Category Archives: Vintage

Langhe Nebbiolo 2019

Posted on by
2

Langhe Nebbiolo 2019

Words used to describe Langhe Nebbiolo 2019: structure, powerful, round tannins, explosive nose, fruity, drinkable. I know you can’t put all Nebbiolo in the same basket, but some characteristics apply to many or all. I can also say that the results of 2019 are good. Just keep reading. Or better yet, go out and try some for yourself!

Climate

2019 started with a drought from January to late March, followed by heavy rain in April and May. The weather was quite unstable which led to uneven development of the vines. In addition to this there were two critical events in 2019: a hailstorm and rain forecast during harvest. The hailstorm that occurred on September 5th was quite localized and only affected certain areas. The rain however, affected everyone. Rain during harvest is not good, and so when the forecast predicted rain on October 15th, many growers harvested earlier than they would have liked. Weather is a fickle thing…

Despite all mentioned above, 2019 has proved to be a good vintage so far. Time will tell for Barolo, but the other wines like Langhe Nebbiolo 2019 are showing nicely. There is substantial acidity, and the alcohol is not excessive.

Below are my tasting notes in alphabetical order. Note that there are also some Nebbiolo d’Alba in here.

Alberto Viberti Langhe Nebbiolo

Aroma of cherries and other red fruit. Round tannins providing good structure.

Elio Grasso Gavarini Langhe Nebbiolo

Smells just like a Nebbiolo should smell. Explosive notes with aroma of red fruits and spices. Soft, round tannins, but still a powerful wine. A beautiful wine!

Emilio Vada Nebbiolo

Tasted blind. Beautiful nose. Strawberry and other red fruits. Excellent acidity. Balanced. Good structure. Very fresh and crisp.

Francesco Borgogno Langhe Nebbiolo

Floral and fruity aroma with hints of roses and strawberries. Typical Nebbiolo nose. Persistent in the mouth. Very fresh fruit. Crisp.

Ghiomo Vigna Granda Langhe Nebbiolo

Energetic wine with aroma of flowers and minerals. Soft tannins.

La Vedetta Langhe Nebbiolo

Beautiful nose, just how a Nebbiolo should smell. Very drinkable. Good structure.

Marengo Nebbiolo d’Alba

Holy shit. Amazing nose with notes of red berries and rose petals. Very drinkable. Smooth tannins. Elegant wine.

Trediberri Langhe Nebbiolo

Explosive nose with aromas of flowers and fruit. Hints of tobacco, roses, red fruits. Firm, but elegant tannins that disappear quickly. A baby Barolo.

Langhe Nebbiolo 2019

1992 – the year I was born

Posted on by
1

The year is 1992. In a cold, rainy little town called Stavanger, Oda Emilie aka Piemontegirl was born. Around the same time, in what seams like a different world, the cold also encompassed Piemonte. For the family and their bundle of joy, weather mattered very little. But to the farmers in Piemonte, weather matters. A lot. It can be all consuming.

1992 has a reputation for being a bad vintage. Starting off cold, warming up slightly in May and June, and lots of rain during the second half of the year does not add up to an “easy” vintage. The wet weather can be very problematic, bringing with it diseases and other issues. It was not looking very good for the 1992 vintage. Many estates did not bottle wine.

But I have a question for you? Have you tried a 1992 recently?

I have. Barbaresco 1992 from Produttori del Barbaresco. And guess what? It was MAGNIFICENT!

You should probably not keep them for very much longer, if you find any at all. I plan on drinking mine soon, probably for my 30th birthday! But my point is, that 1992 is not bad. Maybe it never was bad? I was not old enough to drink back then, so I’ve only ever had “old” 1992, but was it really that bad back then? Elio and Silvia Altare don’t seem to think so.

It was cold rainy difficult vintage but super smooth elegant wines were made. Pure magic for the wines made by the winemakers that are farmers first.

Silvia Altare