Langhe Nebbiolo is a wine made from the Nebbiolo grape which does not meet the strict criteria of Barbaresco or Barolo denomination. There can basically be three reasons for this. The grapes may come from the wider Langhe region, they are declassified, or they are young. The most interesting case for me is when the wine is made from young grapes. This then expresses the typicity of Nebbiolo in the Barolo or Barbaresco region, as well as give an early insight into the vintage (away from the usual hype) of the Barolos to come. So today I review the 2021 Ferdinando Principiano Langhe Nebbiolo.
The fruit comes from the southern part of the Barolo region, mostly Serralunga, I think. The colour of the wine is very bright, rose petal notes emerging from the glass.
On the palate, you notice the freshness and lifted character of the wine, with red cherry, redcurrant and pomegranate flavours building a harmonious mouthfeel. Earthy and savoury notes are in the background, but will become more of a factor over time. The tannins are very silky, and the finish is long and lasting. This is a terrific expression of young Nebbiolo.
I like this wine a lot. And at the fraction of the Barolo prices, I will be drinking more of this style.
Score: 93/+++
2 comments:
Good tip to try this style and drink young. Curious if this is likely to hold up over time in the cellar?
Because these type of wines are less expensive than Barolo, they tend to be drunk young. However, this wine certainly has the vibrancy, energy, and structure to age.
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