- 2015 Idlewild Nebbiolo Fox Hill Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County (5/8/2025)
Served blind by a friend in a generally impressive tasting, this wine stole the show for me. We had just finished tasting through a series of clearly Cabernet based wines, and this completely shifted gears. Pale red, totally translucent, and bursting with aromatics fruity, floral, and cleanly earthy. My first thought was an excellent Trousseau (e.g., Arnot-Roberts or Sandlands), and it was hard to get that thought out of my head, despite knowing that the host has probably never heard of the grape! Tasting reinforced the elegance, complexity, and effusiveness of the aromatics, and the finish was long and floral. Totally shocking when it was revealed, and heartening given that I own a lot of Idlewild Nebbiolo!
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Great note David and it mirrors my note from the big Idlewild Nebbiolo Sunday School in February… Sam’s Nebbiolo (and other Piedmont varieties) are aging beautifully!
Here is my note from the February Sunday School
Tasting note: Of all the wines tasted the 2015 and 2016 taste the most similar. Like the 2016 the 2015 has strong rose-violet, cherry, wild strawberry aromas along with tea, dried blood and warm herbs. The flavors like the 2016 are cherry, raspberry, floral notes, tea and sandalwood. Very good acidity and tannin. This vintage also has a long runway of development. Maybe a touch less concentrated than the 2016 but overall that’s a minor point.
Tom
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