This is our first Nebbiolo since 2002. This is the most difficult variety to grow and to produce wine from in the world. It is only great in certain vintages and this is one of them. Over the years our older Nebbiolos have become legendary. They have performed very well in tastings against their counterparts in Barolo and Barbaresco. These are some of the greatest and most expensive wines in the world and their aging power is second to none.
Nebbiolo is like great Burgundy (Pinot Noir on steroids). If you are lucky enough to have some of our 1999-2000-2001 Enotria Nebbiolos in your cellar, start enjoying them now, they are tasting great.
The resulting wine is a brilliant dark red garnet color with rich aromas and flavors of ripe plums, wild berries, violets, earth and toasty oak.
This is a great wine to cellar for many years and is a great match with hearty dishes such as roasted meats, stews, wild game and well-aged hard cheeses.
Background: In Italy, Nebbiolo is called the “misty one” because of the whitish blush on its dark purple skin. This is the king of red wines producing the exalted wines of Barolo.
Harvest: Located in the eastern foothills overlooking the Ukiah Valley, our Nebbiolo grapes are grown in the Fox Mountain Vineyard owned by Lowell Stone.
Winemaking: The grapes were hand-harvested on November 1st, 2013 at an average of 25 degrees brix, crushed into open top fermenters and kept cold for 3 days before inoculation and fermentation. The must was pumped over and punched down for fifteen days before being pressed and racked into 40% new French oak Vosge heavily toasted burgundy barrels. The wine then received extended barrel aging for 48 months, racked off its lees and egg white fined. The wine was rough filtered and bottled on February 21st 2018.
Winemaker’s Comments: This magnificent wine has medium dark garnet hues with enticing aromatic aromas and flavors of dark cherry, violets, rose petal, tar and vanilla that are supported by just the right balance of acidity and smooth tannins. Much like Pinot Noir (which Winemaker Greg Graziano calls Nebbiolo’s twin brother from a different mother); this wine has been described as a thinking person’s wine because its character is very seductive and elusive all at the same time. Enjoy this wine now or it will continue to improve over the next decade.
Food Pairing: Serve this wine with the heartiest of venison, beef or lamb dishes or anything with porcini mushrooms. Also wonderful with sharp, well-aged cheeses.
Blend: 100 % Nebbiolo
Cases Produced: 378
Alcohol: 15.9%
Total Acidity: 0.67
pH: 3.65
Residual Sugar: 0.4% (dry)
