Poderi Colla Nebbiolo d'Alba 2003

She's smiling, and you should be smiling too, if you can find any of this wine left in the stores. It's a Nebbiolo d'Alba - the little brother (or sister, judging from the label) of the great Barolo and Barbaresco. It's the same grape (Nebbiolo), and from the same general region (Alba), but not from the especially favoured sites that are the home of these two more famous wines. While this does not have the flavours and complexity of a good Barolo, it's a great buy nonetheless. If you have ever wondered what a Barolo is like, but you haven't been willing to shell out the $50+ to find out, this has characteristic Nebbiolo flavours at very reasonable price. Also, apart from any comparison with Barolo, this is excellent value at the price, especially if you prefer an old-world style. But if you want to try it, hurry, as there isn't a lot left. I'm only posting this because I already bought a case for myself.

Price: $19.99
Region: Peidmont
Grapes: Nebbiolo
UPC: 836951000185

Pio Cesare Barolo 1998

This is the second of Iron Chef’s New Year’s wines.  I have a particular interest in this one, as I have a number of bottles of the 2001 Ornato in my cellar – it’s reassuring to know the normale is aging so well.

— Iron Chef’s Review —

Colour- very lightly coloured pale red to orange-ish rim.
Nose: Very Earthy, newer leather, warm oak notes. Stewed Cranberries. Fresh anise and dried flowers. Some hot alcohol aromas.
Taste: A tannic attack to the back of the jaw. Still tasted young. Fresh herbs of Mint, Rosemary and green peppercorns. Very earthy on the palate- like a forest floor- not a barnyard. Dried Cranberry fruit. Very Long finish. Decanted 90 mins.

14%, Alba Italy, Nebbiolo

Newfoundland LC Clearance Oct 2009 $49.95
Value 5/5
Score 96

Michelino Veglio Nebbiolo d‘Alba 2005

The most interesting wines on Iron Chef’s list don’t seem to be available in F’ton, but a selection from the Wine Expo has made its way here. This Nebbiolo d’Alba looked interesting, so I picked it up for a dinner party last night. I can only give general impressions, since I was drinking it at a party, but I was very pleased with what it delivered. The nose was delightful - distinctly floral (it would be traditional to say roses, knowing it is a Nebbiolo, but I will just leave it at ‘floral’) with bright fruit - cherries. Recognizably Nebbiolo. The structure was very clean and drinkable - the tannins were subdued and enough acidity to make it crisp without being too sharp. It didn’t have the leather / tar and richer floral notes that are associated with a good Barolo. Maybe those will come with age - or not. In any event, it’s not a Barolo, and it's not priced like one, so you can’t ask too much. This is distinctive, well made and reasonably priced. I think I’ll get a few more bottles for everyday drinking.


Price: $18.79
Value 4/5
Score: 88
Region: Italy, Piedmont
Grape: Nebbiolo
UPC: 877559000405

Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2000

I really like Nebbiolo. Grown mostly in Italy, and Piedmont in particular, it is the grape behind Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, and Ghemme. It tends to be quite tannic, requiring bottle age and showing best with food. It is apparently quite finicky about soil conditions and microclimate, among the first to bud and the last to ripen. Despite its fame and prestige, it represents well under 10% of plantings and production in Piedmont. Probably because of that fame and prestige, we unfortunately do not find a lot of “value priced” Nebbiolo.

This Barbaresco is more rustic than elegant; a wine with a lot of oomph. The nose is lush, with lots of licorice, stewed berries, violets, dried flowers, spices, leather, and tar. It is full and clear on the palate, and very long, with dry, mouth-puckeringly firm tannins, especially on the finish. It is delicious, excellent value at $40, and probably young yet, so it is too bad that is no longer available at ANBL.

Price: $40
Score: 93
Value: 4/5
Region: Italy
Alcohol 14.5%
Grape: Nebbiolo
Tasted: March 2009
UPC: No longer listed

Travaglini Gattinara 2001

Iron Chef posted a review on this wine in the Make a Suggestion thread a few days ago - as it happened we had opened a bottle but hadn't finished drinking it or writing our own review when Iron Chef posted. So here's a chance for two reviews for the price of one! (Ok, they're free, but still...) As you will see, everyone loved this wine - and we all agree it was great value. Unfortunately, it is already sold out. If we're lucky we'll see more of it next year.

Here is Kelly's review:

Nose of licorice root, menthol, herbs, violets, cranberries, tar, follows through on palate. Nicely balanced. Clear and long, ending with grippy tannins. Delicious.

I would say it exhibits characteristic nebbiolo traits, as I identified it right away. People tend to describe nebbiolo as resembling roses and tar, and that really does describe this wine. It did very well in the half-bottle. I don't think it deteriorated at all. We've had this wine before (got it in Ontario) and loved it then too.

Price: $33
Value: 5/5
Score: 93
Region: Italy, Piedmont
Tasted: Dec 2008
UPC: No longer available

And here is what Iron Chef had to say:

Thanks to Luke for getting me a couple. This was a fantastic example of Nebbiolo at its best- the low rent district of Piedmont in northern Italy. We had it New Yrs eve with Surf and turf witha a nice Lavit Rosado Brut from Spain UPC #033293653004 Retail Price: $16.29 BTW 88 pts for the Lavit. The Gattinara looked to be 25 yrs old by sight, and by tannin seemed to be 6 months old. High Bricking on the Rim with a smell of dried Roses and Liqorish. A scent of old world oak with a distinctive class of a Great Great Wine. I am tempted to call this the best Red of 2008 but it was too young and we had a Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echézeaux. A dried Clove and Bay leaves enhanced the aromas and brought the senses in focus. The palate was Tannic with subdued friut with that "Fine Wine" quality first discribed to me as that sense of being in the presence of greatness. A true wine experience.

Value 5/5
Score 96

Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2001

Dark berries, almonds, licorice and violets (yes, really) - layers of complexity, as one flavour hits and then fades and the next emerges, so the wine is never the same from one second to the next. This is easily the best wine I have ever had - and by all accounts it will be years before it reaches its peak! I don't drink much in this price range, but I've had a few and none compared with this. ( I'd buy more fancy wine if they all turned out out to be as good as this one, but disappointment at $100 is a lot harder to take than at $20.) I don't really know how to rate it since I haven't had anything better as a benchmark, but it's worth at least two points more than anything else I've had, so I'll give it a 96. The 2001 Ornato is sold out, but the 2003 is apparently in the warehouse. Wine Spectator liked the 2003 pretty much as well - 95 for the '01 versus 94 for the '03. If anyone tries the '03 please post a comment and tell me if it really is that good!

Price: $85 (2001); $100.42 (2003)
Score: 96
Value: 5/5
Tasted: November 2006
ANBL UPC: 8014629020013