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Nebbiolo Wines

Nebbiolo Wines

Nebbiolo Wines

Nebbiolo is a grape varietal that is almost completely unique to the Piedmont region of Italy. Very few vineyards outside of this region feature a significant level of Nebbiolo representation. Almost every wine that comes from the hills and valleys of Langhe offers a delicious sample of the signature Nebbiolo flavor. Because of the almost exclusive regional representation of this particular grape varietal, Nebbiolo wines are a collector’s dream and an important Italian cultural footprint in the world of expert winemaking.

One of the most prevailing theories claims that the name “Nebbiolo” comes from the Italian word for fog – nebbia. This grape varietal is harvested in October, which is an especially misty month for the quaint, hilly Piedmont region. The wines made from this grape contribute to this sentiment by producing a tempting, thick scent that rises from the glass even in the cold. Drinking a Nebbiolo wine surrounds you in a mist of emotion, stirring you from the stale sameness of daily life as your worries slip away like rabbits in a field of tall grass. In terms of quality, Nebbiolo wines compete with some of the finest Pinot Noir blends in modern times, making them a fan-favorite amongst enthusiasts in the know.

A single tasting is enough to decode what makes Nebbiolo so special. Once your tongue touches this glorious nectar, you will feel distinct notes of woodsmoke, tobacco, violets, and tar, a robust and impactful flavor to create the biggest emotional impact. Of course, different blends play with the formula in their own unique ways, carving their identity into the Piedmont hills themselves through a delicate balance of flavor and texture.

One of the most memorable and tempting Nebbiolo wines is Barolo, and it offers numerous vintages to choose from. If you’re looking to the past, try finding bottles from 1974, 1971, 1967, 1964, 1961 or 1958, to get a taste of how Barolo made its name as one of the region’s finest wines. If you’re on the market for something more recent, a bottle from 2007, 2010, 2013, 2015 or anywhere in between is an excellent introduction to the brand.
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2007 Gaja Barolo Conteisa

Blueberry and lemon aromas follow through to a full body, with firm and racy tannins and a delicate finish. This is refined and polished. Drink after 2013.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2007 Langhe Conteisa is impeccably ripe and silky on the palate, with expressive La Morra red fruits, flowers, mint and spices that emerge from the glass. This is another soft, seamless wine from Gaja, with gorgeous purity in the fruit that carries through all the way to the deeply satisfying, creamy finish. The tannins remain impeccably refined and beautifully balanced with the fruit. The wine is likely to firm up a touch in bottle, but it should be one of the most accessible of Gaja’s 2007s. The 2007 is easily among the finest Conteisas ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.My most recent visit to Gaja was quite an experience, as I tasted all of the estate’s 1989s, 1990s and 2007s. The 1989s and 1990s are reviewed in this issue’s What About Now feature. Angelo Gaja, always loquacious on a wide range of subjects, says virtually nothing about his wines, an approach I have increasingly come to appreciate in an era where so many producers are constantly in pitch mode. Then again, Gaja doesn’t really need to say anything, the wines speak for themselves. I tasted the 2007s at the winery in November 2009 and then again in New York in January 2010. Both times they were spectacular. Stylistically the 2007s remind me of the 1997s in terms of their opulence. Gaja’s wines are often immensely appealing when young – which is certainly the case with the 2007s – but then close down in bottle for a number of years, sometimes many years. My impression is that the Costa Russi and Conteisa are the most likely of these 2007s to offer the widest drinking windows throughout their lives with a minimum of cellaring. Fermentation and malolactic fermentation take place in steel. The wines then spend approximately one year in French oak and a second year in cask prior to being bottled. As has been the case for a number of years now, Gaja’s Langhe wines incorporate a small percentage of Barbera. On a final note, it’s great to see Gaja’s daughters Gaia and Rossana increasingly involved in the winery. They, and their younger brother Giovanni, have big shoes to fill, but couldn’t have asked for better teachers than Angelo and Lucia Gaja.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPFull medium red. Rather unforthcoming but mellow aromas of plum, mocha and licorice. Silky on entry, then more tightly wound toward the back in spite of its plush, layered texture. Lovely raspberry, spice and underbrush flavors blast through the building, granular tannins on the long aftertaste.Vinous Media | 94 VM

95
RP
As low as $1,449.00
2011 Gaja Barolo Conteisa

This is wonderfully succulent and refined with blueberry, lavender and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Botanical, with some juniper. Medium body with integrated, polished tannins and a long finish. Very pretty. The salted-meat undertones on the palate make it very savory. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2011 Langhe Nebbiolo Conteisa is an irresistible wine with enormous depth, beauty and penetration. It sweeps over the palate in opulent waves with dark fruit, spice, leather and grilled herbs. It also shows a distinct balsam personality with cola and dried violets that give the wine a beautiful sense of aromatic lift and buoyancy. Langhe Conteisa is made with Nebbiolo (and a tiny part Barbera) from the Cerequio vineyard in La Morra. The 2011 vintage is slightly broader than past vintages, but this wine promises a long drinking evolution regardless.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2011 Conteisa is a forward, open-knit wine with good depth and plenty of near-term appeal. At the same time, the move towards a lighter style that has defined the Gaja wines over the last few years is very much in evidence. Cinnamon, sweet red cherries, herbs, mint and wild flowers add nuance. Even with time in the glass, the Conteisa remains succulent nuanced, with less of the opulence that is found in so many other wines. Conteisa emerges from a handful of parcels in La Morra’s Cerequio vineyard.Vinous Media | 91 VMThis is reticent today, with more savory and underbrush flavors than cherry notes, which remain buried for now. Reveals a lovely texture and energy, showing potential. Best from 2019 through 2029. 1,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

94
ML
As low as $1,489.00

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