Nebbiolo Prima 2021 is an important tasting that embraces the wine areas of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero, the champions of Piedmont. Considering this particular period, my colleague Filippo Magnani was very fortunate to participate in the 25th edition, hosted by Albeisa at the end of March 2021.
Part 2 continues ….
Barbaresco
The area of production includes the entire territory of the villages of Barbaresco, Treiso and Neive, plus part of the territory of the Alba municipality.
| Wine denomination DOCG (controlled and guaranteed designation of origin) | Grape | Minimum ageing | Released on the market |
| Barbaresco Docg | 100% Nebbiolo | 26 months, of which 9 in wood | from the 1st January of third year after the harvest |
| Barbaresco Docg Reserve | 100% Nebbiolo | 50 months, of which 9 in wood | from the 1st January of fifth year after the harvest |
Tastings Barbaresco DOCG 2018 (57 wines reviewed)
Overall the Barbaresco’s this year turned out to be soft, fruity with good structure and balance. This is partly a reflection of the vintage which started cool and finished warm with nice weather during harvest.
On my radar:
Winery: Giuseppe Cortese – Barbaresco
Wine: Barbaresco Docg 2018 Rabajà
Deep garnet core with ruby tinge. Intense bouquet of black cherry and prune with note of rhubarb. Good structure with medium-plus acidity, medium alcohol and leather overtones. Velvety tannins, well integrated with the fruit.
Winery: Pasquale Pellissero – Neive
Wine: Barbaresco Docg 2018 Bricco San Giuliano
Bright, deep garnet colour. The nose rich in blueberry and forest floor perfumes. Nice, vibrant entrance in the palate. Medium body and harmonious structure with dried prune and liquorice. Quite a long aftertaste.
Winery: Cascina Alberta – Treiso
Wine: Barbaresco Docg 2018 Giacone
Medium garnet core, paler towards the edge. The wine displays intense flavour of cherry, balsamic overtones and light earthy notes. The palate expresses ripe red cherry, blackberries with a hint of vanilla. Good acidity, firm tannins and long finish. I really like it.
My pick:
Winery: Cascina Morassino – Barbaresco
Wine: Barbaresco Docg 2018 Ovello
Intense and brilliant garnet colour. Pronounced intensity of dark cherry and plum with spicy notes of liquorice. Medium plus acidity, full-body wine with silky good tannins and toasty light notes at the end. Excellent wine.
Tastings Barbaresco DOCG 2016 RISERVA (15 wines reviewed)
I found a wide range of great wines, showing high intensity and complexity of aromas. I have tasted well balanced wines with body and finesse, signs of an excellent vintage with long and constant ripening of the Nebbiolo.
On my radar:
Winery: Albino Rocca – Barbaresco
Wine: Barbaresco Docg 2016 Riserva Ronchi
The colour is deep garnet with a compact rim. Intense bouquet of cherry with floral notes of violet. Scents of spices, tobacco and fig. A dry, full body wine with good acidity, well balanced structure and medium ripe tannins. Elegant.
My pick
Winery: Cascina Luisin – Barbaresco
Wine: Barbaresco Docg 2016 Riserva
Bright with deep garnet core. Pronounced flavour of blackcherry with scents of roses. Spicy notes of liquorice. Rich in structure and strong freshness. Good balance of body, fruit, acidity and velvety tannins. Long, vibrant, finish. Outstanding wine.
Barolo
Barolo is made in eleven ‘communes’ or village territories: Barolo itself, La Morra, Monforte, Serralunga d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto, Novello, Grinzane Cavour, Verduno, Diano d’Alba, Cherasco, Roddi.
| Wine denomination DOCG (controlled and guaranteed designation of origin) | Grape | Minimum ageing | Released on the market |
| Barolo Docg | 100% Nebbiolo | 38 months, of which 18 in wood | from the 1st January of fourth year after the harvest |
| Barolo Docg Reserve | 100% Nebbiolo | 62 months, of which 18 in wood | from the 1st January of sixth year after the harvest |
Tastings Barolo DOCG 2017 (202 wine reviewed)
The 2017s showed ripe fruit and good structure with great aromatic intensity. A sufficient level of acidity guarantees freshness to almost all wines. In general, I tasted good wines that proved the hard work of the producers during an uneasy season.
On my radar:
Winery: Mauro Molino – La Morra
Wine: Barolo Docg 2017 Bricco Luciani
Medium garnet core with narrow tawny rim. Great nose with ripe plum, spicy notes of liquorice and rhubarb. Slight notes of leather. Medium body with ripe red fruit and freshness. Moderate coarse tannins. Quite a long finish. I really appreciate it.
Winery: Cascina Ballarin – La Morra
Wine: Barolo Docg 2017 Bricco Rocca
Bright with intense garnet core and paler rim. The wine displays ripe red fruit and floral notes of violet with hearty overtones. Exuberant and full body in the palate, elegant fruit and velvety tannins. Long, fresh finish. Very good wine.
Winery: Enrico Serafino – Serralunga d’Alba
Wine: Barolo Docg 2017 Meriame
Medium garnet red turning slightly twarny. Pronounced bouquet of black cherry, dried prune and fig. Overtones of coconut and the scent of tobacco.
Winery: Conterno Fantino – Monforte d’Alba
Wine: Barolo Docg 2017 Ginestra Vigna Sorì Ginestra
Brilliant, deep garnet colour with compact rim. Various and intense aromas of ripe plum, blackberry and chocolate. Rich in structure, with persistent ripe fruit well balanced with the soft tannins. Fresh long finish. I like it.
Winery: Oddero – Castiglione Falletto
Medium garnet core, paler on the rim. The nose shows beautiful flavour of blueberries. Spicy with a hint of mint. On the palate is elegant with overtones of black cherry and fig. Dry, medium plus body, silky tannins and a long finish. Great wine.
My pick:
Winery: Poderi Luigi Einaudi – Barolo
Wine: Barolo Docg 2017 Cannubi
Clear, deep red garnet colour. Intense flavour of dark cherry and prune. Light notes of eucalyptus and hint of pepper. The mouth is dense with medium soft tannins and toasty hints. Elegant wine with long and pleasant aftertaste. This is an excellent wine.
Tastings Barolo DOCG 2015 Riserva (31 wine reviewed)
In general, the wines were balanced showing good ripeness and discrete alcohol level. Averagely rich in tannins with long finish. To me these riservas showed great potential.
On my radar:
Winery: Bric Cenciurio – Barolo
Wine: Barolo Docg 2015 Riserva Coste di Rose
Intense garnet red colour with pale tawny reflections. Complex nose with intense flavour of dark cherry, liquorice and cinnamon. Fragrant, with juicy palate with present acidity. Discrete alcohol level and soft tannins. Long finish. Really good wine.
Winery: Silvano Bolmida – Monforte d’Alba
Wine: Barolo Docg 2015 Riserva Bussia
Deep garnet core with paler rims. Pronounced intensity of ripe plum and prune with overtones of tabacco. Lovely ripe blackcherry in the palate. Well-integrated into a medium body with round, fine tannins. Fresh delicious finish.
My pick:
Winery: Fenocchio Giacomo – Village: Monforte d’Alba
Wine: Barolo Docg 2015 Riserva Bussia 90
Brilliant, deep garnet core with pale tawny rim. Intense bouquet and aromas of ripe cherry with spicy notes of rhubarb and scents of leather. Well structured wine with high acidity. Beautiful aroma of blackcherry and velvety tannins. Elegant with long finish. I love it.
Filippo Magnani – Wine Writer, DipWset, Wine travel expert in Italy
I want to thank you Liz Palmer, who
kindly proposed for me to participate and report on the
Nebbiolo Prima 2021, to represent her website
See you in Piedmont !
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