwise.

TW

Likely mercaptans (thiols). There are many and they can actually enhance flavor, think blackcurrant or can veer all the way to rotten cabbage. Sounds like you encountered some mild but still off putting mercaptans.

Tom