So I’m hoping to find some insiders ideas for some entry level nebbiolo. I have (and love) the declassified stuff from Produttori, and have had mixed results with the Vietti Perbacco.
I prefer the red fruit side of the nebbiolo expression, once the profile dips into the black fruit side I start feeling like I’m drinking place-less wine.
So where else should I look? I’m hoping to find other daily drinker bottles to consume midweek, so generally less than $25, ideally even under 18-20.
Thoughts?
The perbacco/baby barolo needs some aging. My 04s are just now starting to show a little. They were tight when I popped my first one over a year ago.
I like the Nebbiolo from Cantina del Pino. Very modern/polished fruit, but a great laser of acidity. I am a fan of this wineries style.
Disclaimer, my store sells their Nebbiolo.
wine.com had this:
Marchesi di Gresy Dolcetto d'Alba Aribaldo 2006 | Wine.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
until today apparently…
We literally drink cases of the Produttori - hard to beat for under $20, and at least recently, they’ve been very consistent vintage-to-vintage. The perfect pizza wine.
If you want Nebbiolo in the red fruit range and under $30 try the Travaglini Gattinaras in most vintages. These are in the strangely-shaped bottles. Another good pizza wine in average vintages and better in the better vintages.
And a +1 on the Produttori.
Very tough to top the QPR and immediate gratification available from Produttori.
I enjoy some of the entry level Langhe Rossos for QPR - Produttori, Oddero and Vajra come to mind first.
RT
Antoniolo Gattinara
Triacca Valtellina Superiore
Nino Negri Valtellina Superiore
Though it’s in the mid twenties, at least in this vinous wasteland that is RI, the de Forville Nebbiolo '07 is a rock solid little bottle, imo. Mostly primary notes–sour red cherries, in particular–but it’s a very complete wine. Brought in by Neil Rosenthal.
Rich, Langhe Rossos are generally not all nebbiolo - it needs to say Langhe Nebbiolo on the label. A lot of Langhe Rossos will have barbera (most commonly), dolcetto and also non-indigenous grapes in the mix. They are still nice QPR, but have a different taste profile than an all-neb wine.
The ones I listed all indicated Nebbiolo, but good to know.
RT
The other category or type to look for in this market is 2003 Barolo/Barbaresco. There is a glut of inventory (generally speaking because these wines don’t have big production numbers in general), and if you can taste them, you might find some good deals out there. I am seeing some stuff that I can price at or around $30. So you can spend an extra $5 and get the real deal, albeit, a super hot vintage. But definitely taste first or buy one to try before committing to multiples. There is some good stuff out there.
I agree with much written here. The Gresy link was for Dolcetto though. They do have good Langhe Nebbiolo from the Martenenga vineyard in Barbaresco for the low $20s. Another one I’ve enjoyed in a few vintages is Brezza’s Nebbiolo d’Alba from Santa Rosalia. Usually in the high teens locally. The '03 was closed out for $6 and I bought a bunch.
+111
I seem to remember that Giacosa was bottling a Nebbiolo a few years ago. Whatever it was it had an astonishing aroma, lovely young stuff. I searched but did not find. Maybe it was some other really good Barolo producer??
I’ve seen the Giacosa Nebbiolo locally, though priced more in the low 30s. I’m really working to find some more day in day out good wines in the teens, I can easily find wines I love drinking at and above the $30 price point. Part of this is economic reality, part is simply appreciating the challenge of the hunt.
It does seem like the produttori wines represent the best values around, something I have learned at the 30 and 45 points, maybe time to accept at the sub 20 point too.
Thanks for the thoughts so far, keep them coming.
Giacosa makes a wonderful Nebbiolo: Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore.
Vintners Cru in Napa (a store I don’t know) is showing it on WS for $26 in the 07 vintage. I paid $27 for the 04.
The same store is showing the 06 for $15! Does anyone know this store?
That’s where I bought this from.
Winehunter: 2003 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto - Commerce Corner - Wine Classifieds - WineBerserkers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
From what I can tell they’re legit. Got an email with a conformation # and they seemed knowledgeable.
I’ll try the wine next weekend.
Btw, Any Italian rec’s for me Ken, I can add to my shipment.
great thread and thanks for all of the suggestions.
One that I really liked that opened my eyes to Nebbiolo was an 07 Sottimano Langhe. Darn nice, but probably needs some time. Bought it locally for around $22