Red Wine

Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo, pronounced NEH-bee-oh-low, is such a unique variety. The name is derived from the Italian word Nebbia meaning fog.

Two theories for the name exist. The first that it refers to the fog that the vineyards of the Langhe are often immersed in. Second that the natural bloom that covers the grapes gives them a foggy appearance. Given the latter applies to most red grapes I prefer the former! There are 4 main clones of which Nebbiolo Lampia dominates over  Nebbiolo Michet, Rosé (now proven to be a different variety), and, Bolla.

Where is it grown?

Southern central and north Piemonte. The two big guns here are Barolo and Barbaresco. It is grown throughout the Langhe including the Roero, Asti, Carema, Biella, Novara and Vercelli. In Alto Piedmonte, it is known as Spanna, and, is often blended with Croatina and Vespolina. We have seen Giacomo Conterno buy Nervi in the Commune of Gattinara to produce wines in the region. It is also grown in the lower parts of the Valle d’Aosta where it is known as Picotendroi, and, Valtellina in Lombardy where it is called Chiavennasca among others.

What does it taste like?

The ultimate case of not judging a book by its cover, Nebbiolo, at first appears pale in colour, old wines can have the appearance of rusty tap water.

Then you smell it! The aroma of most red wines is dominated by fruit characters. In contrast, Nebbiolo’s aroma is typically a mix of complex secondary aromas, earthy, tarry, spice, rose, citrus peel, woody herbs like rosemary, liquorice, phenol, dark chocolate, tobacco, truffles, leather, and, dark cherry fruit, often more evident on the palate. You’ll see this difference immediately by comparing it two the other two main Piedmontese varieties Barbera and Dolcetto.

Good Nebbiolo has a core of fruit running the length of your tongue, along with layers of those same secondary characters. Nebbiolo’s grape tannins give it a distinct texture, that for those who have not tried it before can seem hard, and, unyielding. Look for the quality and depth of tannin.

Achieving well balance tannin, alcohol, and, acidity makes for great Nebbiolo.

More than most other Italian wines, Nebbiolo, demands food to be at its best. A little fat and salt, enhance the texture and bring out the flavours.

Check out all the articles in the Wine Bites Mag exploring Nebbiolo.

Filters & Sorting

Showing 393 Delicious Wines!

Feel the La Morra!

Giovanni Sordo Barolo 2019

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo

Powerful fruit, grape first rich with fine zippy acid. Tight and looking for time to fully resolve. Everything is in its place. Excellent length and depth. Full round fruit shape from beginning to end. A little edge to the tannin and a fine pleasant bitter line to finish. Beautifully perfumed, fennel, a little anise, woody herbs and a light chocolate layer on a core of red and dark fruits. 80% La Morra
$127
$122ea in any 3+
$117ea in any 6+

Cogno Barolo ‘Cascina Nuova’ 2018

Nebbiolo | Novello, Italy

"Floral aromas of rose and iris mingle with red berry and tilled earth on this perfumed red. Elegantly structured, the vibrant palate offers juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry and star anise before a savory, almost salty finish. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced. Drink through 2030." Kerin O'Keefe
$129
$124ea in any 3+
$119ea in any 6+

Albino Rocca ‘Ronchi’ Barbaresco 2019

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barbaresco

Wow! Tagged as the best holding of the estate you can see why! Tasting this 6 months after Galloni, it looks to be resolving and very nicely so! Still dark and brooding, all of the components are there in the right place at the right volume. Red and dark fruit with baking spice marry a perfume that builds with time in the glass. Sophisticated yet intense with a core of fruit, savoury and eathy layers matched to fine grape tannins & acid. Balanced and together, a classic. Impressive stuff.
$129
$124ea in any 3+
$119ea in any 6+

Cascina Luisin Barabaresco ‘Rabajà’ 2016

Nebbiolo | Barbaresco, Italy

Vinification for the ‘Rabaja’ is essentially the same as for ‘Paolin’, although there is more frequent racking during the first week or so of fermentation to gently extract the tannins. Maturation is in oak of varying capacity from 20hl to 50hl for 30 months. Very expressive bouquet with elements of cherry, anise, rose petal and tobacco. While still beautifully elegant and aromatic, this is certainly a more structured and coiled Barbaresco, with intense chalky tannins and a compensating
$130
$125ea in any 3+
$120ea in any 6+

Cascina Luisin Barabaresco ‘Asili’ 2016

Nebbiolo | Barbaresco, Italy

The fruit for this wine comes from the mostly south-facing aspect of the Asili cru, with an average vine age of 55 years. The winemaking is similar to the other Barbarescos. This is perhaps the most compelling of the Luisin Barbarescos, with a textbook Nebbiolo red colour and an intriguing bouquet of so many elements that all come together in harmony. Classic varietal characters of liquorice root, rose petal and anise, alongside brighter fruit aromas of pomegranate, cherry and raspberry, with
$130
$125ea in any 3+
$120ea in any 6+

Luigi Pira Barolo ‘Margheria’ 2017

Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo

All south-facing and sitting at 340 metres, vinification is the same as the Barolo ‘Serralunga’. Intense and complex nose with notes of fruit and flowers and hints of leather and fresh hay, while on the palate it’s perfectly knit and very distinctive, red fruited in style with ironstone, choc-cherry, roses and some of the darker notes of cola and porcini, along with textural red plum-skin, grippy, black-tea tannins that underpin, but it’s still generous and very approachable now.
$130
$125ea in any 3+
$120ea in any 6+
2010! That's Right!

Giovanni Sordo Barolo 2010

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo

Here’s a wine that it pays to know the inside story. Many of you know Sordo currently has 8 Cru wines with more in the pipeline. The two most recent additions have been their Monprivato and Villero. Although they have had worked with the vineyards and fruit for decades they haven’t bottled them individually. So where did the fruit end up? In 2010 it ended up right here in the Barolo Classico and it shows! The La Morra portion, the majority is Galina. With fruit from the likes of Scarrone
$130
$125ea in any 3+
$120ea in any 6+

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà 2018

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barbaresco

🍇RABAJÀ RABAJÀ RABAJÀ 🇮🇹 There’s a thread through Cortese’s wines of being well composed. The Rabajà sees a jump in sophistication depth and length. It’s such a pretty poised wine. Excellent acid balance and slatey tannins of quality and length. The aroma and flavour of Cortese Rabajà have a certain harmony to them that draws you in. There’s a lot to like here. The perfume is intoxicating. It’s the purity and translucence that shines in Cortese’s wines. Expressive for i
$133
$128ea in any 3+
$123ea in any 6+

Giovanni Rosso Barolo del Comune di Serralunga 2016

Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo

The very definition of purity. Perfume, Line & Length, Lush Mouthfeel! Giovanni Rosso’s fabulously good value Barolo Comune di Serralunga d’Alba is made from fruit grown across 8 different estate vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba. The fruit is sourced from Crus such as Cerretta and Serra, also released as single vineyard bottlings, as well as Meriame, Sorano, Costabella, and Baudana A divine Serralunga, it has everything, and, in all the right places. Those who have tried even the Langh
$135
$130ea in any 3+
$125ea in any 6+

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà 2019

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barbaresco

🍇RABAJÀ RABAJÀ RABAJÀ 🇮🇹 The 2019 Barbaresco Rabaja is a powerful, austere wine that is going to need a number of years to come around. I very much like the energy, but readers should not plan on opening a bottle any time soon, as the 2019 is seriously tannic and shut down at the moment. It’s a gorgeous Barbaresco that shows the more elegant hand that defines the approach today. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 94 Points The Rabajà sees a jump in sophistication depth and length.
$135
$130ea in any 3+
$125ea in any 6+

Giuseppe Cortese Langhe Nebbiolo MAGNUM 2021

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barbaresco

A Langhe Nebb made from young vine Rabajà .. Yes it's true! Always a fun wine. Elegant and juicy fruited, with solid core of fruit wrapped in chewy tannins. It’s a playful Langhe. Typically perfumed with a savoury twang, a little orange. Loads of fun to be had here. Always better after an extra year in bottle & a good decant. Will reward 2-5 years patience. Even his Langhe Neb is young vine Rabajà!
$135
$130ea in any 3+
$125ea in any 6+

Vietti Castiglione Barolo 2017

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo

Show the class of the vineyards and the winemakers! The 2017 Barolo Castiglione is a wild, exotic wine. Super-ripe red cherry, kirsch, cinnamon, tobacco, new leather and rose petal all flesh out in this ample, voluptuous Barolo from Vietti. The 2017 is a wine of significant heft hidden behind a wall of tannin. Give it a few years to soften or open it well in advance. Time brings out striking translucence as well as finesse. Drink 2025-2037. Galloni Luca and Elana are consistently showing the
$136
$131ea in any 3+
$126ea in any 6+
Well played my friends, well played! The 3rd 100% Verduno Barolo from Fratelli Alessandria and it’s a beauty. Take the Prinsiot, already excellent, add another couple of layers of development, greater depth of tannin & you’re through the first couple of chapters of this book. An entrancing perfume ... the roses, baking spices, savoury lines, over a foundation of fruit. Tannins flow long & fine, beautifully weighted against the complex, layered flavour profile & energising gracefu
$137
$132ea in any 3+
$127ea in any 6+
Rocche showing the site with faded flowers, a build in tannins here over the Villero adds a significant structural element, the long even shape is present as in past years. Youthful tension and tannins will need time to relax. Wonderful nose of intensity with great depth, rich, brooding, it’s starting to offer quite a lot. Serious with delicacy.  Excellent line, length and balance. Red fruits, chocolate, faded flowers, savoury licks, great drive and persistence. GW: Ripe raspberry, dri
$139
$135ea in any 3+
$131ea in any 6+

Cascina Fontana Barolo 2016

Nebbiolo | La Morra, Italy

Undoubtedly the best Fontana Barolo Classico I’ve had! Brooding yet open - perhaps explained by the mix of Castiglione Falletto (brooding) and La Morra (open) fruit. Undoubtedly the best Fontana Barolo Classico I’ve had. A little sappy, resinous (in a nice way)  layer of tannin combines with ripe even line of nutty tannin, fruit comes, building through the mid palate and lingers. This just needs time. It has that Castiglione Falleto youthful brooding nature to it. Give it a couple of yea
$140
$135ea in any 3+
$130ea in any 6+

Antoniolo Gattinara Riserva DOCG 2016

Nebbiolo | Italy, Alto Piemonte

Seriously impressive gear. Antoniolo's 2016's have excellent, long linear shape. Galloni's call on power and intensity is spot on. I'd add grace and poise. Nuanced, complex, and layered. The fruit profile is excellent. This is one of the most exciting Nebbiolos I've had in some time. Given our rotating list of over 300 available Nebbiolos that is no small statement. I could wax lyrical about aromas and flavours, let's just say they are entrancing. The mouthfeel has a vitalising grip that sits
$140
$133ea in any 3+
$126ea in any 6+